Consulting

Consulting is a popular field. But what is it? Good question! There are lots of different types of consulting. Your business school friends are likely practicing their case interviewing for management consulting. Similar work for the public sector also exists – we’ll call that government consulting (or sometimes “contracting.”) There’s also political consulting, which might be data analysis, communications strategy, and grassroots or grasstop outreach. These are just our delineations – it’s not quite so clear-cut. Explore the resources below to learn more!

Book an appointment with our resident recovering consultant Marcus Jackson if you want some practice case interviewing.

Management consultants assist organizations in improving their functionality, advancing their goals, and developing effective strategies for implementing their ideas. Clients may include private companies, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and nonprofits. This work is highly innovative and requires both detailed and big-picture critical thinking. Depending on the needs of the client, consultants may work toward assessing and re-working strategies already in place, enhancing an organization’s structural and technological capabilities, or working to effect short- and long-term plans by providing both practical and analytic approaches and solutions. This is probably the type of consulting that your business-minded friends are preparing for. Competition is early and pretty fierce. Good news is: our Business Career Community has you covered! See their wealth of resources on consulting here.

Examples: McKinsey & Company, Bain


Government consultants work specifically with government agencies, often in the defense and intelligence industries as well as transportation, sustainability and health. Like other political and management consultants, those working with government agencies aim to develop creative solutions and strategies to improve their clients’ effectiveness in carrying out their missions for the benefit of the American public. This may involve economic and policy analysis, conducting and utilizing market research, and implementing technological solutions and innovations within various governmental organizations.

Examples: Booz Allen Hamilton, MITRE Corporation

For more on this type of consulting, see our info interview with Avascent (now Oliver Wyman) analysts here and a consultant with Booz Allen here.

Here are a few lists to get you thinking:


Political consulting firms conduct in-depth analyses of specific public debates and high-profile issues in order to communicate the facts surrounding these issues to an intended audience. This work, which is highly research- and analysis-oriented, can involve shaping public and business policies or advising political campaigns in a strategic capacity. Depending on the clients they work with, political consultants may focus on the political mechanics involved in successful campaigns and debates, the economic implications of business and policy decisions, the regulatory implications of proposed legislation, or the dynamics of public opinion and media. These firms can be strictly Democratic, Republican, or bipartisan.

GPSi’s Long Yet Incomplete List of Political Consulting Firms

*organizations where students/alums have or are working

Strategic Communications / Full-Service Consulting

  • Authentic: Digital-first firm that builds branding and messaging for progressive candidates and causes.
  • Benenson Strategy Group: Democratic strategy and opinion research firm specializing in brand and message development.
  • Berger-Hirschberg Strategies:* Democratic fundraising and strategic communications consultancy for candidates, campaigns, and progressive non-profits.
  • BerlinRosen*: A progressive communications firm known for media strategy and issue advocacy in housing, labor, and civil rights.
  • Bluelight Strategies:* D.C.-based strategic communications and public relations shop focusing on progressive politics, Jewish advocacy, and policy causes.
  • Civitas Public Affairs Group: Progressive firm focused on advocacy campaigns, coalition building, and public policy messaging.
  • Dewey Square Group: Democratic full-service firm offering grassroots organizing, lobbying, and public affairs.
  • Global Strategy Group: Democratic-aligned firm providing polling, communications, and reputation management.
  • Glover Park Group*: Bipartisan firm known for public affairs and crisis communications, with roots in Democratic politics.
  • GMMB: Democratic advertising powerhouse behind major presidential and Senate races.
  • Hill and Knowlton: Global corporate and government communications consultancy with occasional political clients.
  • Invariant*: Bipartisan lobbying and advocacy shop with deep ties in Washington.
  • Lewis Burke and Associates*: Public policy and lobbying firm focused on education, research, and science institutions.
  • McLarty Associates: Offers strategic advice on international trade, market entry, and diplomacy; founded by Clinton-era officials.
  • MO Political Consulting (Meyers Okohson)*: Local Democratic consulting firm specializing in campaign strategy, voter engagement, and down-ballot political campaigns in STL.
  • Monument Policy Group*: Bipartisan policy and public affairs firm serving tech, defense, and financial clients.
  • Penta (formerly Hamilton Place Strategies)*: Bipartisan economic policy and strategic communications consultancy.
  • Precision Strategies*: Democratic firm launched by Obama campaign veterans, specializing in analytics, digital, and comms.
  • Purple Strategies*: Bipartisan firm known for helping corporations navigate politically polarized environments.
  • QGA Public Affairs: Bipartisan communications and lobbying firm with high-level political connections.
  • SKDK*: Top Democratic firm known for political advertising and crisis communications.
  • Strategies 360*: West Coast firm serving progressive candidates and causes with strategy and lobbying.
  • Subject Matter: Bipartisan D.C.-based shop offering creative services, lobbying, and strategic communications.
  • Teneo: Global CEO advisory firm offering strategic communications, policy risk consulting, and reputation management.
  • The Hatcher Group: Progressive storytelling and comms firm for foundations, nonprofits, and advocacy groups.
  • The Messina Group: Democratic strategy firm led by Obama’s 2012 campaign manager, focused on campaigns and corporate strategy.
  • The Parkside Group: New York Democratic consulting firm offering media, lobbying, and campaign strategy.
  • Tusk Strategies: Bipartisan firm known for regulatory strategy and aggressive media tactics, especially for tech.
  • WestExec Advisors: Founded by former Obama and Biden national security officials, advising corporations on geopolitical and tech issues.

Grassroots Field Operations, Direct Mail & Voter Engagement

  • Black Voters Matter*: Major voting rights and community empowerment organization specializing in grassroots mobilization, GOTV, and independent election expenditures in Black communities.
  • MB Public Affairs: GOP-aligned mail and advocacy firm known for targeting ballot initiatives.
  • Mission Control: Democratic direct mail firm specializing in voter contact and persuasion.
  • Trilogy Interactive: Progressive firm integrating mail and digital strategy for down-ballot races.

Polling, Survey Research & Analytics

  • Data for Progress: Progressive think tank and polling outfit known for issue advocacy research.
  • Echelon Insights: Center-right firm blending traditional polling with data analytics and forecasting.
  • Greenberg Quinlan Rosner*: Democratic polling firm with deep experience in international and domestic campaigns.
  • Hart Research Associates*: Longtime Democratic pollster known for qualitative and quantitative voter research.
  • Park Street Strategies: Smaller research and branding firm offering polling and message development.
  • Public Opinion Strategies: Premier Republican polling firm serving campaigns and corporate clients.
  • The Tarrance Group: Republican survey research firm working with GOP candidates and business clients.

Data, Modeling, and Behavioral Science

  • Analyst Institute*: Progressive data science group known for field experiments and campaign tactic testing.
  • Analysis Group*: Economic and policy consulting firm used in litigation and regulatory matters.
  • BlueLabs Analytics: Democratic data and analytics firm founded by Obama 2012 data team members.
  • Catalist: Progressive data warehouse and analytics provider for campaigns and advocacy.
  • Civis Analytics: Political data science firm focused on modeling and polling for Democratic causes.
  • HaystaqDNA: Predictive modeling firm spun off from Obama campaign’s data operations.
  • WPA Intelligence: Republican data analytics firm offering polling, modeling, and voter targeting.

Digital Strategy, Advertising, & Fundraising

  • Aisle 518: Progressive digital and email fundraising firm with a focus on small-dollar donors.
  • FP1 Strategies: Republican digital and TV advertising shop with national campaign experience.
  • Jamestown Associates: GOP media firm producing ads for presidential and congressional campaigns.
  • Middle Seat: Digital and creative firm behind brands like AOC and Justice Democrats.
  • Mothership Strategies: Progressive firm known for aggressive email fundraising and digital mobilization.
  • Run the World Digital: Women-led firm specializing in social media advertising and persuasion.
  • Something Else Strategies: Conservative firm focused on media production for Republican candidates.
  • Storefront: Creative firm producing digital branding, video, and design for progressive clients.
  • Targeted Victory: GOP-aligned digital fundraising and media firm serving Republican candidates and PACs.
  • WinBlack: Strategic digital initiative for reaching and mobilizing Black voters online.

Opposition Research, Political Law, & Compliance

  • America Rising: Republican opposition research and rapid response operation.
  • Elias Law Group (Marc Elias): Premier Democratic election law and campaign compliance firm.
  • Fusion GPS: Opposition research firm best known for its high-profile political investigations.
  • Perkins Coie (Political Law Group): Prominent legal group representing Democratic campaigns, committees, and PACs.

Policy-Oriented or Corporate Advisory Firms

  • Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG)*: Global strategy firm founded by Madeleine Albright; advises multinationals on geopolitics, markets, and policy risk.
  • Beacon Global Strategies*: National security and intelligence-focused firm founded by former CIA and NSC officials.
  • Boston Consulting Group (BCG Public Sector): Works with governments on economic development, climate, and regulatory policy.
  • Cornerstone Government Affairs*: Bipartisan lobbying and advisory firm with growing international and economic strategy practice.
  • Dalberg: Specializes in development strategy, impact investing, and policy for global nonprofits and governments.
  • Deloitte Government & Public Services*: Offers strategy, tech, and policy consulting for federal and state governments.
  • Guidehouse*: Formerly PwC’s public sector practice, focused on energy, finance, health, and national security.
  • McKinsey & Company (Public Sector Practice): Advises governments and nonprofits on health, economic development, and digital transformation.
  • Oliver Wyman*: Global management consultancy occasionally involved primarily in defense and aerospace.
  • Pillar Four Group: Advises clients at the intersection of national security, finance, and tech—staffed by former Treasury, State, and intelligence officials.
  • Rhodium Group: Independent research firm providing economic analysis on China, energy, and climate policy.
  • Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC: Strategic advisory firm founded by Condoleezza Rice and other former Bush administration officials, focused on international business.
  • Rock Creek Global Advisors*: Boutique firm focused on international trade, financial policy, and regulatory strategy.