Pocket Lobbyist

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Calgary, AB
Pocket Lobbyist

A subscription-based platform for government relations and public policy professionals.

05/30/2026

A simple truth about decision-making: the people who show up are the people who get heard.

Whether it's government, business, a non-profit, or even your own household, decisions are made by the people at the table. If your perspective isn't being communicated, it's difficult for it to be considered.

That's why lobbying exists.

Despite its reputation, lobbying is simply communicating with government to influence outcomes. It's not a niche activity reserved for a select few. It's something organizations across the private, public, and non-profit sectors do every day.

Too often, people assume change happens on its own. In reality, change happens when people identify an issue, communicate it effectively, and advocate for a better outcome.

If a government decision affects your organization, your community, or your industry, someone needs to be part of that conversation. Be a lobbyist!

05/26/2026

Hot take: AI should not be doing your government relations strategy for you.

Large Language Models (LLMs) like Claude or ChatGPT can be incredibly useful for gathering research, identifying trends, and collecting information quickly. But government relations is still a deeply human industry built on relationships, timing, and judgment. Basically, it comes down to understanding people and the psychology that drives them.

That’s why we treat AI as a tool, not a replacement for strategic thinking.

Information gathered through AI should still be cross-referenced with primary sources, validated, and interpreted through real-world context. Because when the stakes are high, accuracy and nuance matter.

05/22/2026

These are unprecedented times in Alberta politics right now (hug your favourite lobbyist).

Between shifting political priorities, uncertainty, rapidly changing conversations, and high-stakes decisions being made in real time, many organizations are trying to figure out what all of this actually means for their future, and the future of Alberta in general.

If you’re feeling uncertain, you’re not alone.

That’s exactly why we created GR 101. The program is designed to help professionals and decision-makers better understand government, politics, lobbying, and political risk so they can navigate uncertainty more strategically and confidently.

Our Fall 2026 cohort begins September 17, and we expect demand to be high given the current landscape.

If you’ve been thinking about joining, we recommend claiming your spot early: https://www.pocketlobbyist.com/gr-101

05/19/2026

One of the worst words in government relations? 👉 “Should.”

Government doesn’t make decisions based on what we think should happen. Decisions are made based on priorities, incentives, political realities, and competing interests.

Strong government relations strategy starts when you stop focusing on what government should do and start understanding what it is actually trying to accomplish.

Because “should” isn’t a strategy.

If you want to anticipate, interpret, and mitigate political risk effectively, you need to understand how decisions get made, where priorities overlap, and how to position your organization within that reality.

05/14/2026

Do government announcements ever leave you scratching your head wondering what they actually mean for your organization?

You’re not alone.

Government decisions can affect funding, operations, regulation, growth, risk, and long-term planning. But if you don’t understand how the system works or how decisions are made, it’s easy to feel like you’re always reacting after the fact.

That’s where knowledge becomes power.

Our GR 101 cohort is designed to help you better understand government, politics, lobbying, and the decision-making process so you can navigate change more strategically and confidently.

Because the more you understand the landscape, the better prepared your organization will be.

The next intake is Fall 2026. Register now at pocketlobbyist.com/gr-101

05/12/2026

Government relations is about understanding incentives, priorities, and the reality of how decisions get made.

If a tool exists, governments and decision-makers are going to use it. Strong GR professionals understand that and think proactively instead of reactively. They understand what others are trying to accomplish and build strategies based in reality, not assumptions about what “should” happen.

That mindset shift is one of the biggest differences between reacting to politics and navigating it strategically.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, stepmoms, grandmas, aunties, foster parents, mentors, caregivers, and people who take on maternal roles in all kinds of ways.

The people who check in, show up, offer support, give advice, make sacrifices, keep things moving, and help shape who we become.

There are so many different kinds of care and leadership that exist in our lives, and today is a reminder of how much those roles matter.

We hope you feel appreciated today.

05/05/2026

The truth is, the best government relations professionals are shaped by experience.

You learn by sitting in the meetings. Watching priorities shift. Seeing how decisions actually get made. You learn by navigating uncertainty, reading the room, making mistakes, adapting your approach, and doing it all over again.

There’s no shortcut for lived experience.

But there is value in learning the foundations earlier.

Understanding how government works, how influence happens, how relationships are built, and how political risk shows up in organizations can help you connect the dots faster and approach the work more strategically from the start.

Our GR 101 cohort program won’t replace experience. Nothing can.

But it can give you the context, language, and frameworks to make better sense of the experiences you’ll have along the way.

04/30/2026

Suddenly it clicks. And you realize… you probably should’ve learned this sooner.

GR 101 is where it all starts to make sense.

04/21/2026

Missed the Spring cohort? The next opportunity is already on the calendar.

The Fall 2026 GR 101 cohort starts September 17.

If government decisions affect your work, this program is designed to help you better understand how the system works, who influences it, and how to engage more strategically over the long term.

Over six weeks, you’ll build the skills to anticipate change, manage political risk, and approach government relations with more structure and confidence.

Registration is now open: pocketlobbyist.com/gr-101

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Calgary, AB

Website

https://www.pocketlobbyist.com/

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