Engaging in Political Conventions

Divorcing politics from the political conventions might sound preposterous.? Every four years, both political parties host a national convention with their most fevered supporters to approve the party’s platform and formally select its presidential and vice-presidential nominees.?

But that’s exactly how companies and trade associations should approach their engagement at political conventions: 1) divorced from politics, 2) focused on advancing its public policy goals, and 3) building strategic relationships with thoughtful policymakers.

Two Consumer Technology Association -driven events at last week’s Republican National Convention come to mind that align with this approach.

Innovation Nation

Innovation Nation, a partnership between eight tech trade associations, hosted a policy forum during the Republican National Convention to advance our shared public policy goals and engage with policymakers to find common ground on advancing the tech sector.? The tech sector contributes $3.7 trillion to U.S. GDP, supports highly skilled, well-paying jobs for millions of Americans, and safeguards our economic, technological, and national security. ??Innovation Nation trade associations recently?wrote to both presidential candidates to advance an innovation agenda centered on creating jobs and growing the economy, fostering trusted networks, propelling innovation, and strengthening America’s workforce.

I had the opportunity to moderate a conversation with IBM Vice Chairman Gary Cohn, former President Trump’s NEC Director, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith on how a future Trump-Vance Administration would advance innovation policy.?

Our Innovation Policy Forum also engaged policymakers on artificial intelligence (AI) and the workforce and what the emerging tech agenda might look like for Congress.? Thank you to Reps. Darrell Issa, Bob Latta, Lisa McClain, and Jay Obernolte, for joining us and sharing what that agenda might look like.

Consistent with our values to support STEM and the next generation of diverse tech entrepreneurs and workers, Innovation Nation was proud to present a $75,000 contribution to i.c.stars.? Through training in technology, leadership, and business skills, i.c.stars prepares change-driven, inner-city future leaders to develop skills in business and technology for high-level careers in information technology (IT).

Thank you to our association partners ACT | The App Association , Business Software Alliance , the Entertainment Software Association , the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) , SIIA , TechNet: The Voice of the Innovation Economy , and the XR Association .?

And a special thank you to BSA’s Gideon Lett for driving such a successful event in Milwaukee.?

GlobalWIN Rise and Shine

The Global Women’s Innovation Network ( GlobalWIN ), an organization that provides a dynamic forum for women who are passionate about innovation, hosted our “Rise and Shine” brunch in Milwaukee.

As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, GlobalWIN has built and continues to expand an international, powerful network of women executives and thought leaders in government, business, and academia who work in innovation-driven fields. ?

Our Milwaukee “Rise and Shine” brunch stubbornly insists on bipartisanship when most of the world wants us to choose sides in our personal and professional relationships.?

We were honored to host eleven women Ambassadors who were in Milwaukee to understand how our political convention system works.? This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible work of our GlobalWIN Board Member and International Chair Allison O'Brien .? Their commitment to supporting women leaders and honoring GlobalWIN through their attendance underscores how we must be intentional and stubborn in supporting our values regardless of the political environment.

Thank you to our dear friends, British Ambassador Dame Karen Pierce, Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, New Zealand Ambassador Rosemary Banks, Spanish Ambassador ANGELES MORENO VALLEJO, Luxembourg Ambassador Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, Monaco Ambassador H.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle, Dutch Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar, Singapore Ambassador H.E. LUI Tuck Yew, Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, Greek Ambassador Ekaterini Nassika, and European Union Ambassador Jovita Neliup?ien? for joining us.?

And thank you to GlobalWIN founder Helen Milby and team Andrea Mietus , Angeli Chawla for creating such a magical experience in Milwaukee.

Overall, companies, brands, and trade associations must decide for themselves how or whether to engage in political conventions.? However, they should not be pilloried for it.?

Every two years for Congress and four years for President, the American people shuffle the deck and deal us a new hand. Regardless of our personal politics, as corporate and trade association executives and government affairs professionals, we have an obligation to engage with both political parties and play the hand we’ve been dealt to advance our respective organization’s policy goals.?

See you in Chicago.