Connecting with stakeholders

Informational interviews are an excellent tool to explore a field of interest and learn from others’ career pathways. They also help build your network and connect you with stakeholders and policy-makers who can be a great resource when it comes to developing research questions that are responsive to the needs of the community.

As part of the Urban Governance Series, all URBAN Trainees should connect with a stakeholder, decision-maker, or expert of interest for a Stakeholder Meeting/informational interview. Once you’ve identified someone you would like to speak with, find a 45-minute window for a phone or Zoom conversation and suggest a few topics you’d like to discuss, for example, to hear more about their leadership role tackling an urban environmental challenge, their career pathway, or their perspectives on your research and where the field is heading.

The URBAN Program Manager can help brainstorm who to connect with, as well as facilitate the connection and provide an introduction! Please reach out here.

Preparing for your meeting

At the start of your conversation, we suggest taking the lead by proposing where to start (“I thought I’d start by telling you a bit about my program and my research”) and where the conversation might go (“and then I’d love to ask you some questions about your job and your field, and any advice you have for me”). It is also always a good practice to double-check their availability (“But first, are you still available until X time?”).

You should review the Discussion Guide (download here) as well as this resource from NIH for ideas of how to approach the conversation. Additional questions you might consider asking include:

  • How did you get where you are?
  • How have you been able to use your role to make a difference?
  • What do you love most about your job?
  • When you think about the future of your field, what do you think will change in the next five years?
  • What advice do you have for me, as I think about [how to get the most about of my program, how to plan for diverse career paths, including in <<insert whatever sector they are in>>, how best to support decision-makers from inside a university?]
  • When you think about my research skills and interests, in what areas/departments/avenues do you think I could contribute the most value?
  • As a final question, what recommendations do you have for other people I should speak with, or resources to look into?

After your meeting

After the conversation, be sure to follow-up with a “Thank You” email. It helps to mention at least one specific thing you appreciated about the interaction and/or what you plan to do for next steps. Most importantly, have fun!

Post-Stakeholder Meeting Reflection Assignment

When you’ve completed your conversation, please return to this page to complete the final reflection prompts below.