By William Peracchio MPA 2027
Before committing to Harvard Kennedy School, I was curious about the School's offerings and interested in policy, yet I was unsure whether my background fit that of an HKS student. I had been working at the intersection of technology, global finance, and public sector infrastructure. It was meaningful work, but not what I thought counted as the usual path to a policy school.
I spent a lot of time wondering whether HKS made sense for someone with a mix of experience in fintech, cross-border payments, startup work, and digital governance: the short answer is that it did. The longer answer is what my first semester taught me.
Why I chose HKS and why it made sense
I came to HKS because I wanted to understand how governments design systems that actually work at scale. Tools like digital ID, modern payments infrastructure, or smart transportation networks do not fall neatly into one field. They sit at the crossroads of technology, policy, and economics, and I wanted to study at a place that understood that complexity.
HKS offers courses that spoke directly to these questions, including DPI-660: Digital Governance and Leadership in the Public Sector and MLD-601: Operations Management, which connect students to real projects with the City of Boston. Because of this, the School seemed like the right place to stretch myself.
Being at HKS allows me to dip my feet into cutting-edge research with some incredible faculty and staff across a variety of different sub-areas within my field.
“Being at HKS allows me to dip my feet into cutting-edge research with some incredible faculty and staff across a variety of different sub-areas within my field.”
The highs: What stood out in the fall semester
- I enrolled in courses that felt connected to the real world. DPI-660 became a grounding point for me. We talked about digital public infrastructure, online service delivery, and what it means for governments to adopt new technologies responsibly. It was a relief to be in a room where these topics were taken seriously.
- MLD-601 was equally rewarding. Our team worked with the Office of Emerging Technology on transportation data problems. There is something motivating about talking through a challenge one week and seeing sparks of progress the next. I was around people who brought different perspectives.
- The student body is more diverse than I expected, not just in nationality or identity, but in experience. I hear stories from people who have worked in conflict zones, on climate projects, in public health, and in fields I had never even considered. These conversations push me to think differently.
- There were many small moments of community. Some of my favorite memories from this semester have nothing to do with classes. They are things like planning outings with classmates, talking for too long in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum, or working late on a group project and realizing everyone is tired but still trying their best.
The lows: What took time to adjust to
- Imposter syndrome showed up quickly. During the first two weeks, I kept wondering whether I had enough of a public sector background—it turns out almost everyone has their own version of this feeling.
- Life became fast-paced. Between assignments, projects, and trying to build a life here, the schedule can get overwhelming. At some point, I learned to let go of the idea that every week has to be perfectly balanced.
- I shifted from expert to learner again. Before HKS, I was used to being the person who explained things. Here, I had to get comfortable asking more questions. It was harder than I expected, but also good for me.
The moment it all made sense
I was an MLD-601 meeting with the City of Boston. We were discussing how transportation data flows across different systems and how to improve it when something clicked. My background in digital infrastructure and payments suddenly felt relevant in a new context. I could see how the skills I brought could translate to public sector challenges I had never worked on before.
It was quiet—nothing dramatic—but it felt right. I walked out of that meeting knowing that HKS is where I belong.
If you are deciding to attend
You do not need to sound like a policy expert to be a good fit. You do not need a perfectly linear story. What matters is that you care about solving real problems and are open to learning from people who see the world differently than you do.
HKS is not a place that hands you answers. It is a place that gives you space to figure out which questions matter to you and who you want to become while you work on them.
If that sounds appealing, you will probably find your place here. I did.
