The Congressional Innovation Fellowship is providing me an opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream - to work on Capitol Hill and immerse myself in policy and politics. Politics has always been a passion. I was active in party politics in college and eagerly volunteered on every political campaign I could. As friends could attest, nothing gave me more energy or apparent joy than discussing politics. However, like too many of my peers, my passion was always separate and distinct from my professional career. I studied engineering in undergrad and subsequently followed a fairly standard and clean career path, often prioritizing the brand of the company or the functional role above all else in each career move. I worked as an engineer at Johnson & Johnson and then pursued an MBA at Stanford in order to pivot into management. After graduating from Stanford, I worked at Google as a technical program manager. I am incredibly grateful for each of my professional opportunities, which broadened my perspective and exposed me to new ideas, people, and technologies. Yet while my career has been rewarding and stimulating, I cannot say it has always felt purposeful. It seems that somewhere in the search for professional validation, I sacrificed passion for pragmatism.
Six months ago I decided that I wanted to pursue a career closer to the political arena I knew I loved. For the first time in my life, I wanted to be courageous professionally. I was ready to take a pay-cut, move across the country, and change my career trajectory. I spent the next three months networking and connecting with anyone who could help. I quickly realized that transitioning from the corporate world to the public sector would not be as easy as I had originally thought. I had a strong network and relevant expertise in the healthcare and technology sectors. I had a carefully built, glossy resume with plenty of brand names that in the private sector could open many doors. Most importantly, I had for the first time a real story and pitch to make about why I wanted to work in politics, one that was built on genuine passion and self-awareness. However, while I wanted to be courageous and jump into the unknown world of politics, I discovered I simply couldn’t find a way to make the leap. More specifically for me, there just were not many mid-career opportunities in government for someone in their late twenties with a handful of years in the private sector.
I had almost given up when a friend sent me a description of the Congressional Innovation Fellowship, whose aim was to put people with a few years of technology experience on Capitol Hill. With only a few days to complete the application, I fortunately found my responses to the required essay prompts flowed from me. Unlike past cover letters, I didn't have to carefully manufacture a reason that fit neatly with my past experiences. I simply wrote openly and honestly about my passions, career goals, and what I believed gave me purpose. My transparency apparently resonated and within three months of applying, I found myself finally taking the leap and moving from San Francisco to Washington, DC. Through the Congressional Innovation Fellowship, I had finally found my in, my way to take a professional risk and act with courage and passion. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited for the year ahead.
Peter is currently serving with US Senator and Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD).