How Relationships Fuel My Career Journey and My Path to Becoming a Member of the Electoral College

Jan 3 / Kaveesh Pathak
The Electoral College is a heavily debated topic in the U.S. today. For a long time, I’ve observed deep issues within our political system: divisiveness, bullying, and polarization. However, as a young Indian American, seeing Kamala Harris become the Democratic Nominee inspired me; and when the opportunity arose to become a member of the Electoral College and represent my community, it felt like the honor of a lifetime.

The process was not easy. I had to earn the support of the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s board (the Democratic State Committee), a challenge for anyone, especially someone young. The key factor that allowed me to earn the support I needed to join the Electoral College was the strength of my personal relationships.

Turning Youth, a Perceived Disadvantage, Into an Asset

Being the youngest person in any room can be tough. Older people sometimes have their own groups, and fellow young professionals are also trying to establish themselves. It isn’t easy.
I learned to turn my age and “inexperience” into an asset. Ask older individuals about their careers, beliefs, and experiences. Let them mentor you, inform your thinking, and shape how you operate. Doing so helps you find adult allies and mentors who will want to support your journey.
When talking to other young people, listen to what interests them, find common ground, and learn from their experiences as well. They, too, can support you—and you should support them.
By listening and learning from others, you demonstrate your focus on growth and learning.
When I ran for my seat in the Electoral College, my curiosity, passion for making a social impact, and willingness to learn all played critical roles in earning the support of party leaders. As I talked to members of the party I asked questions regarding their journey’s, major decisions they have made both in politics, professionally and personally, and most importantly, feedback on what I have done and where they would like to see me grow more in. All of this made me not only a better candidate, but also better informed me on how I can guide both my own career and continue to make a social impact in the future.

Quality, Not Quantity of Relationships

It’s a cliché, but the quality of relationships matters more than the quantity. When you enter a room, aim to build three meaningful connections rather than introducing yourself to fifteen people. Forming real relationships allows you to understand others’ interests, which encourages them to reciprocate and care about yours.


According to Fast Company, building strong networks and relationships requires getting personal and asking real questions. Since you only have so much time at an event, focusing on fewer people and getting to know them more deeply is far more valuable than a series of quick, superficial introductions.

Although I was not widely known to members of the Democratic State Committee, a few key, close relationships played a critical role in supporting my bid, which made all the difference. Whether it was members who were on a subcommittee within the party that I had worked with, former colleagues or friends I had made along the way. Though by no means was I “popular” on the committee, these members ended up supporting me anyway due to a close relationship and they even vouched and campaigned for me.

Self-Awareness and Reading the Room

When you network, practicing both self-awareness and the ability to “read the room” is essential.
When meeting someone new, be relaxed, introduce yourself confidently, and be authentic. Don’t try too hard to impress them right away, as this may seem aggressive. Instead, get to know them and find common interests. Also, be aware of how your words and actions may be perceived—don’t belittle others or only talk about yourself. Understanding how you come across to others is critical for making a strong first impression and building a relationship.
I firmly believe in reading the room when it comes to networking. Pay attention to people’s tones, emotional states, and general atmosphere. Also, do your homework: understand what topics are appropriate to discuss and which ones you should avoid entirely.
When campaigning for the Electoral College seat, I had to make many phone calls so I made sure to have a loose script ready with me of my key talking points (why I was running, my experiences, my professional and personal goals). I had “message tested” these before I had started by calling some of my colleagues on the committee who were my friends and allies, but also were never afraid to give me feedback. As I heard feedback throughout the campaign, I continued to adjust, and always took a step back to imagine what someone else would feel if I phrased things a certain way or said a certain statement, that way I had an idea of how people would perceive me after my pitch.
I always let the person I was calling speak first, that set my tone for the discussion. If someone seemed more tired or annoyed, I would keep it brief and maybe not even include a hard ask of “can I count on your support”. If someone seemed more interested or open to talking, I would start asking them questions, and allow them to question me, before I make the hard ask of “Can I expect your vote during the meeting”. Additionally, if I called closer to dinner time, I would keep the phone call brief, as I wanted to be conscious of people’s time. Some of my colleagues on the Democratic State Committee, including the ones who sounded tired on the phone, told me they enjoyed my conversations and that led to them voting for me. I am confident that this is because I was self aware when it came to how I presented myself and read the room and met them where they were at when introducing myself.

Supporting Others

As you get to know someone, find ways to support them—not because you expect something in return, but because you genuinely want to build a relationship and learn from one another. This is especially important with other young people who, like you, are exploring the job market and figuring out their lives. By offering advice, lending an ear, or sharing resources, you become part of their support system and they become part of yours.
My own network—people I could turn to for advice, to act as a sounding board, or to collaborate with—played a critical role in my journey to earning a seat in the Electoral College. My friends even now pitch ideas to me, tell me what they are thinking and ask for my opinions and support, and I am happy to do so because of the bond we have created, which is not built on transactional favors, but actual friendship.

Finding Adult Advocates

Building relationships with adult advocates can lead to more opportunities, greater mobility, and increased wisdom. Adults are often ready to support you, but you must earn their trust and demonstrate that you’re reputable. This involves taking on meaningful projects, volunteering, showing a genuine passion and my favorite being willing to take on big challenges and problems.

Once you’ve shown clear interest and built meaningful connections with these advocates, the next natural step is to ask for help discovering future opportunities. Because you’ve invested time and effort into building a sincere, supportive relationship, they’ll likely be happy to assist. Adult advocates can include family friends, former bosses, or individuals you’ve met at events and gotten to know over time.
In my campaign to become an Elector, adult advocates were critical. I got my electoral politics started working for Senator Markey’s campaign. Many of the adult volunteers and friends I made along the way were ready to support me. From the time I worked for Rep. Tami Gouveia’s campaign, my colleagues both on and off the committee gave me endless call lists of people I should introduce myself with.
Although I was not endorsed or necessarily supported by any elected officials, a former boss of mine, Senator Markey told Wicked Local:

“Everyone on our team was very impressed with Kaveesh from the moment they began to work with him,” Markey told Wicked Local. “All of the people in the Markey world are very proud of Kaveesh and we look forward to seeing him fulfill his unlimited potential for political greatness.”
I believe that when you do the work, are willing to take on tough challenges, you build relationships with adults who are more willing to be advocates for you as seen by many of the State Committee members who worked with me on the Markey campaign supporting me.

Conclusion

Embrace Your Youth as an Asset: Don’t let perceived inexperience hold you back. Show genuine interest, ask thoughtful questions, and learn from those around you.

Focus on Quality Over Quantity: Focus on building deep, meaningful connections rather than acquaintances

Practice Self-Awareness and Read the Room: Consider how you present yourself and understand the social dynamics around you.

Support Others: Offer help without expecting anything in return. Your integrity, compassion, and willingness to collaborate will strengthen your relationships.

Seek Out Adult Advocates and Ask for Help: Build trusted relationships with experienced professionals and don’t hesitate to seek their guidance or support.

In Short: Your relationships are incredibly important for your personal journey! By embracing your youth as an asset and focus on learning, prioritizing quality relationships, practicing self-awareness and “reading the room”, supporting others and seeking adult advocates you will advance your career.
As I think about my steps in my career, focusing on being a cross-functional leader in a business setting, I reflect on how I have already learned. At my current job at Ohai.ai, I’m not afraid to dig in deep on a tough problem, ask both my boss and members of our management team questions to learn more and do research. By maintaining a constant focus on learning and growth, building quality relationships, staying self-aware, supporting my teams with energy and passion, and asking managers for guidance when I need it, I’m proud of the relationships I’m fostering as I begin this new chapter.

Kaveesh Pathak

Political Science and Business Administration student at Northeastern University, Member of the 2024 Electoral College, and Board Member of the Massachusetts Democratic Party
About THE AUTHOR
A passionate believer in using technology to make an impact, he currently interns as a Product Manager at Ohai.ai, a startup that is backed by New Enterprise Associates and other leading investors and is leveraging AI to improve the lives of busy people.