Jacob Lund Nielsen - Public Affairs: From a Firefighter to a Business Enabler?

Update: 2025-06-11

Description

"Public Affairs - from a firefighter to a business enabler?" - this is the topic in this episode of the Persuaders Podcast - the only podcast only about Public Affairs...

In this episode we cover one of the biggest challenges in the Public Affairs departments across Europe right now: How Public Affairs can earn legitimacy.

To explore this topic, I have invited Jacob Lund Nielsen in to the studio.

Jacob Lund Nielsen has a long and impressive career in Brussels especially known for founding Cabinet DN, his time at Teneo as well as Rud Pedersen - Jacob is a founder, CEO and advisor.

In the podcast we discuss:

- Why Public Affairs is stuck in some organisations - and what are the signs?

- Being typecast - born out crisis - why does this become a problem?

- The lack of business skills in Public Affairs

- How has Public Affairs evolved as a function (and discipline) in organizations? Including the relationship to Comms

- What has changed in society and internally in organizations that call for changes in Public Affairs?

- How can Public Affairs become a business enabler? What happens if it doesn't?

- KPIs and measuring - a necessary evil to earn legitimacy?

Hope you will enjoy the episode as much as we did.

Check out www.anderskopp.com for more resources about Public Affairs.

Host: Anders Kopp