409. How to be a Strategic Political Donor: With former US Ambassador Suzi LeVine and Joe Nguyễn

409. How to be a Strategic Political Donor: With former US Ambassador Suzi LeVine and Joe Nguyễn

Author: Town Hall Seattle May 23, 2026 Duration: 1:22:12

Headshots of Suzi LeVine and Joe Nguyen

Are you ever overwhelmed with politics and trying to figure out how and where to channel your resources to make a difference? Or, worse, have you thrown up your hands in disgust and opted for the couch?

Join an empowering conversation on "How to be a strategic political donor," where you will learn that you have agency and can make a difference in determining the future of our Democracy.

Based on her decades-long journey in this arena, U.S. Ambassador (ret) Suzi LeVine will paint the landscape of the political ecosystem and decode their acronyms; provide a roadmap with key elections and milestones between now and 2032; and share specific ideas on how to build your political investment portfolio so you can maximize your precious 4Ts – your Treasure, Time, Talent, and Team.

She wants participants to go from being tactical, opportunistic, and worried to being strategic, effective, and determined (from worried to warrior). For example, you will learn how to process the flood of texts and emails coming from well-meaning politicians and organizations asking for your support and sharing how they're the most important entity in which to invest.

Her goal is for you to leave feeling empowered, engaged, and equipped to jump in and to get others you know off the couch and onto the field. Link to Slide Presentation HERE

Ambassador Suzi LeVine, a professor of practice at both the University of Washington and Brown University on The Power of the States, has over 30 years of experience leading global organizations across government, corporate and non-profit sectors. She serves on for-profit and not-for-profit boards primarily focused on workforce development and patriotism. Civically, she volunteers to help people channel their resources to restore Democracy.

She was President Obama's US Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Governor Inslee's Commissioner for the Employment Security Department, and President Biden's Acting Assistant Secretary for the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. These followed her private sector career as a Director at Microsoft and a Vice President at Expedia with highlights like the Windows 95 launch and Expedia's IPO.

Joe Nguyễn is the Seattle Metro Chamber President and CEO. He joined the Chamber after serving as Director of the Washington State Department of Commerce, where he oversaw statewide efforts to support employers, strengthen key industries, expand workforce capacity, and improve Washington's competitiveness. He previously served in the Washington State Senate representing Seattle's 34th Legislative District and has held private-sector leadership roles at Microsoft and Expedia.

Nguyễn is a lifelong Washington resident and graduate of Seattle University, where he earned degrees in finance and humanities. His career spans technology, economic policy, and organizational leadership, giving him a deep understanding of the intersection between business growth and public decision-making.


Recorded live from a historic venue in the Pacific Northwest, the Town Hall Seattle Civics Series podcast brings the stage to your headphones. Each episode captures a vital conversation from Town Hall Seattle's ongoing programming, where experts, activists, and thinkers grapple with the ideas shaping our collective life. You’ll hear historians reframe our past, legal scholars dissect constitutional questions, and community organizers explain the mechanics of emerging movements. This isn't just theoretical discussion; it's a direct engagement with the policies and cultural shifts that touch our neighborhoods and the wider world. Tuning in feels like finding a seat in a thoughtful, often provocative public forum. The series operates on a belief that an informed community is an empowered one, and this audio archive makes that process accessible to anyone, anywhere. By focusing on the substance of live civic dialogue, this podcast provides the context and depth often missing from daily headlines, fostering a deeper understanding of how society functions and changes.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Town Hall Seattle Civics Series
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