Member Spotlight: Megan Lawless
Megan Lawless, MBA ’08 Business Development Coordinator, U.S. Region
Lovells LLP
Q. Why did you choose the DePaul MBA program and what was your area of study?
A. I selected DePaul for a number of reasons. When I compared the MBA programs offered in Chicago, DePaul seemed like the best fit for me. My undergrad degree was in the arts, so I had very little background in business, and I wanted a program that would provide a good business foundation and allow me to explore various concentrations. I also knew I wanted to attend school part time—DePaul's part-time program was incredibly flexible and highly rated. I graduated with a double concentration in Brand Management and Marketing Communications.
Q. What work did you do for the Obama campaign?
A. About a month after graduating from DePaul, I was offered a job with The Strategy Group, a political consulting firm in Evanston, Ill. The Strategy Group had been hired by the Obama campaign as media and direct mail consultants, and I was hired to work on direct mail campaigns for Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Although direct mail is pretty old school marketing, it was fascinating to see how integral this was to all other campaign marketing efforts. The mail, TV ads, website and even Obama’s speeches promoted the same messages at the same time. When all was said and done, the campaign sent out 111 million pieces of mail to voters across the country.
Q. What is your current position?
A. I'm currently working in business development for London-based international law firm Lovells LLP. I've never worked for a company based outside the United States, so this aspect has been an eye-opening experience.
Q. What is your advice for MBA students and graduates seeking a career in political or legal marketing?
A. As in any industry, it is important to use your network when looking for a job, especially if you are changing careers. For students looking to get into politics, networking is essential—most campaigns rely on word-of-mouth when hiring staff. A good way to get your feet wet is to volunteer on a campaign. Legal marketing is a bit of a different animal. Legal marketing is a relatively new niche since many firms have been slow to recognize the value of marketing. Most law firms want someone with solid traditional marketing skills and a background in professional or legal services.
Q. What do you see as the next step in your career?
A. I would really like to work on another campaign. It was a lot of hard work, but I loved being part of something I believed in. Ideally my next campaign job will lead to a permanent communications staff position with an elected official.
Q. What was your favorite MBA class and why?
A. I really enjoyed James Moore’s Internet marketing class. It was one of the last classes I took, but also one of the most useful. I have referred to the notes from that class countless times.
