The Business of Politics:
What Your Campaign Donations
Actually Do
Hosted by HBS Club of Seattle
You've written the checks. But do you know where the money goes - and whether it wins?
About the event
On Thursday, October 22nd, the HBS Club of Seattle brings together two of the most influential political strategists in the country - one Democrat, one Republican - for a rare, candid conversation about how campaigns are actually won and lost. Not the talking points. Not the spin. The business underneath it all.
*Suzi LeVine* served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein under President Obama and has been one of the most prominent Democratic fundraisers in the Pacific Northwest for over two decades. She knows how major donors move money, how campaigns allocate it, and what separates a winning ground game from an expensive loss.
*Chauncy Southworth* is the CEO of Cross Screen Media and one of the most sought-after strategists on the Republican side - specializing in the data, targeting, and media infrastructure that modern campaigns run on. He's built the machinery behind some of the most competitive races in the country.
Together, they'll pull back the curtain on what most donors never see:
• Where campaign money actually goes - and what moves the needle vs. what doesn't
• How the donor class shapes strategy (and when it backfires)
• The media and data infrastructure behind modern campaigns
• What both parties are getting wrong - and right - heading into 2026
• Audience Q&A: ask the questions political consultants rarely answer in public
Who’s Invited:
• HBS alumni (all programs)
• IvyPlus alumni (Stanford, Wharton, Booth, Columbia, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, etc.)
• Harvard undergrad/grad alumni
• Your guests
The Business of Politics - What Your Campaign Donations Actually Do
Hosted by HBS Seattle
Thursday, October 22, 2026
5:30pm - 8:00pm PT
Location: Downtown Seattle
Cost:
• To cover venue and refreshments
• $30 General Admission
• $25 Harvard or HBS Alumni
Hosted by:
Special thanks to; Hudson Pacific Properties whose state-of-the art office building, Washington 1000 is in the heart of Seattle’s Denny Triangle, located just steps away from Seattle Convention Center Summit, where Work Meets Wow! This stunning property includes lush outdoor areas, indoor workspaces awash in natural light, and modern design and amenities. Thank you to our valued partners at Hudson Pacific for making this space available and for hosting us!
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Current Full-time Student Annual Membership price $0.00.
Most Recent Graduate Annual Membership price $0.00.
Recent Graduate Annual Membership price $35.00.
Individual Annual Membership price $70.00.
https://hcseattle.clubs.harvard.edu/memsub.html
We look forward to seeing you at future events!