MBA Executives explore government, business relationship during Washington, D.C. trip
The trip started with a bang, as we stepped out from our Uber and into the terrific accommodations at the Mayflower, quite the insider hotel. President Harry S. Truman called it “Washington’s second best address.” The location within the city was amazing, and I jogged to the White House before classes each morning, bonding with classmates.
The trip to Washington, D.C., was about helping us explore the intersection between government and business. The trip, done in conjunction with Emory and The Washington Campus, presented rigor, depth and thoughtfulness for four days.
The speakers spoke on relevant topics. Greg Maurer, vice president of federal public policy for Facebook, provided transparency about the Russian hacking scandal. Additionally, Jocelyn Moore, the NFL’s senior vice president of public policy and public affairs, discussed the league controversies recently in the public eye. Lobbyist Bruce Melhman presented a fast-paced informative view of D.C. lobbying; I didn’t know much about the subject and realized the deep relationships between business and politics.
We watched the Senate Ways and Means Committee vote (nay) on a tax reform bill, shaping history. We met Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), who marched with MLK and shared his lifelong perspectives. His quote, “be the headlights not the tail lights in life,” was good advice to a group of MBA students.
These days, everyone wants their viewpoints to be curated, catered and confirmed. But where does that leave us in seeking the truth and understanding our current government? James Hohmann of The Washington Post spoke to us at the National Press Club. He equated his daily job with a video clip of a dog with tennis balls coming at him on a tennis court. It’s hard covering the current administration — when the old way of doing things like through the press secretary no longer exist and instead Twitter is now shaping policy.
The Washington Campus program gave all of us a peek behind the curtains of government, and I feel better informed.