Sam Hyun, MPP/MBA’22, serves as the director of federal relations under Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. In the role, he acts as a liaison between Wu’s cabinet and the federal government, representing and advocating for the city’s needs and priorities to White House partners and congressional leaders.
Prior, he’d worked for five years as a legislative aide for Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo, eventually overseeing the Speaker’s foreign affairs portfolio, arranging visits from dignitaries like the prime minister of Vietnam and former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon.
Outside his political work, Hyun is also the co-founder of 1587, a sneaker company that celebrates Asian culture and fashion.
What inspires you to do the work you do?
For a long time, Asian Americans, we’ve been really boxed in, with rigid definitions of who we are, what we can be, and what our possibilities are in this country. Part of what drives me is breaking that mold, breaking those bamboo ceilings, and not just for myself, but to be an example for others. I think it’s important that we are leading by example, but I think what’s most important is laying down a foundation for future generations.
Can you talk a bit more about representation in politics and the importance of amplifying underrepresented voices?
In my 9 to 5, I’m literally serving under one of the most prominent Asian American politicians in the country. Outside of that though, I want to encourage other folks to run, to build that pipeline, and encourage other Asian Americans to enter the political arena, as staffers and on the campaign side. Regardless of a person’s background, this thinking is ultimately about opening up possibilities for people who have previously not been engaged.
Do you have any advice for current students or young alumni who might be interested in getting into politics or public service in general?
We often get lost in theory and ideology and white papers and aren’t spending time in communities. So if you’re going to go into public service, be very sure that you are connected and rooted in community first and foremost, that you understand the heartbeat of what drives your community, and that you have relationships with people. It’s really easy to get lost in very grasstops thinking, which can have unintended consequences because you’re not thinking about and don’t have any relationships at the grassroots. So community is absolutely, critically important. Build relationships and show humility.
Given the urgency of the political moment, can you expound a little bit on why that grassroots work is so important?
A lot of people really overlook the impact of local government, whether that’s city council, the school committee, or even just your ward committees. We’re seeing what happens when people no longer put value and importance on those roles, and how that erodes the infrastructure of this country. It may seem like not a big deal when it’s just your own local neighborhood, but when it starts multiplying and those cracks start to show all across the country, inside and out, then you really start to see it as a whole on a macro level. We each carry a vote. We had an election in Boston not too long ago where a city counselor at large won with a single vote. And so every person matters. It’s important that we all contribute and it’s also important that we pay attention and are educated on the issues and do our best to contribute in all the ways we can.
What was your Brandeis experience like?
Heller really changed my life in many ways. I had spent almost five years working in government prior, and that gave me a lot of real-life experience in the political arena. But Heller really gave me a lot of the quantitative skills that were really critical. I think just networking with and getting to know the thought leaders at Heller – not just professors, but my peers, the alumni – that was invaluable. I’ve already worked with several in my capacity, so I think it gives you a lot of confidence going out into the world, knowing I not only survived Heller, but that I have friends and allies that are out there I can lean on for support.