Heather Podesta

Heather Podesta in 2013.

Heather Miller Podesta (born January 8, 1970)^[1] is an American lawyer and lobbyist based in Washington, D.C.

A Democratic lobbyist, she has been described as the “Insider’s Insider” and the “It Girl” of Washington.^[2] She is also recognized as a patron of contemporary art and as a philanthropist.

Career

In 2007, Podesta founded Heather Podesta + Partners,^[3] which is the nation's largest woman-owned government relations firm.^[4] As a lobbyist, Podesta’s clients include the energy, finance, healthcare, retail, real estate, education, and transportation sectors. She previously worked as a congressional aide to members of Congress, including US Representatives Robert Matsui and Earl Pomeroy, and US Senator Bill Bradley. She also served as assistant general counsel at the Air Transport Association and general counsel at the Airlines Clearing House.^[5]

Podesta is known especially for her commitment to supporting and advising Democratic candidates across the country.^[6] In the 2012 federal election cycle, Podesta and her colleagues bundled more than $300,000 on behalf of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Senate Majority PAC, and individual Democratic candidates.^[7]

The National Journal ranked Podesta as one of “Washington’s Most Influential Women,”^[8] GQ named her one of the “50 Most Powerful People in Washington,”^[9] and The Hill has repeatedly named her one of its "Top Lobbyists".^[10] In 2010, the National Law Journal ranked Podesta as one of "Washington's Most Influential Women Lawyers".^[11]

She received her law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley, where she now sits on the National Advisory Council of the Institute of Governmental Studies. In addition, Podesta is a member of the Board of Trustees of Ford’s Theatre and the Center for Reproductive Rights, and serves on the Washington D.C. Police Foundation Board.^[12]

Art collection

Podesta, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, is an avid collector of contemporary art.

Named by ARTnews as one of the 200 top collectors in 2012 and 2013,^{[13] [14]} she was also named one of the “Philanthropic 50” by Washington Life in 2010.^[15]

In 2009, Podesta donated Shepard Fairey’s iconic Barack Obama “Hope” poster to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.^[16]

Personal life

Podesta was named by Washingtonian as a “Style Setter,” known for her love of sky-high heels, color, Alexander McQueen, and Prada.^[17]

She is divorced from Tony Podesta.^[18] Her former brother-in-law is John Podesta.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heather Podesta.