Lewis McMurran Director of Public and Government Affairs for the Washington Software Alliance

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There are different kinds of lobbyists. Lew happens to be a lobbyist for a business group and provides the lobbying services for the members of the group as a whole; in this case, the Washington Software Alliance. There are lobbyists that handle different types of clients or employers like labor unions, educational institutions, teachers, and superintendents. Large businesses usually have lobbyists, government affairs specialists and government affairs people that work on their behalf.

People interested in this kind of a job can get there a couple of different ways; entering through the corporate or political arena. People in corporations who become lobbyists often come up through the ranks, proving themselves successful first in their function for the corporation and then moving over to government relations. Another career entry path is politics. “It’s a great way to get to know people and come into lobbying,” says Lew. “You get tagged as a partisan but over time; you can work away from that if you handle yourself properly. It’s all about preserving the relationship rather than being a forceful advocate for your position.”

Besides being persuasive, persistent and knowing the issues; Lew says that he’s always worked for companies and organizations that he’s had a lot of respect for, and that it’s important for him to take the time to make sure that who he’s working for is somebody he can line up with both personally and philosophically.

 

For More Information:

To learn more about the Washington Software Alliance visit: www.wsa.org

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To learn more about Georgetown University visit: www.georgetown.edu