Andrew Barnhill
Chief Government Affairs Officer at IQVIA
Andrew Barnhill is the Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs at IQVIA - the world’s largest clinical research organization - and has been named one of the top lobbyists in D.C. for multiple years. As it turns out, though, Andrew never imagined himself working in healthcare lobbying.
After deciding back in high school that D.C. is the city for him, Andrew’s determination led him to start an internship on the Hill that launched his career in government and public policy that includes time in the House and a stint diving into state politics.
While Andrew imagined himself working with a variety of policy areas at his future lobbying firms, the drafting of the Affordable Care Act shifted priorities on the Hill (and his future) to healthcare policy.
“The lesson to that is: You don't always know what issues you're going to get pulled into. When I was in college, I took no healthcare classes … I knew I was going into politics in some capacity, but it was the issue of the time” Andrew reflects.
During his last fourteen years in healthcare, Andrew held roles at GlaxoSmithKline, a global lobbying firm, as an adjunct professor, and even ran for the North Carolina Senate.
Andrew connects this diverse range of experiences, explaining, “Good lobbying is good educating … I think that I'm an educator at heart. My approach to lobbying is as a teacher - and I think that can often be effective.”
Keep Reading ⬇️
Want to meet a healthcare lobbyist who’s also a professor at NYU and a former Congressional Staffer?
Oh, you should talk to Andrew Barnhill!
A Message From IQVIA
IQVIA is proud to be recognized as one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune. Learn more about us here!
Andrew's Backstory
🏠 Hometown: Wilmington, North Carolina
🎓 College: Furman, Duke, and UNC
What makes good lobbying?
“Lobbying requires building relationships, developing subject matter expertise, and finding common ground to resonate with congressional staff. First, find opportunities to gain experience both on and off the Hill, such as working for a company or trade association for a period of time before returning to the Hill. Second, reach out to stakeholders from your industry to learn about their work and careers. Lastly, when scheduling time, build in some focus time to truly become an expert on your issue areas."
🔗 CNCT with Andrew about…
His love for swimming (he swims every day)
Traveling to Scotland and Budapest
Eastern North Carolina-style BBQ - his pick for a last meal
His new dog, Marlowe - a cocker spaniel!
What about his campaign for NC Senate?
“I think it's the hardest thing I ever did because it's basically a fundraising job. We spent all day long raising money… I still remember some of the toughest weeks of my career as not difficult lobbying moments, but rather when I had to get a TV buy out the door for advertising. I knew I needed to bring in a certain amount; for instance, I have to raise $50k in eight hours. How am I going to get that through the door? That's a hard thing to have to do.”
Despite the difficulty of his campaign work, Andrew moved on by taking it all as lessons learned in politics, people, and lobbying.
“We like to think of people in these clear ideological categories… People are more complex than that. I think it makes you a better lobbyist to understand that the way issues are going to hit is not as clear cut as you might think.”
Andrew's Favorites ❤️
☕ Coffee: Java House or Emissary (Dupont)
🍷 Bar: The Eastern (loves a good wine bar)
🍻 Happy Hour: Quill at The Jefferson
🎬 Movie: For the best political movie, State of Play
Andrew’s Advice on Embracing Bipartisanship:
“First, identify individuals within offices or parties with whom you know you can collaborate on specific tasks. Start with one or two manageable initiatives; this approach makes it easier to build momentum. For instance, focus on advocating for a simple bill that garners bipartisan support and secures allies from various offices. Demonstrating success with these smaller achievements enhances your credibility. It establishes a foundation for future endeavors, enabling you to tackle more challenging tasks and gradually accumulate victories along the way.”
More about Andrew…
“I tend to stay busy, most recently working on my house in Dupont. Currently, my partner and I are renovating a house built in the 1890s that we bought a year ago. This work–and AirBnb’ing our guest unit in the house–is something I truly enjoy and allows me to focus my attention outside of public policy.”
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Staffer Advice
“Your career path will not be linear. Think about your career in blocks or decades instead of just one long path. You can spend five to 10 years focused on a particular thing, do it well, and then move on. Also, learn to say 'no', set boundaries, and guard your time - a valuable commodity in a hyper-busy Washington calendar. One of the things that matters most is being flexible and resilient to the changes around you.”
- Andrew Barnhill