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Masterclass Series

Senior-level executive education series

The Public Affairs Council’s new Masterclass series features a faculty of prominent experts and senior executives leading in-depth explorations of transformational shifts happening in public affairs, communications and social impact. The curriculum consists of four classes, each led by an instructor who will focus on the core strategies, tactics and understanding of a key topic area.

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The Masterclass series is comprised of four individual classes covering a range of topics, including artificial intelligence, negotiation fundamentals, strategic communications, and advanced data analytics for public affairs. The three-hour classes and assigned pre-reads gives participants the opportunity to delve into the curated curriculum. For your convenience, classes will be held virtually and recordings will be made available to registrants for three weeks following the live event. Participants can attend individual classes or register for the complete series.

July 31

In this Masterclass, you’ll learn the essential skills to successfully negotiate, mediate or resolve differences in the public policy arena. Learn how to engage internal and external partners to achieve more favorable outcomes on an issue, policy or project. You’ll improve your ability to influence others and enhance your decision-making processes.

September 16

Public affairs is an increasingly data-driven profession. In this Masterclass, learn how you can use data analytics to help your organization accomplish its goals. The interactive session will examine how to be a better consumer of data, how to avoid common pitfalls associated with data analytics, and the most up-to-date tools and techniques your team can use to advance your function.

October 16

Artificial intelligence is developing at an astonishing pace. As the potential for AI to disrupt industries and the economy grows, what does it mean for public affairs? In this Masterclass, you’ll acquire an understanding of the basics of this technology and its significance before exploring its potential impact on the profession.

November 7

Communications is an essential component in successful public affairs and advocacy campaigns. Whether you’re communicating with elected officials, advising the C-suite or providing critical information to employees about policy positions, how your organization manages these strategic communications has a significant impact on outcomes. In this Masterclass, you’ll learn strategies for managing cross-function communications and communicating sensitive and complex issues to stakeholders, as well as how to develop a long-term communication plan focused on risk and reputation.

Meet the Faculty

Drew Calcagno

Principal, Product Operations
Google Research & AI

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Speaking at Masterclass: Artificial Intelligence

Drew Calcagno is a principal at Google Research, focusing on product operations and societal research science for the company’s R&D efforts in various forms of artificial intelligence, computing paradigms, and more.  He’s a former government official and naval officer, having served non-politically at the White House, at the Pentagon, and on a forward-deployed warship. At those posts, he wrote artificial intelligence policy for the Chief Technology Officer of the United States and managed machine learning programs for the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. Calcagno graduated from the University of Oxford as a Rotary Scholar, the University of London – SOAS as a Fulbright Scholar, the US Naval Academy with distinction.

Amy Meli

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Virginia
(Former Senior Director, Public Affairs Council)

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Speaking at Masterclass: Advanced Data Analytics for Public Affairs

Read Amy’s bio here.

Sarada Peri

Founder, Peri Communications
(Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Speechwriter for President Barack Obama)

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Speaking at Masterclass: Strategic Communications

Read Sarada’s bio here.

Robert Wilkinson

Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Leadership
Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Management, Leadership and Decision Sciences (MLD) Area

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Speaking at Masterclass: Strategic Negotiation Fundamentals

Read Robert’s full bio here.

Location

Join us from anywhere! The masterclasses will be conducted virtually and will run for 3 hours and fifteen minutes. In some classes, we will use Zoom breakout capabilities to facilitate interactive group exercises. A recording will be made available to registrants for three weeks following the masterclass.

Who Should Attend?

The masterclass curriculum is developed for public affairs executives and senior leaders. Topics are chosen based on input from the Public Affairs Council Board Programs Committee.

Program Note

Dates for the remaining two Masterclasses will be confirmed as soon as possible. Reminder, if you cannot attend a Masterclass live, you will have access to a recording for three weeks following the live event. If you register for a Masterclass before the final date is confirmed, you will also be able to transfer your registration to a colleague for no additional charge. 

Series

In this Masterclass, you’ll learn the essential skills to successfully negotiate, mediate or resolve differences in the public policy arena.

Led by: Robert Wilkinson, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Management, Leadership and Decision Sciences (MLD) Area

Public affairs is an increasingly data-driven profession. In this Masterclass, learn how you can use data analytics to help your organization accomplish its goals.

Led by: Amy Meli, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Virginia

As the potential for AI to disrupt industries and the economy grows, what does it mean for public affairs? In this Masterclass, you’ll acquire an understanding of the basics of this technology and its significance before exploring its potential impact on the profession.

Led by: Drew Calcagno Principal, Product Operations
Google Research & AI

In this Masterclass, you’ll learn strategies for managing cross-function communications and communicating sensitive and complex issues to stakeholders, as well as how to develop a long-term communication plan focused on risk and reputation.

Led by: Sarada Peri Founder, Peri Communications (Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Speechwriter for President Barack Obama)

Thank you to our series sponsors:

Each program in this series is eligible for 3 Core credits toward the Certificate in Public Affairs Management. Enroll in the entire series for a total of 12 Core credits toward the Certificate in Public Affairs Management.

Register

Series – 4 Class Bundle
Members: $1,995| Non-Members: $2,495

Single Class
Members: $799| Non-Members: $969

More Registration Info

Program Note: Dates for the remaining two Masterclasses will be confirmed as soon as possible. Reminder, if you cannot attend a Masterclass live, you will have access to a recording for three weeks following the live event. If you register for a Masterclass before the final date is confirmed, you will also be able to transfer your registration to a colleague for no additional charge. 

** As a Signature Event, this program is not included in Membership Plus.

Additional discounts may apply to this meeting. These discounts may include:

For multiple registrants: A discount will apply to the standard member/nonmember rate for organizations that register two or more participants for the same meeting. The first registrant will pay full price, the second participant will receive a 10% discount and each additional registrant will receive a 15% discount. To register multiple participants, you may either register online or download the print and fax registration form.

Member discounts: Discounts for members are applied to all Public Affairs Council meetings.

Nonmembers: Join the Council today, and save by registering at the member rate and using the $200 new-member coupon you will receive. Contact our membership team for information about joining the Council.

Questions? Contact us at 202.787.5950.

Questions

Kristin Brackemyre
Senior Director, Public Affairs Practice
202-787-5969 | [email protected]