3 Things I Learned During my Time with VanceMitchem

By: Isabella Hull

I had the opportunity to work with the VanceMitchem Public Affairs team during the 2026 Indiana legislative session. Things moved fast, and I quickly saw just how busy life at the Statehouse can get. Over the past few months, I learned a lot from both my colleagues and the work itself. Several lessons stood out to me, and the three below had the biggest impact on my experience with the VanceMitchem team.

1. Relationship Building is Central to Public Affairs

When I started my internship, I quickly noticed how closely everyone was connected. Legislation might look like it’s all about debates and proposals, but I learned that a lot of the real work happens behind the scenes through trusted relationships. I saw how lobbyists, legislators, staffers, and clients use their connections to help shape policy conversations and influence outcomes. Building trust and maintaining relationships helps advocates share ideas, understand different perspectives, and find ways to move policy forward.

At the Statehouse, I saw firsthand how these relationships work. Sometimes it was a quick chat in the hallway after a hearing. Other times, it was a follow-up message to clarify a policy question or a meeting with a client to discuss how a bill might affect an industry. I started to see how these small interactions often moved conversations forward. Often, they were just as important as the official work in committees or on the floor.

As an intern, it’s easy to get caught up in daily tasks or feel overwhelmed by the fast pace at the Statehouse. Things move quickly, especially during the session, and it took me a while to get used to it. Early on, I found it helpful to recognize familiar faces, introduce myself to people in different offices, and ask questions whenever I could. Talking with people who have worked at the Statehouse for years gave me insights I couldn’t get from just reading a bill summary or watching a hearing. Over time, I saw how these relationships are the foundation of working together in public affairs. I’m very grateful to the legislators, experienced lobbyists, and fellow interns who shared their knowledge and made my transition both enjoyable and educational.

2. The Importance of a Willingness to Learn

Another thing I learned during my internship was how important it is to be open to learning. The legislative world moves fast, and every week brings new policy issues and changes. Since VanceMitchem works with clients in many different industries, I often had to research topics I didn’t know much about. At first, all the information felt overwhelming, but I soon realized that being curious and taking initiative helped me keep up.

Being willing to ask questions and look into new topics helped me see how laws affect different people. Writing legislative summaries or researching bills taught me to think beyond the words in the bill and consider how changes might impact businesses, communities, or state agencies. Watching committee hearings also helped me understand why lawmakers and advocates supported or opposed certain ideas.

As the session went on, I got better at looking into new policy topics and keeping up with changes. This experience made my research skills stronger and showed me that working in policy means you have to keep learning. Since policies are always changing, staying informed means always asking questions and learning from others.

3. The Value of Clear and Purposeful Communication

The last big lesson from my internship was how important clear communication is. I helped write weekly newsletters and legislative summaries to keep clients updated about their priorities at the Statehouse. This taught me that complicated legislative news needed to be turned into short updates so clients can quickly see what’s happening. Legislation is often complicated and technical, and hearings can lead to sudden changes. My job was to sift through the noise and surface what mattered most. Since clients can’t keep up with everything, it was important to highlight the news that mattered most and explain its impact.

I learned that good analysis only helps if it’s shared clearly. Sharing timely information keeps the VanceMitchem team and clients up to date and ready to respond.

Overall, my time with VanceMitchem showed me that effective public affairs work is built on relationships, curiosity, and clear communication working together in real time. I will carry these lessons forward by continuing to prioritize trust building, staying proactive in learning new policy areas, and communicating complex information in a way that is clear and useful for others.