Roundtables That Matter: Turning Talk into Action
When faced with significant policy changes, individual organizations often struggle to make meaningful impact. But what happens when an industry learns to speak with one voice?
This is the story of how one company transformed a regulatory challenge into an opportunity to build a powerful professional community—creating a blueprint for collective advocacy that any industry can follow.
The Executive Order
When the White House issued an Executive Order requiring government agencies to study digital assets and provide policy recommendations, CLIENT recognized an opportunity to unite industry expertise. As a leading player with extensive portfolio connections, CLIENT developed a strategic approach to position themselves as a trusted voice in policy development.
Audience
Through a carefully curated Industry Roundtable, CLIENT would convene a diverse group of stakeholders including portfolio companies, startups, government representatives, and influential think tanks like Atlantic Council and Brookings.
This strategic assembly would create a comprehensive dialogue between industry practitioners, policy experts, and regulatory bodies to shape informed recommendations.
Before the Industry Roundtable
Prior to the Roundtable, CLIENT would organize intimate meetings that introduce participants and audience members early and start informative dialogue.
Key take-aways from these meetings would provide CLIENT with deeper insights for Roundtable content. OKR would include pre and post surveying to measure a change in content knowledge and awareness of actionable steps.
Industry Roundtable Content
Industry experts will explore critical topics ranging from renewable energy adoption and financial crime prevention to global market dynamics, economic security, and financial inclusion through digital innovation. Sessions include:
Breakout Sessions: Facilitated breakout sessions would be moderated by 1-2 experts for deeper dives into select subject matters.
Demo Sessions: Product demonstrations would showcase market competitiveness, consumer experiences, security and data protection, etc.
Workshops: Hands-on sessions organized for policy makers, understanding the intrinsics of technology for better informed policy
‘What If’ Scenarios: Experts run through the impact of varying levels of regulations on commercial landscape and workforce implications
Coverage: Media partners would serve a role, interviewing participants on the sideline of the roundtable.
Post-Roundtable
Momentum starts at the Roundtable. CLIENT recruits ‘Ambassador bench’, individuals from CLIENT’s companies who lead discussions and gather intelligence as boots-on-the-ground for ongoing engagement.
Change Happens Locally: CLIENT would identify and support forward-leaning local governments as they test market approaches, measuring success through engagement metrics, legislation outcomes, and economic indicators.
Federal Engagement: Through partnerships with NGOs and think tanks, CLIENT will establish itself as a trusted resource for policy development, tracking success through agency engagements and information sharing.
University Contribution: Strategic support for educational programs will cultivate talent while creating direct pathways to employment within CLIENT companies.
Industry Intelligence: A Pulse Report will aggregate insights from CLIENT portfolio companies, providing unique visibility into industry trends and program impact.
The Framework for Success
The initiative's success revealed five key principles for building effective professional advocacy communities:
Start Small, Think Big: Begin with intimate gatherings that build trust before scaling to larger events
Create Value Beyond Advocacy: Ensure community participation delivers immediate benefits while building toward longer-term goals
Empower Local Action: Support regional initiatives that can inform national strategies
Build Learning Networks: Connect academic institutions, industry experts, and emerging professionals
Measure and Adapt: Use clear metrics to track impact and adjust strategies accordingly
From Blueprint to Action
The message is clear: When professional communities organize effectively, they don't just respond to change—they help shape it.
Today, this model serves as a template for other industries facing similar challenges. The key lesson? Effective advocacy isn't about the loudest voice—it's about orchestrating a chorus of expertise into a coherent message.
The future belongs to those who can turn individual expertise into collective wisdom.
Are you inspiring industry change? Let's explore how your network can position you as an industry mover, reach us today!
