Public Affairs: What young professionals are learning (and why it matters)
Brussels is rich with sharp, multilingual, and tech-savvy young people who are carving out their careers in public affairs, advocacy and communications. From consultancy to policy teams, they’re rising quickly and often moving from university to management roles in just a few years. But the journey from academic theory to fast-paced advocacy work brings real challenges and real learning. And communications skills are key as well as self management.
So what are they learning?
📘 The obvious list
- How EU policymaking works – the regulatory paths
- Communications skills – writing with impact, confident public speaking
- How to build relationships—because Brussels runs on them
- How to stay informed with news, podcasts, LinkedIn
But that’s just the start.
The real shift is from the academic “comfort zone” to the real-world demands of negotiation, teamwork, and audience-focused communication. In university, the focus is on context, methodology, and solo work. In public affairs, it’s all about collaboration, clarity, and speed.
🔑 New skills young professionals need to master:
- Analytical thinking: understanding audiences and political nuance
- Negotiation and influence: getting buy-in from others
- Relationship-building: trust is the currency of advocacy
- Emotional intelligence: giving feedback, navigating tensions
- Strategic communication: clear structure, sharp messages
🎤 They also need to rethink how they present ideas: no more 10-minute preambles—just tell us what’s happening, who’s involved, why it matters, and what you want.
🤖 And then there’s AI. Young professionals are leading the way in adopting tools like ChatGPT for summarising, drafting, and speeding up content creation. But the human element still matters: curating ideas, reflecting team positions, and truly understanding what’s been said in the room.
AI is saving time. The question is: what will you do with it?
Use it to go deeper. Think strategically. Build better relationships. And never forget—the human insight behind the message is what really makes it matter.
