Lobbying, Learning, and Leaping Forward: How DC Changed My Career Path
Morgan White interned at Hartley Blunt (HB) Strategies, a bipartisan federal government relations and advocacy firm in Washington, D.C. Her responsibilities included conducting policy research, tracking legislation, preparing briefings, and attending meetings and briefings on Capitol Hill to support the firm’s lobbying and public affairs work. Through this experience, Morgan discovered a strong passion for public service, public policy, and advocacy. She now plans to pursue a career in these fields, aiming to help bridge communities, industries, and government through meaningful and mission-driven work.
When applying for the Illinois in Washington (IIW) program, I knew I was stepping into something much bigger than myself, but I couldn’t fully grasp how transformative this experience would be until I set foot in Washington, DC. During my semester in DC, I was fortunate to develop new connections, skills, and perspectives that forever transformed my outlook on myself in the political world.
Arriving in a new city during an uncertain time wasn’t easy, but I overcame the challenges and fully embraced its fast-paced, vibrant rhythm. Through the IIW program, I had the opportunity to intern with Hartley Blunt (HB) Strategies, a national advocacy firm that provides clients state and federal lobbying services, leadership strategies, and public affairs services. HB Strategies serves a variety of clients throughout the United States, from small businesses to prestigious universities, helping them navigate complex regulatory and legislative processes. Pursuing an internship with this bipartisan federal government relations firm was the best professional experience I could have asked for, especially for someone who wants a career rooted in public service, policy, and advocacy.
HB Strategies offers a dynamic office environment, which means I worked on a variety of tasks for different principals and lobbyists. My responsibilities ranged from conducting policy research on key legislative issues, tracking bills in Congress that could impact on our clients, and preparing briefings. I also attended legislative meetings and briefings on the Hill, providing detailed updates for our team and clients. Each week came with new opportunities, whether it was sitting in on meetings with congressional staffers or learning to explain complex policies effectively, all were experiences and skills that I will carry with me to any career.
The process of finding an internship was not an easy task, but it was incredibly rewarding. The UIUC Career Center and the IIW program provided excellent support and resources to help guide me toward opportunities aligned with my career goals. I came to DC with no internship, but a heart full of hope, and the University of Illinois helped turn that hope into success. Both the program and my internship have solidified my desire to pursue a future in public service, public policy, and advocacy. I’ve witnessed firsthand how advocacy can bridge gaps between communities, industries, and government, and how vital it is to have passionate and mission-driven people working behind the scenes.
It would be wrong to say that only my academic and professional journey has helped me grow, as purely living in DC has taught me just as much. I never could have guessed how beautiful and historically charming DC was until I walked the Tidal Basin during cherry blossom blooming season, explored nearly every Smithsonian Museum, and fostered a supportive community with the other IIW students. Growing alongside such a passionate and intelligent group of peers helped foster motivation, which made the experience even more meaningful.
The most important thing I gained in DC and the IIW program wasn’t a line or two on my resume, it was growth and a new, transformative perspective on my life and career. I discovered how empowering and freeing it is to step outside of your comfort zone and surround yourself with new people and experiences that inspire and transform you. If you’re considering IIW, I cannot encourage you enough to take the leap. Washington, DC, and the people bustling through it have a way of shaping you in ways you would never expect, if you just let them. I did, and it changed me more than I ever expected.
