Most Important Skills for a Policy and Legislative Advocate at Health Access California
For a Policy & Legislative Advocate at Health Access California, "public speaking is really key," especially in hearings and meetings, as is networking with legislative staff and lobbyists; moreover, the role also requires strong data and policy analysis skills, including research and Excel proficiency, to support broader advocacy efforts, which Christine enjoys because it combines lobbying with data analysis.
Public Speaking, Networking, Policy Analysis, Data Analysis, Advocacy
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
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Traits
Christine Smith
Policy & Legislative Advocate
Health Access California
UC Berkeley
University of San Francisco: Masters in Public Administration
Political Science, American Studies
Government & Public Sector, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Communication and Marketing
Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Public Speaking: The role involves frequent public speaking at hearings, highlighting its importance.
2. Networking: Building relationships with lobbyists, legislative staff, and legislators is crucial for success.
3. Data and Policy Analysis: Understanding data and policy documents, along with research skills, is essential for effective advocacy.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
Public speaking is really key right now. I do a lot of public speaking at different hearings, but I also do a lot of meetings and networking with folks in the capital community. This includes lobbyists, legislative staff, and legislators.
I think that's been a larger part of my job recently. I also do a lot of data and policy analysis, reading and understanding pieces so you can advocate for them.
Lately in this job, which I really enjoy, I've been able to use my data, Excel, and research skills more. This is to figure out what we need for our larger advocacy work. Specifically, it's around data and specific congressional districts, and how we can use that at a larger level.
So it combines some of the lobbying that I love and also a lot of the data analysis that I loved in high school and still love now.