Welcome to our new series of blogs where we interview people in a wide range of roles across different think tanks and ask them the how, why and what their job entails. This interview is with Richa Kapoor from the Social Market Foundation.
What is your formal job title?
Communications Manager, Social Market Foundation
How did you get into think tanks?
I was part of the exec in my university’s think tank society and then decided to get some actual experience at the think tank. I got a policy intern role at a think tank – a bit of work experience at the end of the second year of university. That helped me understand think tank work and I started applying for research/comms roles as uni was ending.
Was this always what you wanted to do?
I initially wanted to get into journalism, and was interested in think tank research. I’m now right in between those roles – it’s the best of both worlds.
How does a typical day start for you? And at what time?
My day starts early, reading Politico’s London Playbook, and catching up on the biggest policy stories of the day. The actual work day can start with very different tasks – launching a report, responding to press inquiries, sending reports to MPs – but the news catch-up stays.
What do you enjoy most about working at the Social Market Foundation?
It’s amazing when we have a particularly successful launch (high-profile coverage, lots of reactions on socials) and the follow-up engagement with policymakers suggests interest for our recommendations. Impact takes a long time so you do have to be patient. I also really enjoy watching the way SMF has transformed over the years and I’m excited to see where it will go. Last but not least, I enjoy all the discussion and bonding with my colleagues.
What does a typical day look like for you?
It’s often managing the publication grid and overseeing the work of/working alongside the Communications Officer. This can involve submitting to a government consultation, lending our voice to breaking policy news and then livetweeting a thought-provoking discussion between policy experts and politicians – all in a day’s work.
What excites you most about your work?
The prospect of policy change and influence, of course (and for my organisation to be explicitly credited for said change)!
What is the most challenging thing about your job?
The unpredictability of outcomes. Success doesn’t come from applying a formula consistently, or from applying the perfect amount of effort. The communications landscape is constantly changing and people’s habits along with it. You have to adapt frequently, learn on the job, and trust your instincts.
Can you think of one thing in particular you have learnt since starting this job?
The importance of internal communications. Being able to change practices within an organisation and keeping people abreast of what other teams are doing is a skill in and of itself. I would say I’m still working on it!
Which 3 skills do you think are essential for success in your role?
1) Be flexible with your to-do list; 2) Be a natural storyteller who can simplify for the lay audience; 3) Take a step back to assess the full comms operation to see where the strengths and weaknesses lie.
What tools or technologies do you use most in your job?
Media monitoring/press database service, political monitoring software, Canva/video editing, Microsoft suite.
How do you balance work and personal life?
I’m extremely fortunate to work at an organisation that really respects work-life balance. It’s hard to maintain this unless the organisational culture respects it.
How much of your day is spent in meetings or working with people vs individual work?
Hard to break down a day in this manner, but I would say maybe a third for each in a week.
What would be your one piece of advice to someone considering a similar career?
Keep asking questions. Not just questions to learn about the policy detail, but also bigger questions that will help you understand your work, organisation and the wonk world in general.
