Lovin’ Data

Research drives policy messaging. Well, at least for smart conservatives.

For Abbey Brokos, she’s found a career doing research in her passion: political communications. First she worked for the Republican National Committee as a junior research analyst, and now she’s a political communications specialist at FP1 Strategies.

“Research is absolutely crucial because it sets the foundation for communication strategies,” Abbey said. “It helps explain the facts why people should believe a specific argument. More and more campaigns, nonprofits, and corporations are hiring researchers because they provide the substance on which to springboard their message and win over an audience.”

At FP1 Strategies, Abbey compiles news articles for clients, conducts research, updates social media accounts, writes op-ed pieces, and collects information and quotes for client advertisements.

“The fast-paced nature of political communications means there is never a dull moment in the office,” she said.

At the Republican National Committee (RNC), Abbey developed research and communication skills.

“We were required to quickly research and turn around the information to be used as background for the RNC, a blog post on the website, or a research piece used by the presidential campaign, grassroots activists, and reporters,” Abbey said. “One of the many highlights of working at the RNC was the opportunity to attend the Republican National Convention down in Tampa, Florida.”

She’s a Michigander, but attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in political science and graduated magna cum laude.

In college, she spent her summers interning in the DC area.  In 2009, Abbey was a legislative affairs intern for Concerned Women for America, where she first learned of the Leadership Institute (LI).

“After attending the Leadership Institute’s Youth Leadership School, I realized that there were so many different practical things that LI could teach me which would give me an advantage in the world of politics. The next summer in 2010 I was excited to learn that I was accepted as an LI intern,” Abbey said. “It was while I was interning in the communication training department that I first realized my love for communications.”

So, she enrolled in 14 LI trainings.  She jumped at the opportunity to take all of LI’s communications trainings: public speaking, television, public relations, and broadcast journalism, she said.

“Countless times, techniques I learned at LI have helped me understand tasks at work much more quickly and have given me an advantage in the workforce. Moreover, the Leadership Institute has helped me develop life-long relationships with both mentors and peers in the political world that continue to challenge me to grow as an individual and conservative,” Abbey said.   

The following summer Abbey interned at the U.S. Department of State.

“Young people should care about public policy because it directly impacts our generation and the future of our country,” Abbey said. “Unless we take an active role, future generations may not have the same freedoms and opportunities that we have today.”

So, get trained in effective communications at LI so we can preserve freedom!

Register for LI's Public Speaking Workshop.

“The Leadership Institute wants to take people who have a passion to make a difference in the world of politics and equip them with the foundational tools in order to help them succeed in whatever area of politics they choose,” Abbey shared. “LI helped me develop my love for communications and for that, I will be forever grateful.”

Follow Abbey on Twitter @Abbeyebrokos.

Please congratulate Abbey Brokos on finding her career love, and please welcome her as LI’s Graduate of the Week.

To nominate a Leadership Institute graduate or faculty member to be featured as LI's spotlight of the week, please contact LI's External Affairs Officer Lauren Day, formerly Lauren Hart, at Lauren@LeadershipInstitute.org.