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I never thought ����vlog���� would play a role in my entrepreneurship journey. However, my experience at the Center for Public Leadership (CPL) helped me clarify my "why"—the driving force behind my commitment to promoting civic engagement. I knew I wanted to create something tangible to empower voters and enhance transparency in our democracy, and CPL helped give me the courage to do so.

was born out of a simple yet daunting question: How can we make it easier for voters to understand whether their representatives in Congress are truly advocating for their interests? I recognized that while legislative voting data is available to the public, it's often buried in complex reports and convoluted formats that make it inaccessible for the average citizen. The information gap leaves voters unable to make informed decisions, and in a time when trust in democratic institutions is eroding, this felt like a problem worth solving.

VoteSee provides a straightforward, non-partisan way for users to access and understand congressional voting records. We pull data directly from Congress.gov, ensuring its accuracy and credibility, but we go beyond simply making that information available. Instead of presenting complicated data tables, we transform the raw data into an interactive experience—something voters can engage with and easily understand. Our platform features quizzes that allow users to compare their views with their representatives' voting history, making the experience personalized and insightful.

The courage to launch VoteSee also came in part from observing the incredible work done by CPL alumni, Madeline and Austin, both from the HBS Class of '23, who founded Civic Roundtable. Watching them successfully launch their civic tech venture gave me the confidence to pursue my own idea. Their passion and focus on improving government technology reinforced my belief that a student-led initiative could make a meaningful impact. Seeing their journey made me realize that sometimes, change starts with a simple idea and the willingness to take action.

I hope that VoteSee is an example of the type of leadership that CPL encourages us to demonstrate. The leadership lessons taught at CPL—particularly about defining my "why" and aligning my actions with my core beliefs—are at the core of VoteSee's mission. By focusing on the core principles of accessibility, transparency, and empowerment, I hope VoteSee can be a valuable resource for voters seeking to hold their representatives accountable and engage meaningfully in our democracy.”

by Swanee Golden, Master in Public Policy Candidate 2025 and George Leadership Fellow