Is The White House Fellowship For You?

WHF Class of 1981-82

WHF Class of 1981-82

Question:  Should I apply for the White House Fellowship?  From reading Getting There & Staying There I know that the program was a pivot point in your career.

Answer:   The short answer is “Yes apply, especially if you want to contribute at the federal level and then pay it forward. A curt response will not do justice to the fact that the WHF was the ultimate finishing school for me.  It was a heady experience and I was caught up in my work assignment as Special Assistant to Director William Webster at the FBI, having in-depth conversations with leaders from the public and private sectors and of course meeting with the president.  A whole new world opened as I came to understand and appreciate the intersection of the legislative process, the White house, the Judiciary and the media—the Fourth Estate.

“Fellowship” is the core of the one-year experience. The intensity and uniqueness of our experience forged unshakeable bonds among our fourteen members of my WHF Class.  Every president since Lyndon Johnson launched the WHF in 1964 at the urging of John Gardner has held WHF alumni to the same ideals:

In return for the Fellowship year, President Johnson expected the Fellows to “repay that privilege” when they left by “continuing to work as private citizens on their public agendas.” He hoped that the Fellows would contribute to the nation as future leaders. 

Have I captured your interest, if yes, the WHF application will be available on line November 1 .  Consider the following questions before completing the applications:

  • What do you want?
  • What discussions do you need to have with your family? Your boss?
  • What will be value/benefit of being a WHF?  Note—keep your answer on a high level because you won’t have all of the answers.
  • What are your expectations:  Will being a White House Fellow take you to a new level of experience? Mindset?  Connections?  Open new doors?
  • What is the impact on your career progression:  Accelerate?  Set back? Don’t know?
  • Does your organization support/encourage high potential employees to apply for the WHF?
  • Who will you talk to about the WHF experience within your firm?  External?

Finally, the WHF program is aimed at people who have demonstrated remarkable professional achievement early in their career. Do you fit the criteria?  If yes, go for it!

Note:  This year marks the 50th anniversary of the program. Alumni include historian Doris Kearns, CNN president Tom Johnson, Sanjay Gupta, General Colin Powell, JC Penny president Mike Ullman, Harvard Business School’s Clayton Christensen, Attorney Emma Jordan, author and artist Suzy Becker and of course:  me!

Chips, Priscilla & Paul

Chips, Priscilla & Paul

 

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