Spotlight: Octavia Abell – Govern for America

What is Govern for America’s origin story?

 In 2015 I joined Governor Raimondo’s team in Rhode Island and saw firsthand the impact that state government has on our lives and the role that dedicated public servants can play. From education to healthcare to criminal justice and more, the state level is where we see our government in action most directly, and where policy becomes personal.

I was pretty stunned to learn that while close to 30% of the Rhode Island workforce is eligible to retire, younger people aren’t choosing careers in government. This is happening at a point where people in my generation and Generation Z want our government systems to change but don’t necessarily see government as the avenue to make that change, and when many of our leaders lack proximity to the communities most impacted by their decisions.

We launched Govern for America (GFA) to bridge the gap between thought and action — to build the next generation of public sector leaders and ensure that our most dynamic young people are empowered to solve our most pressing challenges in places where their talents and perspectives are most needed.

What inspired / motivated you to dedicate your career to innovation in the public sector? What, in your opinion, are some of the main barriers to a successful career in the public sector (in particular, for young professionals), and how does Govern for America solve for this?

Government has the potential to solve tough problems at scale, but many of the strategies we use look the same as they did 30 years ago. We can’t expect to change outcomes without bringing a new suite of tools to the table.

Unfortunately, governments typically do a pretty poor job of talking about how impactful and exciting the work can be, and the hiring process into states is often very opaque. Furthermore, there’s generally little to nothing offered in the way of professional growth opportunities for early career government employees, which is something that Millennials and Generation Z crave.

At GFA, we’re working to solve for this by connecting recent graduates from diverse backgrounds to high-impact roles in state governments across the country and empowering them to transform the systems that we interact with on a daily basis. By working with our partners to identify the optimal roles for fellow impact, applicants to GFA can feel confident that they are entering a place where they can do meaningful work, be valued as critical team members, and learn. We demystify the hiring process and improve the experience from the applicant perspective, and provide two full years of support so that fellows are equipped with the tools they need to add value in their jobs from day one and grow into innovative, effective public sector leaders with training, mentorship, and coaching.

Tell us more about the Govern for America fellowship model. How does it work?

The GFA fellowship is a two-year paid opportunity for recent graduates from diverse backgrounds to serve in high-impact government roles. GFA partners with government agencies to identify roles that states need filled and where fellows can have substantial impact. Our fellows are hired directly by the government agency and receive a full salary and benefits to ensure that individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds have the ability to be part of GFA, that fellows are engaged in mission-critical work on their teams, and to demonstrate that government can be a viable career path for dynamic young leaders. We recruit candidates from across the country, take them through a rigorous three-stage application process, and match them to roles that best fit their skills and passions. Over the course of the fellowship, we provide training, mentorship, and coaching so that fellows develop into effective and innovative public sector leaders.

What does a typical workday look like you? Do you have a daily routine or ritual that you swear by / that helps you stay focused?

 The one thing that’s guaranteed with running a startup is that there is no typical workday! My daily routine begins with a workout so to energize me and get me focused for the rest of the day — I’ve found that self-care as a founder is often overlooked and it’s really important to me that our team takes the time to care for themselves given how hard we work. I start work by reviewing my task list and then doing a quick scan through my emails to see if any urgent messages have hit my inbox. I’ve also found that time blocking my calendar and holding myself accountable for accomplishing specific tasks within a window helps avoid going down the email rabbit hole. My days typically fill up with meetings with state partners, funders, and team strategy sessions, and in the evenings I can often be found at an event or community gathering where I’m sharing the GFA story and learning from other people working to solve tough problems. At the end of every day I look at my calendar for the next day and prep for my upcoming meetings and make a task list for what I want to accomplish during the following day.

How can our community get more involved with Govern for America? How can one apply to be a GFA fellow?

 Lots of ways! We’re looking for leaders to join our League of Innovators to provide mentorship, subject matters expertise, and professional guidance to fellows. You can also co-host a gathering with us to introduce GFA to your network. Or, you can donate so that we have the resources we need to build the GFA movement and make the case for next generation leadership in government across the country.

Applications for the 2021 Fellowship open this fall! To apply you can sign up for our newsletter on our website to get updates on the application process. If you have other ideas we’d love to hear from you — please contact us on our website or by emailing Manjot Chhabra at [email protected].

 

What 3 pieces of advice would you give to young professionals interested in a career in the public sector?

1. Go for it! I learned so much working in government and the skills it allowed me to build have been invaluable to me as an entrepreneur. It’s stimulating to work in an environment where you are constantly problem-solving and empowering to see how your work can make things better for people in your community.
2. Take time to understand the systems you operate within before jumping to suggest a solution. I meet a lot of young people who are passionate about the environment, or criminal justice reform, or educational equity and are very focused on the solution they want to advocate for. I always encourage them to first take time to understand the root problem and the systems that are perpetuating that problem. Often deeply understanding a system is the best way to figure out how to evolve that system.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions — especially if it’s to ask why things have always been done a certain way. In the public sector you’ll get to learn and work alongside people at all stages of their career, and raising a fresh perspective in the spirit of learning can bring new attention to long standing issues — or shed light on something that isn’t even recognized as something that can be improved upon. Even when you aren’t the most experienced or senior person in the room your voice matters in those conversations.

 Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that inspires you?

 Go where you are most needed.

You can follow Octavia and Govern for America here:

Instagram: @govforamerica, @rikkitikkitavie

Twitter: @govforamerica, @octavia_abell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/govern4america

Website: https://www.govern4america.org/