Surfing the Digital Wave: SoCal Native Vivek Kakar Joins The Herald Group
Vivek joins The Herald Group after supporting business development and marketing efforts across the Congressional modernization, public-affairs, and digital-advocacy worlds. With a background in strategy, content development, and analytics, he’s passionate about helping clients translate complex issues into campaigns that move audiences. When he’s not helping clients cut through the noise, you’ll usually find him in the pool before sunrise, on the golf course, or hosting friends at one of his weekend gatherings.
We sat down with Vivek for a quick Q&A to get to know him better.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, I’m Vivek, and I’m thrilled to be joining The Herald Group’s award-winning digital team. I grew up in sunny Southern California. I earned my undergraduate degree in public policy from the University of California, Riverside, and went on to study marketing at Vanderbilt University in Nashville for my master’s. I’ve spent my early career in Washington, D.C., building experience at the intersection of policy, marketing, and technology. I’m energized by the challenge of crafting campaigns that blend compelling narrative with measurable results, and I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves, learning from the team here, and helping our clients break through the noise with smart, creative digital strategies.
What led you to a career in public affairs and digital advocacy?
I’ve always been fascinated by how ideas move through society and become action. My background in political fundraising taught me how to build campaigns that resonate with distinct audiences, while my time at Prolegis exposed me to the legislative process up close. Digital public affairs is the natural extension of both: using creative strategy and real-time data to help clients reach the right stakeholders with the right message.
What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned in your career so far?
The best campaigns come from a mix of precision and empathy. Precision means grounding strategy in analytics (understanding impressions, conversions, and cost per engagement). Empathy means reading the room and recognizing that behind every data point is a person whose time and trust are precious. Balancing the two creates not only effective campaigns but lasting relationships.
How do you think communications is evolving in today’s media and political landscape?
We’re moving into an era of micro-audiences and rapid feedback loops. Instead of speaking to one broad “public,” we’re speaking to dozens of interconnected communities (staffers, industry groups, issue advocates, and voters) each with its own preferred platforms and values. That’s a challenge we can only meet using digital. Success depends on creating content ecosystems, not one-size-fits-all messaging, and on measuring impact with analytics dashboards that guide quick pivots.
What trends in digital strategy excite you the most right now?
I’m especially interested in how data visualization and real-time reporting are transforming advocacy. Tools like Looker Studio, StackAdapt dashboards, and advanced audience segmentation make it possible to see, almost instantly, how a message is landing with specific groups. This allows us to test creative variations faster and pivot campaigns with agility — an essential trait of successful campaigns in today’s compressed news cycles.
How do you hope to make an impact through your new role at THG?
I want to help THG’s clients translate their policy priorities into digital strategies that perform. That means building dashboards that make campaign performance transparent, testing creative to see what resonates, and keeping a finger on the pulse of emerging platforms and audience behaviors. I’m excited to be part of the team ushering in the next age of digital. Internally, I hope to share what I’ve learned from previous cross-team collaborations to help our digital work integrate seamlessly with other areas at the firm.
Outside of work, where would we find you? What are you passionate about?
If it’s before 9 a.m., you’ll find me swimming laps or working out in the gym. On weekends, you’ll usually find me on the golf course, cooking an elaborate recipe, or hosting friends for another gathering. (But please, don’t try to find me outside of 1800 M St — only kidding!) I’m also interested in design and branding; I enjoy experimenting with interior design and creative visuals for personal projects. Those creative outlets keep me inspired for client work too.
We’re thrilled to welcome Vivek to the team. His data-driven mindset, collaborative energy, and creative flair are already making an impact in the office. He’s a colleague who thrives on turning analytics into insight and ideas into action.