Entering a policy career can be particularly challenging for individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in the policy world. This can be due to factors such as unequal access to resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. This post offers advice and highlights opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Networking and mentorship

Identify and reach out to successful policy practitioners from similar backgrounds, learn from their experiences (e.g. by reading our career profiles or these Around the Table interviews), and ask them for advice. In particular, seek to find good mentors who can help champion you, point you to opportunities, provide application advice, etc. Developing a strong professional network allows you to uncover or access otherwise hidden or inaccessible career opportunities. It’s often particularly helpful and achievable to connect with people who are 5-10 years ahead of you in their careers, rather than people who are, say, 15-20 years ahead or more. 

Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and ask people for calls, advice, introductions, and help in general, including by cold emailing or messaging them on LinkedIn. Many policy practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds recognize the problems with representation in their field and want to help address them. It can be hard to get started on cold emails and similar strategies, but given how essential networks are for policy jobs, there is really no substitute for asking people for help.

There are several helpful programs and networks seeking to amplify and empower diverse voices in US policy, such as the following (mostly with a focus on security policy):

1. Make Room initiative (Center for a New American Security) – an “inclusive professional development network…aim[ing] to train, empower, and amplify the voices of underrepresented communities in the national security and foreign policy spheres…There are no costs nor prerequisites to join.” Make Room offers a helpful newsletter, a mentorship program, and a study series.
2. The Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) aims to “empower, educate, and engage women and marginalized gender groups in public policy”, including by organizing multi-day policy seminars in DC (scholarships are available).
3. NatSecGirlSquad is a community that aims to “build and support competent diversity in national security and defense through its professional development community and strategic advisory services.”
4. Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS) is a community that seeks to “cultivate a strong voice and network for its members while encouraging dialogue and strategies for engaging in policy discussions on an international scale.”
5. The Leadership Council for Women in National Security is an organization seeking to advance “gender parity in national security and foreign policy decision-making.” While largely focused on experienced policy professionals, they also organize some events and highlight opportunities relevant to early-career professionals.
6. Foreign Policy for America’s NextGen Initiative “works to spotlight and support diverse young leaders from across the country…Cohort members benefit from four pillars of activities: knowledge building, political engagement, professional development and social connections.”
7. Out in National Security is an organization dedicated to empowering queer national security professionals.
8. Women in AI Governance is a network aiming to foster “an inclusive environment  and community to support  women and allies in making meaningful impacts in the field of  AI governance.”
9. The annual Women in Cybersecurity conference offers many networking opportunities, resources, and scholarships. (See also this list of women in cybersecurity initiatives)
10. Women’s Global Leadership Program (Center for Strategic and International Studies) – “year-long program designed for rising executives [with at least 15 years of experience] who wish to deepen their understanding of critical geopolitical trends”; tuition cost of ~$25,000
11. Institute for Women’s Policy Research – ​​“As a leading national think tank, we build evidence to shape policies that grow women’s power and influence, close inequality gaps, and improve the economic well-being of families.”
12. The Meridian-Cox Foreign Service Fellowship for Emerging Leaders is a 6-day summer program in DC to expand awareness and access to foreign service careers to undergraduate students from underrepresented communities across the US. Activities include an interactive three-day diplomatic skills training course, a diplomacy simulation, panel discussions with representatives from the broader diplomatic community, and site visits.
13. Public Policy and International Affairs Public Service Weekends are 3-day conferences for undergraduates and recent graduates, especially from historically underrepresented communities, to learn about public policy careers. Host universities help pay for travel expenses and provide housing and meals.
14. Young Professionals in Foreign Policy offers an virtual Rising Experts Program to help early professionals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds refine their analytical writing, publish in major outlets, and build their policy expertise. Fellows commit approximately 5 hours/week for a term to publishing bi-monthly articles and leading discussions in their specialization, which spans regional and functional foreign policy topics. Applications typically open in mid-November and close in mid-December.

In addition, consider getting involved with—or even starting your own—organizations focused on the intersection of societal issues and emerging tech (or other policy-relevant topics), such as Encode. 

Finally, you can also sign up for our newsletter to be informed about emerging tech-relevant policy news and opportunities; for example, we run an annual summer speaker series, which often includes some content targeted at underrepresented groups (e.g. session #10 in 2023). 

Professional opportunities and landing a job

To advance your professional development, it can be helpful to build up a public profile by publishing policy-relevant articles, particularly if you’re interested in research jobs in think tanks, FFRDCs, or elsewhere. The research and writing process helps you learn about your policy topics of interest, and having publications is a valuable signal of expertise and demonstrates your writing skills. You can also use publications as writing samples for future policy publications (a very common element of the application process for policy jobs). To get publications, you should pitch potential pieces widely, such as to student newspapers or media outlets; you could also start a blog to practice writing publicly.

Another way to improve your personal “brand” is to bolster your LinkedIn profile, which could make you more attractive to recruiters/hiring managers. This could be as simple as switching your banner to “#OpentoWork”, having a thoughtful description about yourself, and having a detailed work experience section.

Apply ambitiously and widely. Students from underrepresented backgrounds often self-select out of applying for competitive opportunities, or they only apply if they fulfill all the eligibility criteria. Instead, we recommend erring on the side of applying, even if you don’t fulfill all the criteria—keep in mind that many institutions are looking to bring in new perspectives. 

Internships and fellowships

There are many internship and fellowship programs designed for people from backgrounds underrepresented in the policy world, such as:

1. National Summer Learning Association’s (NSLA) Summer Policy Internship – “we recruit diverse college students for a paid public policy internship in Washington, DC…Students work on Capitol Hill, public policy organizations, and community-based organizations.”
2. Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) Fellowship – a seven-week summer institute for junior college students from “historically underrepresented backgrounds and diverse lived experience.”
3. New Voices on Nuclear Weapons Fellowship (Federation of American Scientists) – a 4-month research fellowship for people from diverse demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
4. Editorial Fellows (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists) – a 1-year program for diverse authors with experience in nuclear risk, climate change, or disruptive technologies to produce a regular column, including financial compensation.
5. Cyber Policy Leadership Institute (POPVOX Foundation) – a part-time networking and educational program for diverse US college and graduate students.
6. #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellowship (New America) – a 12-month fellowship supporting mid-career cybersecurity professionals from diverse backgrounds to conduct policy research.
7. Undergraduate Diversity Fellowship (National Bureau of Asian Research) – “aims to provide paid educational, professional, and mentorship opportunities community college and undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of international affairs or Asia policy.”
8. League of United Latin American Citizens Internships (LULAC) – “the nation’s oldest and largest Latino grassroots civil rights organization, seeks talented and passionate interns to join us at the LULAC National Headquarters in Washington, DC.”
9. Rising Experts Program (Young Professionals in Foreign Policy) – a virtual writing workshop to help early professionals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds refine their analytical writing, publish in major outlets, and build their policy expertise. Fellows commit approximately 5 hours/week for a term to publishing bi-monthly articles and leading discussions in their specialization, which spans regional and functional foreign policy topics. Applications typically open in mid-November and close in mid-December.

Congressional fellowships

9. Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (Internship and Fellowship Programs)
10. Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (Internship and Fellowship Programs)
11. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (Internship, Public Policy Fellowship, and Graduate Fellowship programs)
12. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National (Internship program)
13. Minority Access (National Diversity and Inclusion Internship Program)
14. Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation (Native American Congressional Internship Program)
15. Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy Program) 
16. Victory Congressional Fellowship for LGBTQ+ young professionals 

International fellowships

17. UNIDIR Women in AI Fellowship (United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research) – program for junior to mid-career women diplomats comprising “a week-long, in-person training programme in Geneva, as well as a series of engagements with relevant experts and stakeholders.”
18. Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs) – a 3-month part-time learning and networking program for advanced degree holders under the age of 40 who are citizens in a low- or middle-income country that is a member of the Biological Weapons Convention

Recommended resources

• Employment Resources for Diverse Populations, George Washington University
• Diversity Recruitment Programs, Columbia University
• Opportunities for Underrepresented Students, Wake Forest University

If you know about other relevant opportunities that should be listed on this page or pieces of advice we should add, please submit them here. Thank you!