From:
Date: February 23, 2012
Subject: Public Management and Governance Club (PMGC) - Newsletter #4
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Hey folks, Looking to for some topical public policy reading? Interested in what skills recent alums in public policy find most useful? It's all here in the latest installment of the PMGC newsletter. Club Initiatives 3Ps Speaker Series – Professors on Public Policy First, a big thanks those of you who attended Tuesday's lecture from Professor McDonald detailing the impact of the Dodd-Frank Legislation on the Financial Industry. We've attached his presenation deck for those who requested the file and for those unable to attend. As always, please feel free to contact us with any feedback/thoughts/ideas as we work to continuously improve our lecture series. Check out the remaining 3Ps schedule below and start blocking off your calenders. April 10 (Mosaic Week): Political/Governance Systems in BRIC countries – Professor Besanko (moderator) and panel of students Invites will follow as events get closer, looking forward to seeing you there! Highlightling Kellogg Alums Making a Difference in Public Policy Roles Many Kellogg Alumni have taken the skills developed while earning their MBA and applied them towards roles in the public sector. As part of our group's core objective of providing insight into pursuing careers in public policy and government, we'll periodically be dedicating space in our newsletter to share the stories of these alumni. Please email Casey Mills (cmills2013@northwestern.kellogg.edu) or Kevin Poff (kpoff2012@northwestern.kellogg.edu) if you know of any alumni who fit this bill. Can you describe your career path that led you to your current role? Prior to Kellogg I had already worked in the 3 traditional MBA job categories (investment banking, strategy planning, and brand management).I didn't particularly enjoy any of those jobs so I spent a lot of my time in business school trying to find the right fit for me. I happened to meet someone at the airport who worked for the NPS and wound up doing a consulting project for them and really had a great time. The NPS then encouraged me to apply for the Presidential Management Fellows program, which is the Federal Government's premier leadership development program. I was accepted into the program which enabled the National Park Service to appoint me to a high-level position as the Chief of Commercial Operations for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.There I was responsible for regulating all the businesses in the park (restaurants, lodges, backpacking guides). After a brief stint at the White House, I decided to switch to BOEM because I was excited by the chance to shape a new agency (BOEM was created in Oct 2011). As you look back, would you be able to say that what you learned in your Kellogg MBA was useful for a public policy related position? Which skills from your Kellogg MBA would highlight as important for a public policy function? Going to Kellogg was absolutely helpful. There aren't a lot of MBAs in the federal government and my skills are definitely in high demand. MORS classes: Consensus building is especially important (and difficult) when developing public policy. Every issue has so many stakeholders with often conflicting goals --Strategic Frameworks, especially those from Professor Haider's SEEK441 course: I look back at my SEEK441 notes and the textbook several times a year. The framework Prof Haider taught really helps me understand and predict how decisions will be viewed and what strategies to employ to achieve my objectives. Leadership classes: In the government, the MBA is very valued since not a lot of people have one. Accordingly, you get a lot of responsibility very quickly. I think I'm one of the few people from the class of 2009 that is a C-level executive of an established organization (not a startup). Prioritization and strat planning: Budgets are very tight these days, which makes prioritization very important. At Kellogg, we are taught (and practice constantly) how to prioritize our time. At my job, I use these skills not only to prioritize my own time, but also to determine what the agency should work on. Marketing courses: You won't use any of the frameworks, but the idea that you need to put yourself in the "customer's shoes" and understand that "customers" think differently than you is a very important one. Decisions get scrutinized by the public and interest groups, so it's important for you to understand how to position policies and tailor your communication to achieve your objectives. There are a number of MBA students who plan to join the public sector or public sector related functions in the long term. What would you advise them to do? Any pitfalls to avoid? With the federal government, the hardest thing to do is get in. Once you have federal status, it is very easy to move agencies and jobs. The application system is really different than the private sector and I'm happy to help anyone navigate that. I highly recommend the PMF program because it gives you a special hiring authority that simplifies the federal hiring process. One thing I am fascinated by is the level of effort and passion government workers have for their jobs. There are people who make $40,000 a year being a wilderness ranger for 20 years, turning down promotions because they love their job so much. Their passion for their job really shows in the effort and pride they take in doing their job. I'd be happy to talk with anyone further--best way to get in touch is by email (tliu2009@kellogg.northwestern.edu). Enjoy the reccomended readings in our newsletter? Have an article you think would interest fellow PMGCers? Just need more PMGC in your life? Join our group on Facebook and follow us Twitter to engage with your classmates and get all the latest from PMGC. Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kellogg-Public-Management-and-Governance-Club/369816003034964 Like us! Twitter: @Kellogg_PMGC (https://twitter.com/#!/Kellogg_PMGC) Follow us! Upcoming Events Energy Club:The Networked EV: Smart Grid and Electric Vehicles Travis Bradford, founder and president of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development, will focus on the findings from his latest market report, Electric Vehicles 2011: Technology, Economics, and Market, which provides an incisive look at supply, demand and technology dynamics influencing electric vehicle (EV) adoption, economics and smart grid infrastructure planning. The Kellogg Debates - Are private sector, market driven initiatives suficient to reduce the global carbon footprint? When: Tue 28 Feb, 12:15-1:15pm Come watch your fellow Kellogians and Professors debate the above topic on Tuesday, February 28th. |
PMGC: Guest lecture: Dr. Deepak, World Bank Lead Economist The Kellogg Debates - Are private sector, market driven initiatives suficient to reduce the global carbon footprint? When: Tue 28 Feb, 12:15-1:15pm |
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PMGC News Clips America in Decline? The Economist has two interesting takes on
overregulation in America and policies that make the U.S. a less attractive place to do business. Local Chambers offer more than just monthly luncheons. As the U.S. Chamber celebrates its 100th anniverary, read up on the history of local Chambers and their continued contributions to business and communities. Looking to impress at your next coffee chat? Find out which leading indicators Kellogg and NU professors evaluate to gaugue U.S. economic health.
Add to your blog roll: Evan Lieberman, associate professor at Princeton has a blog dedicated to governance, development and connectivity in Africa. Catch the latest here. |
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