? Beyond Politics:

?? How Campaign Experience Equips You for Success

Working on political campaigns at the grassroots level might seem like just “dues paying” for those aspiring to more established roles in public relations, lobbying, or government. However, I’ve found that the skills and experiences gained from campaign work transcend politics and can be applied to almost any professional setting. For me, campaign management laid the foundation for a career that has spanned strategic communications, public affairs, and regulatory oversight. The core lessons I learned in grassroots organizing and campaign management continue to guide my work as a utility regulator who regularly interacts with the public and mediates between diverse stakeholders.

When I started out, I viewed grassroots campaign work as an entry point, a stepping stone to a more polished career in public affairs or government relations. This perspective is common among young professionals eager to break into the political world. Grassroots roles often involve long hours, uncertain outcomes, and relentless door-knocking. They’re seen as a way to build experience, make connections, and hopefully “graduate” to more influential roles. But looking back, the skills I developed in those early grassroots positions weren’t just useful stepping stones; they became integral parts of my professional toolkit.

Campaign management teaches you to work under pressure, navigate uncertainty, and handle a wide range of tasks simultaneously. In a campaign, there’s no room for delay or indecision. Deadlines are inflexible, and you’re often dealing with a combination of limited resources, competing interests, and shifting public sentiment. The ability to lead a team through these challenges and deliver results is a skill that translates seamlessly into almost any profession. For example, as a campaign manager, you have to think strategically and manage relationships across the board. You’re coordinating volunteers, media, donors, and other stakeholders while ensuring that everyone stays focused on a unified message and goal. These are the same dynamics I navigate as a senior advisor to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in New Hampshire. Whether it’s a public meeting on energy siting or a closed-door negotiation with key stakeholders, the ability to build consensus, manage competing interests, and keep everyone focused on shared objectives is critical.

The grassroots nature of early campaign work instills an appreciation for engaging directly with the public. On a campaign, whether you’re knocking on doors or hosting town halls, you quickly learn the importance of listening. People want to be heard, and understanding their concerns requires empathy, patience, and the ability to synthesize feedback into actionable strategies. In my current role, this ability to connect with the public has been indispensable. Utility regulation involves complex, often controversial issues that can have a direct impact on people’s lives. As a regulator, you’re not just applying technical expertise or interpreting laws; you’re managing public trust. The same skills that helped me rally support on the campaign trail now help me navigate the delicate balance between public interest, policy objectives, and industry needs.

Legislative staffing, which followed my early campaign work, further honed my ability to work on constituent casework and policy development—skills that are closely aligned with the challenges of regulatory oversight. Legislative roles require you to distill complex issues into clear, actionable steps while maintaining strong relationships with a wide array of stakeholders. The ability to dig into the details while keeping an eye on the big picture is something I draw upon daily as I evaluate the potential impact of new energy projects or review proposed regulatory reforms.

The connection between grassroots campaign work and public administration might not seem obvious at first, but it’s there. Campaigns require you to be adaptable, resourceful, and relentless in your pursuit of a goal. These are exactly the qualities needed to drive meaningful reform in the public sector. In 2022, I was appointed as Administrator of the Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) in New Hampshire. During my tenure, I led a regulatory restructuring effort aimed at consolidating and streamlining our services within the larger Public Utilities Commission. This was a challenging but necessary process that involved making tough decisions, including advocating for the elimination of my own office. It was my early campaign experiences that taught me the value of stepping back, assessing what truly serves the public, and pursuing that goal with determination—even if it means relinquishing control.

Ultimately, campaign work is about achieving results in an environment where the odds are often against you. Whether you’re winning over skeptical voters or streamlining a regulatory agency, the fundamentals remain the same: building coalitions, communicating effectively, and staying focused on your objective despite the obstacles. For anyone considering grassroots campaign work as merely a rite of passage, I would argue that it’s much more than that. It’s a training ground for leadership and problem-solving that can carry you through any career path.

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