Overview

The majority of Americans are dissatisfied with their choice of political candidates. Harvard Business School graduates are in a unique position to help solve the problem - as candidates for elective office, as private sector leaders who actively contribute time and money to candidates with high integrity and sound policy, and/or as participants in electoral reform. To be effective in any of these roles, one needs to understand the complexities of the political arena, the rules of the road, and the potential threats to democracy.

During the first module of the course, we will develop a “campaign mindset” through a behind the scenes look at the strategies and tactics of successful political campaigns, focusing on the 2024 US presidential race. We will explore the major components of campaigns through the lens of a businessperson entering the world of politics. A “campaign mindset” is invaluable if you enter the world of politics as a candidate or close advisor to a friend, colleague, or family member. Guests will include nationally recognized journalists, political pundits, pollsters, and presidential campaign strategists and operatives. We will discuss the similarities between politics and the private sector (customer segmentation, product ~ market fit, positive branding, use of surrogates, structure experimentation, and staged financing). We will also enumerate the many differences that private sector leaders should understand to be most effective (opposition research including self-opposition research, paid vs earned media, debate prep, messaging, negative narratives, rapid response, and crisis communications). The goal is to provide the essential knowledge about campaigns that all private sector leaders should know to most effectively participate in the political arena – a “campaign mindset”.

In the second module, we will explore the myriad of structural election issues that threaten a vibrant democracy, and the role that private sector leaders can play in maintaining it. Specific topics will include election integrity, voter access/suppression, status of our democracy, dominance of the two-party political system, presidential transitions and governing in a polarized country, and participating in efforts to remedy structural barriers to fair elections and non-partisan politics. Guests will include HBS graduates who are first-time candidates for office in 2024, private sector leaders actively trying to reform structural election issues, and members of Congress.

The course is intended to engage students that have deep interest and backgrounds in politics as well as political novices. We will focus on critical thinking, strategy, and execution rather than ideology or partisan political philosophy in this hyper-polarized climate. Students will be asked to consider the following question throughout the course – “what can/should I do to actively participate in the political arena while still at HBS and post-graduation as a private sector leader who wants to make a positive difference in the world?” Although we will be focusing on the US elections, the concepts will be broadly applicable, and we welcome students from other countries. This course and all of its class sessions will be driven by the need for substantive and informed civil discourse, an increasingly rare concept that these critical times demand and all citizens deserve.

We will also have an optional session on election night (November 5th) to watch and analyze the election results together in real time.

Course Structure

This 1.5 credit course will meet for 14 classroom sessions during Q1 Fall 2024 and an optional session on Election Night (November 5th).

Assignments

Students will be assigned a case or relevant articles for each session. Many sessions will require short written submissions. In addition, student teams will be formed and assigned a swing state to analyze the local issues affecting the presidential election, each campaign’s strategy and tactics employed in that state, and predict the outcome.

Grading

Grading will be based on one-third class participation, one-third weekly short written submissions & team project, and one-third final paper.

Sessions

Module I: Developing a “Campaign Mindset”

1. US Presidential Nominating & Electoral Process

2. US Congressional & Down Ballot Races

3. Messaging – Voter Segmentation and Campaign Messaging

4. Campaign Finance & Money in Politics

5. Presidential Debates

6. Getting in the Arena: First Time Campaign - the Ultimate Start Up

Module II: Role of Private Sector Leaders

7. Status of our Democracy

8. Presidential Transition & Governing in Polarized America

9. Leadership Models Around the World

10. Election Issues – Election Integrity, Voter Suppression, Gerrymandering

11. Role of Business Leaders in Preserving and Strengthening Democracy

12. Breaking the US Two-Party System: No Labels and the Insurance Policy

13. Swing State Analysis & Predictions

14. Course Wrap

Optional Session:

· November 5th, 8p – Midnight, Election Return Viewing Session