Guest Blog by Ekhlas Ahmed, IPP ’25
One of the biggest lessons I learned through the IPP course is that policy is about people. The technical aspects of problem-solving are important, but what truly moves work forward is building relationships, engaging stakeholders, and creating coalitions that keep momentum alive. I also learned the importance of finding my own voice as a leader. As someone working in a newly established office with limited resources, I had to learn how to advocate effectively, communicate clearly, and bring others along with me.
Another takeaway is that progress often comes in small steps. Implementation is rarely a straight line, and the course taught me to value incremental wins while keeping sight of the bigger goal. Lastly, learning from peers around the world helped me gain a broader perspective on how different countries tackle policy challenges, reminding me that there is no single blueprint—just adaptive approaches that respond to local realities.
The challenge I focused on was reducing workforce shortages in the state of Maine. Our state faces a pressing need for workers, and at the same time, many immigrants and refugees face barriers in accessing English language learning opportunities and entrepreneurship support.
As a policy analyst at the Office of New Americans (ONA), I worked to identify how our small and new office could build legitimacy, engage stakeholders, and push for sustainable statewide programs such as English language classes and an entrepreneurship resource toolkit.
One of the biggest challenges was working in such a new office—we are a team of only two, and with limited institutional authority. At first, it was daunting to imagine how we could influence a problem as complex as workforce shortages. But through this course, I learned to use my authority strategically and lean on partners, particularly the ONA Advisory Council, as a foundation to build momentum.
Progress came from engaging stakeholders, clarifying the barriers, and advocating for concrete programs like expanded ELL classes and entrepreneurship resources. I realized that legitimacy does not come only from formal structures—it also comes from persistence, relationships, and the ability to show others that we are moving forward with purpose.
This approach has shown me that adaptive problem-solving requires experimentation, humility, and collaboration. In the future, I will focus less on trying to design a perfect solution from the beginning and more on testing ideas, learning from small steps, and adjusting along the way. I now see challenges not as fixed obstacles but as opportunities to build coalitions and create space for others to contribute solutions.
I am already applying what I learned in my current role at ONA. Every day I am using my voice to advocate for immigrants and refugees in Maine and to push forward programs that address workforce shortages. Specifically, I am working on:
- Advocating for statewide English language learning opportunities.
- Building an entrepreneurship toolkit to help immigrants overcome barriers to starting businesses.
- Strengthening ONA’s legitimacy and sustainability as a new office within state government.
This course gave me the confidence and tools to keep building momentum, even when progress feels slow.
My advice is simple: never underestimate the power of people. Even when resources are limited or institutions are weak, progress can happen if the right people and organizations come together around the table. Celebrate small wins, trust the process, and remember that implementation is a long journey.
Most importantly, use your voice. Advocacy and persistence can shift the conversation and open new doors, even in the most challenging policy environments.
This is a blog series written by the alumni of the Implementing Public Policy Executive Education Program at the Harvard Kennedy School. 36 Participants successfully completed this 5-month hybrid program in September 2025. These are their learning journey stories.