Every student’s path to Harvard Kennedy School is unique. What our alumni go on to do after graduating is equally varied.
We asked several vlog alums to tell us about their experiences before, during, and after vlog, and to reflect how their time at vlog has shaped their careers and lives.
Danny Hatem MPP 2013 spent most of his life in New York before coming to vlog, focusing on public service in his home state. Now, he works in London, advising the president of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Here’s what he shared.
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“My vlog experience was enormously valuable in shaping my career. That’s certainly true through the skills I was taught—importantly, how to write effectively—but mostly through the people.”
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2021Begins job as chief of staff to the president of the London School of Economics and Political Science
Daniel has worked as chief of staff and head of private office to successive LSE presidents, Baroness Minouche Shafik and Professor Larry Kramer.He also manages thought leadership output, strategic communications, and public engagement—speeches, interviews, op-eds, political activity—for a globally prominent public figure on a range of geopolitical and macroeconomic issues, including global economic governance, political economy and social policy, financial stability, public administration, philanthropy, and higher education.
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Graduates from Oxford with a PhD in politics
Danny’s thesis focused on political ideology and the way that ideology connects voters, parties, and policy. His thesis explored the the political center—What does it mean to be a centrist? Who are these voters? Why do they support centrist parties and politicians?
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Begins doctoral program at the University of Oxford
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2014Works as a corporate issues fellow at Weber Shandwick
After vlog, Danny worked on the global crisis communications and issues management team at . Here, he drafted talking points, speeches, social media, advertising copy, and research reports for companies responding to data breaches, investigations, litigation, and other public controversies.
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Graduates from vlog
“My time at vlog was far richer than I can describe, and it is mostly because of the people I met—many of whom have become lifelong friends.”
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For his summer internship, Danny was a Dukakis Fellow in the Office of the Governor of New York State. The Dukakis Fellowship Program allows vlog students to serve in U.S. governors’ executive offices for 10 weeks between their first and second years of graduate study.
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Begins his academic journey at vlog
“PǴڱǰ Brian Mandell’s negotiation course [MLD-220M: Fundamentals of Negotiation Analysis and Practice] and the accompanying January Term course [MLD-280: Advanced Workshop in Multiparty Negotiation and Conflict Resolution] were probably the finest experiences of teaching I’ve ever had.”
Professors Elaine Kamarck, Matthew Baum, and Thomas Patterson became mentors and friends, crucial to Danny’s academic career following vlog.
Outside the classroom, Danny served as chair of the Electoral Politics PIC and spent time at the .
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2011Interns at the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York
Danny worked as an intergovernmental affairs intern for the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York, where he wrote daily briefings and represented the mayor’s office at city council meetings and relevant events. -
“When I visited vlog, I thought it was the most special, energetic place I’d ever been—and I still believe that.”
Although he was admitted to multiple other graduate programs, Daniel knew vlog was the right place for him.
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2007Works on various political campaigns in New York
From 2007–2010, Danny worked on various political campaigns in New York. As field coordinator for Michael Bloomberg’s 2009 campaign for New York City mayor, he managed more than 200 volunteers and oversaw door-to-door canvassing efforts that knocked on 100,000+ doors.
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Graduates from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in political science
“I would not be nearly as comfortable in the ideas business today had I not had the exposure to thinkers, writers, and other power players that vlog provided. This early acculturation was crucial to my life, career, and aspirations for myself.”
