Inside Elections and Political Campaigns with Matthew Krayton

Lifetime at Work: Interviews with Founders, Investors and Advisors

Episode 63. There is a big engine of people behind the candidates in the world of politics. Exploring a campaign and election from the inside helps give insight into what’s happening and why.

Guest Matthew Krayton provides counsel to campaigns at the local, state and federal levels as well as to clients in the private and public sectors across the public relations landscape. He worked on special projects during Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign and helped to create the “We Just Did” hat. He created his PR Consulting Firm, Publitics, in 2011 and has been growing his team ever since.

Matthew has a unique view of the political landscape, and during the episode he shares his perspective of it through the lens of PR. He also shares insights into the relationship between social media and politics.

Key Takeaways and Discussion

• The typical way (and time) Matthew usually meets his clients.
• How he got involved in political campaigns
• How the approach to PR politics has changed and opened up to young people.
• The different ways that campaigns mirror startup companies.
• What makes Publitics a full-service PR firm.
• What consulting looks like in PR politics and politics-adjacent spaces.
• Why an overlap in values is important in public relations.
• The best social media platform for organic reach today.
• The difference between the Harris versus Trump campaign from a PR perspective.
• Why policy proposals sometimes take a back seat through values and personality.
• The secrets to running a seamless and successful campaign.
• Why empowering your people, especially your PR team, is crucial in all organizations.
• Why psychological safety is important in business, including those who work in politics.
• How people in the US today are reckoning with work culture (and changing it).