Speechwriting for Government Principals: Study Group Session One

As a speechwriter for a senior government official, you’ve got to be a creative, well-read, and thoughtful wordsmith - and you must read the room, anticipate obstacles, and advocate for the boss. This study group will cover how to improve your writing and draft a great speech, as well as how to master the process and people management that speechwriting demands. 

Usha will share stories about how she got started in the Biden administration, the best and worst speeches she’s written, and her experience staffing high-level principals at home and around the world.

This study group will be useful to anyone interested in writing speeches for senior executives or officials, pursing a communications job in a future administration, or sharpening their writing skills. 

Session One: Words on Paper - Tuesday, March 4, 12:00pm-1:15pm, Rubenstein Building, G-21

In this session, we’ll focus on writing – how to get started when you have a

speech assigned to you, and how to keep improving your skills even when

you don’t.

Session Two: From Clearances to the Plane to Game Day - Wednesday, March 26, 12:00pm-1:15pm, Rubenstein Building, G-21

This session is dedicated to the process – managing conflicting edits and

maintaining version control, getting feedback from senior leadership, and what

to expect when the boss calls you in.