Mark Bayer

It just was a way of classifying the job somebody had. Over time, I think it's become more of a kind of viewed less seriously. But as you're pointing out, I think we're in total agreement here is that those kind of skills, while they are vital, I'm talking about skills. the spreadsheet or the modeling or whatever. In certain ways, they are commodities, right?

It just was a way of classifying the job somebody had. Over time, I think it's become more of a kind of viewed less seriously. But as you're pointing out, I think we're in total agreement here is that those kind of skills, while they are vital, I'm talking about skills. the spreadsheet or the modeling or whatever. In certain ways, they are commodities, right?

But what is really that magical factor is what we're talking about that really differentiates yourself, which is the human to human connection.

But what is really that magical factor is what we're talking about that really differentiates yourself, which is the human to human connection.

Thanks very much, Vince. It's so wonderful to be here with you.

Thanks very much, Vince. It's so wonderful to be here with you.

Oh, you're welcome. And the privilege is mine. You've done so many things in your career and your life, had so many different experiences. So I'm just really interested in having this dialogue with you.

Oh, you're welcome. And the privilege is mine. You've done so many things in your career and your life, had so many different experiences. So I'm just really interested in having this dialogue with you.

So great. And maybe I'll start by talking about the transition a little bit, since that's really going to be our focus. As you said, 20 years working in the United States Congress, I was a chief of staff in the Senate and also in the House of Representatives. And I had the privilege of being in the middle of a lot of big issues, Obamacare, healthcare reform.

So great. And maybe I'll start by talking about the transition a little bit, since that's really going to be our focus. As you said, 20 years working in the United States Congress, I was a chief of staff in the Senate and also in the House of Representatives. And I had the privilege of being in the middle of a lot of big issues, Obamacare, healthcare reform.

After the 9-11 terrorist attacks in the United States, I was focused on the Hill, on aviation security and trying to close loopholes that had been exposed as a result of those attacks, working with my boss who at the time was Congressman Ed Markey. He then subsequently ran for Senate. And so that's when I moved over with him.

After the 9-11 terrorist attacks in the United States, I was focused on the Hill, on aviation security and trying to close loopholes that had been exposed as a result of those attacks, working with my boss who at the time was Congressman Ed Markey. He then subsequently ran for Senate. And so that's when I moved over with him.

I think the big kind of takeaway for people thinking about careers and career transitions and how it relates to my own transition is really thinking about the skills that you develop along the way and what you like to do and what

I think the big kind of takeaway for people thinking about careers and career transitions and how it relates to my own transition is really thinking about the skills that you develop along the way and what you like to do and what

but also really what skills, so public speaking, being able to really distill complicated information into shorter, accessible, memorable pieces of information for various audiences. I worked a lot with the press. I worked a lot with trying to persuade other offices that the initiatives that we were developing were ones that were worth support.

but also really what skills, so public speaking, being able to really distill complicated information into shorter, accessible, memorable pieces of information for various audiences. I worked a lot with the press. I worked a lot with trying to persuade other offices that the initiatives that we were developing were ones that were worth support.

And so you have to figure out how to persuade in authentic and honest ways, how to write under tight deadlines, and then really how to distill and present to someone at the New York Times who's got a deadline coming up in a couple hours. Those are really skills that have served me well, both in my career in the US Congress and then what I'm doing now.

And so you have to figure out how to persuade in authentic and honest ways, how to write under tight deadlines, and then really how to distill and present to someone at the New York Times who's got a deadline coming up in a couple hours. Those are really skills that have served me well, both in my career in the US Congress and then what I'm doing now.

Yeah, it's a great question. And so a little bit more about my time on Capitol Hill. We in our office always had PhD scientists who would spend a year taking a break from their academic journey, and they would really learn what the legislative process was all about. And it was through a fellowship that was administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Yeah, it's a great question. And so a little bit more about my time on Capitol Hill. We in our office always had PhD scientists who would spend a year taking a break from their academic journey, and they would really learn what the legislative process was all about. And it was through a fellowship that was administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science