💼The Business of Politics: Why Lobbying is a Power Play, Not a Dirty Word

💼 Business & Politics: The Game You NEED to Play

Politics isn’t just about governance—it’s marketing, influence, and strategy. And in today’s world, business leaders who ignore politics are playing a dangerous game.

I recently attended Intersection of Business and Politics: Insights for Leaders with Dr. Ken Chan, and the insights were eye-opening:

🚀 Lobbying is a business strategy, not a dirty word.
💰 $4 billion was spent on lobbying in the U.S. in 2023.
📜 Even governments hire lobbyists—because navigating policy is complex.
👥 Trade associations = strength in numbers. If you can’t lobby alone, join forces with an industry body.
🔄 The Trump Effect threw traditional lobbying playbooks into chaos. Unpredictability changed the game, and companies are still adapting.
🥂 Want the best political insider for your team? Head to the bar. Young former political staffers know the system inside out—and they’re your best bet for influence.
⚖️ Non-market strategy = leveraging relationships to shape policy. It’s not just about competing in the market—it’s about shaping the rules of the game.

If you’re in business and not thinking about how policies affect your industry, your competitors are.

Let’s talk—how is your business navigating government relations? Are you shaping the game, or reacting to it?

#BusinessStrategy #Lobbying #PublicPolicy #Leadership #TheGameBehindTheGame #NonMarketStrategy

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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