Coaching for
Public Affairs Professionals
Public affairs professionals working inside organizations face a challenge that goes beyond policy. They navigate C-suite expectations, compete for budget and resources, and are asked to prove their value in business terms—often without a trusted peer who truly understands what that looks like from both sides. The work is important, but getting the internal traction it deserves requires more than expertise in government.
TGS Advisory offers one-on-one coaching for in-house public affairs professionals who want a thought partner with real executive experience. Terry has sat at the leadership table as the corporate executive responsible for government affairs and now he works directly with GA professionals inside organizations, helping them build strategic credibility, navigate internal dynamics, and position their work as a genuine driver of business value.
We offer tailored coaching and advisory services, including:
- One-on-One Coaching for In-House Public Affairs Professionals
- Organizational Positioning and Internal Stakeholder Strategy
- Building Executive Buy-In for Government Affairs
- Communicating GA Value in Business and Financial Terms
- Navigating Cross-Functional Dynamics and Silos
- Issue Prioritization and Advocacy Strategy
- GA Function Development and Performance Metrics
- Ongoing Thought Partnership and Sounding Board Support
Consulting for
Corporations
Government is playing an increasingly important role in our economy. Yet many companies only deal with the government when they’re in pain—when a tariff or regulation impacts their business, for example. Still more companies assume that they’re either too small, or that it’s too expensive, to engage with government. And even when companies want to engage, many don’t know where to start.
TGS Advisory can help. By bringing focus, process and clarity to government affairs, TGS Advisory enables our clients to understand whether the GA function can add value to their businesses—and if so, how to develop that function efficiently, economically and with accountability for results.
We offer tailored consulting and advisory services, including:
- Functional Effectiveness Evaluation
- Trade Association ROI Analysis
- Opportunity Scanning for Policy Impact
- Internal Alignment and Executive Education
- Metrics and Value-Add Measurement
- Functional Governance and Risk Management
- Issue Management Frameworks
- Stakeholder Engagement Strategies
- Advocacy Planning
- Service Provider Evaluation and Support
Consulting For
Government Affairs Firms
Government affairs (GA) professionals add exceptional value. But often, GA experts and their clients speak different languages. GA experts know the corridors of the Capitol or the State House, but may be less familiar with metrics, process, and the plant floor.
TGS Advisory can help government affairs firms see the world from their clients’ perspective, helping those firms to better serve their clients.
We offer tailored consulting and advisory services, including:
- Consulting and training on how corporations make decisions
- Education on internal client dynamics and expectations
- Support in positioning GA services for corporate ROI
- Tools to deepen client relationships and increase retention
- Strategic insight on differentiating your firm in a competitive market
FAQs
TGS Advisory
What does TGS Advisory do?
We build government affairs functions that work. TGS Advisory helps companies integrate government affairs into their business the same way they manage finance, operations, or strategy — with clarity, structure, and accountability.
We specialize in two areas:
1. Helping corporations assess, build, or improve their government affairs (GA) functions to deliver measurable business value.
2. Helping government affairs professionals work more effectively with corporate clients by aligning with internal business processes and metrics.
Are you a lobbying firm?
No — and that’s by design. TGS Advisory is not a lobbying shop. We focus on helping companies and advisors do the right things internally to get the most out of government engagement. We create the structure, strategy, and clarity that make lobbying — when appropriate — more effective.
What industries do you specialize in?
While we work across sectors, we have deep expertise with publicly traded manufacturers, industrial firms, and companies navigating regulatory complexity. These are often companies that haven’t traditionally engaged deeply with government—until now.
Who leads TGS Advisory?
TGS Advisory was founded by Taras (“Terry”) Szmagala, a former Senior Vice President of a $130B market cap multinational industrial corporation. While there, he helped develop the company’s government affairs function into a significant value creator. He understands the engineering and corporate executive thought process – and how that thought process differs from that of GA professionals.
FAQs
Public Affairs Professionals
Who is this coaching designed for?
This is designed for public affairs or government affairs professionals who work inside a corporation or organization—whether they’re new to their role, building a GA function from the ground up, or looking to strengthen their influence and effectiveness within an established company. If you’re an in-house GA professional who wants a trusted thought partner with real-world executive experience, this is for you.
How is this different from TGS Advisory's work with government affairs firms?
TGS Advisory’s consulting for GA firms focuses on helping those firms better understand and serve their corporate clients as an external advisor. Coaching for in-house professionals is different in scope and purpose—it’s about helping the individual GA leader who works inside the organization navigate their own internal environment, gain credibility with leadership, and build a function that delivers measurable results.
What does working with Terry as a thought partner look like in practice?
Terry engages directly with in-house GA professionals to help them think through strategy, challenges, and opportunities specific to their organization. Whether you’re preparing for a budget conversation with the CFO, rethinking how you measure impact, or trying to get cross-functional alignment on a new initiative, Terry brings the perspective of someone who has been the corporate executive on the other side of that table. It’s a candid, experienced sounding board—one that understands both the policy world and the corporate world.
Why does an in-house GA professional need outside support?
Government affairs professionals often operate without peers inside their own organization who understand their work. The legal team, the finance team, and the operations team all have established frameworks for demonstrating value. Government affairs is still earning that recognition in many organizations. TGS Advisory helps close that gap—giving in-house professionals the tools, language, and strategic approach to compete for attention and resources on equal footing.
What makes Terry uniquely qualified to coach in-house GA professionals?
Terry served as Senior Vice President of Public and Community Affairs at Eaton, a $130 billion market cap multinational industrial corporation, where he helped build and lead the company’s government affairs function into a genuine value creator. He later served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. He has been the corporate leader who evaluated, resourced, and held accountable the GA function—and he now brings that experience to the professionals doing that work every day.
FAQs
Corporations
What kinds of companies do you work with?
We primarily work with:
- Small to mid-sized publicly traded companies that are new to government engagement and unsure where to start.
- Established companies looking to upgrade or realign their government affairs function for better performance, clearer metrics, and cross-functional alignment.
- Organizations facing a specific regulatory or policy issue that requires an integrated, enterprise-level response.
What kinds of questions do you help companies answer?
We help executives and government affairs leaders tackle the critical, often-overlooked questions, such as:
- “Should government affairs be a priority for us — and if so, how do we start?”
- “How do we build a GA function that’s lean, aligned, and accountable?”
- “How can we measure the ROI of public affairs?”
- “What does success in GA look like for our business?”
- “Should we hire a lobbying firm — or do we need something different?”
- “Are our trade association memberships delivering value?”
What services does TGS Advisory offer for corporations?
We offer tailored consulting and advisory services, including:
- Functional Effectiveness Evaluation
- Trade Association ROI Analysis
- Opportunity Scanning for Policy Impact
- Internal Alignment and Executive Education
- Metrics and Value-Add Measurement
- Functional Governance and Risk Management
- Issue Management Frameworks
- Stakeholder Engagement Strategies
- Advocacy Planning
- Service Provider Evaluation and Support
FAQs
Government Affairs Firms
How can a government affairs firm benefit from working with TGS Advisory?
Many government affairs professionals excel at navigating Capitol Hill or state legislatures — but fall short when it comes to understanding the internal dynamics of their clients’ organizations.
We help government affairs firms:
- Align strategies with business outcomes.
- Demonstrate ROI in terms clients care about.
- Improve communication with internal stakeholders.
- Strengthen long-term client relationships.
In today’s environment, access alone is not enough. Firms that can translate policy into strategic business value will win.
What services do you offer for government affairs professionals and firms?
- Consulting and training on how corporations make decisions
- Education on internal client dynamics and expectations
- Support in positioning GA services for corporate ROI
- Tools to deepen client relationships and increase retention
- Strategic insight on differentiating your firm in a competitive market