TZG’s Tips for Women in Advocacy

Advocacy is about making a difference, shaping policy and ensuring that voices—especially those that are often unheard—are represented. But for young women stepping into this space, it can feel overwhelming. The good news? Women in leadership roles are eager to mentor and uplift the next wave and many offering the guidance and opportunities that didn’t have when they first started out. We spoke with the women on our team: Trish Zita, Beth Dohm and Kish Hicks for advice and words of encouragement for the next generation of women changemakers.

Words of Wisdom

1. Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know—you can always learn it. “I encourage women (to be part of lobbying) because they are naturally empathetic problem solvers. As women, our primary goal isn’t to seek power; we tend to move toward progress and solve problems in a positive way. Those are key traits of a strong advocate. If you’re interested in policy and solving problems, advocacy and lobbying are amazing places for women. I believe more women at the table means more problems get solved.” – Trish
2. Be proactive. “That’s what most executives want. Is for whoever they’re going to hire or talk to be proactive. To know what they want before they know what they want.” – Kisha
3. It’s important for young people to understand is that no job is too small or too big. “Organizations and companies value teamwork, and success comes from focusing on results and reaching objectives. Be open to constructive criticism, take ownership of mistakes and always be willing to learn.” – Beth
4. Everything you do, do it with a smile on your face. “Even on the phone or through an email, people can tell what your temperature is.” – Kisha
5. Be strong and assertive, yet graceful. “Developing as a leader is a constant balancing act for women. We want to be strong and assertive, but you need to be graceful and thoughtful. You need to be smarter than everyone in the room, but you can’t be condescending. You need to be confident, but not offensive. It’s a constant balancing act for women and you need to find that balance as a leader to be successful.” – Trish
6. Learn to communicate succinctly and get to the point. “Writing and verbal communication skills are so important. This means knowing your audience. We also live in a fast paced world and everybody’s attention span is less than 10 seconds. On the lobbying side, you’re competing for legislators’ attentions and it’s important you are able to get to the point quickly.” – Beth
7. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.” – Kisha

About The Zita Group

The Zita Group is a woman-owned government and public affairs firm, both founded and led by Patrizia “Trish” Zita. Our bipartisan, experienced team of strategic consultants is widely respected by elected, appointed and government officials of both parties across New Jersey’s political landscape. We provide our clients unique insights into the decision-making process at the highest levels. We bring to bear credible working relationships with executive branch officials, legislators, and staff. Our team’s effectiveness has been demonstrated again and again by the results we achieve for our clients.