Corporate
Reinventing Roles for a New Era: Government Relations
5/22/2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is not only changing where and how we work, it is reinventing job roles — possibly permanently.
As part of a Q&A series, Samsung employees across business areas are sharing their views on how they have redefined their roles for today and what they expect their roles to look like in the future. They are also are offering advice to those now entering the profession as the collective workforce discussion shifts from what now to what next.
Name: Kevin O’Hanlon [LinkedIn]
Title: Director, Government Relations
Location: Samsung Solutions Center, Washington, D.C.
Years with Samsung: 4 months
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in Government Relations?
I never set out to be a lobbyist. I started working on Capitol Hill right out of college for the member of Congress that represented my university, Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC). After Heath retired, I decided it was time to explore a career that wasn’t subject to review every two years with the election cycle. I ended up working for a small lobbying firm representing a broad range of companies and industries – broad meaning everything from the Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees and LifeLock to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the video game industry trade association. From there, I had the pleasure of spending five years in the nerdiest and arguably the most perfect role for me (I’m a huge gamer) as the video game industry lobbyist for ESA. But when the opportunity came to join the Samsung Government Relations team, it was too good to pass up. I am an early adopter of new, cutting edge technologies, and educating government stakeholders on behalf of Samsung about the future of technology is an incredible job.
2. How would you describe your day-to-day role pre-COVID?
In person. As a government relations professional, a significant amount of my time is dedicated to meeting with government officials and their staffs. Conducting face-to-face meetings and interactive educational efforts is inarguably the best way to convey the company’s values, history and commitment to America, as well as showcase our next-gen products, solutions and services. For instance, we held an event at the Samsung Solutions Center in Washington, D.C. right after the Galaxy S20 series and the Z Flip were unveiled at Unpacked. Attendees, including members of Congress and their staffs, were not only blown away by the new devices, they experienced the power of 5G, which underscored the importance of 5G technology and networks.
3. How have you reimagined your role for today?
It has been an interesting transition. Usually Congress isn’t known for moving quickly. The United States House of Representatives and the Senate especially are very deliberative bodies. Legislation takes time. In the COVID-19 era, legislation is being drafted, reviewed and passed in record time. This requires our team to provide real-time feedback and guidance on proposals that will map our country’s path forward – it’s fast-paced, but also rewarding. So, for now, we spend a lot of time on WebEx and the phone doing the same kinds of things we did before. This new reality may well have a long-term impact on future engagement.
We are also working on new and exciting projects. While the transition to telework, telemedicine and distance teaching/learning has been difficult, Samsung is helping employees, doctors/patients, and teachers/students operate more efficiently from home. We are working with both the federal and state governments to get critical technology into the hands of those who need it most. Samsung’s A10 series phones are being used as hotspots for students without home internet, and tablets and computers are allowing continuing education and driving continued health outcomes when in-person visits are not practical.