We’ve Pivoted: Government Affairs & Public Policy
On March 27, 2026, Sharlene Bagga-Taves (American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), Stacie Brown (Uber), and Christean (Chris) Cole (CARE) shared their career transition stories, reflected on lessons learned during their job search process, and offered advice on how best to find similar roles. Jackie Rojas (PwP) moderated this discussion, with Steve Radelet (Georgetown University) providing additional commentary.
This session was the fourteenth in our Pivot to New Career Paths seminar series. These seminars are designed to offer attendees the opportunity to hear from colleagues who have already made these important career transitions and glean how to best embark on these changes themselves.
In our ever-evolving world – and despite dramatic shifts in U.S. government work and practice – there is a growing need to bridge the public and private sectors. International development and public service-oriented professionals can be the bridge.
Given our experiences, we can bring our interpersonal, briefing, analytical skills, and deep understanding of government affairs and public policy to the private sector. We can also lean on our grant-making or management backgrounds to keep the financial concerns of our private sector partners top of mind.
In other words, we possess the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in these roles.
Similar to our previous “We’ve Pivoted” session concerning transitions into government and public relations careers, all panelists agreed that we all possess attractive skills and capabilities, and the vast majority of private companies or professional associations are eager to draw and hire from our diverse pool of expertise. Furthermore, they recommended lean on our personal background and interests when identifying our next career moves.
Indeed, some former development practitioners have transitioned into these careers successfully (including some members of our community!). One could say they pivoted to the private sector, with purpose.
While job markets remain tenuous, there are opportunities in this space that we can – and should – pursue!
We hope that these stories serve as instructional examples to guide and encourage everyone interested to pursue roles in government affairs! We have the requisite skills and knowledge – now, we need to seize the opportunities that come our way and thrive!
Other Previous Sessions
Please feel free to browse our other previous sessions to access summaries, video content, and more information about our other events!