Our Approach

Building Access.
Designing Influence.
Empowering New Voices.

Xiphos Strategies was founded in 2019 by Ross Izard, a seasoned policy strategist, writer, and government affairs professional with experience across multiple states and the federal government. After years working in and around policy systems, Ross saw a pattern: far too many people doing meaningful, important work were sitting on the sidelines—not because they didn’t care, but because the systems felt impenetrable.

Many didn’t know where to start. Others feared criticism, lacked time, or assumed that influence was reserved for political insiders and traditional lobbying shops. Even the most values-driven leaders and high-impact organizations often found themselves overwhelmed by the complexity of policy work—or simply too busy delivering on their missions to fully engage in it.

Ross knew those voices mattered—and that with the right tools, they could help shape stronger, smarter policy. So, he set out to build something different.

Xiphos Strategies is a political and influence architecture firm—designed to help individuals, nonprofits, and businesses build their capacity to lead in public policy.

We don’t just open doors. We design the strategy, systems, and structure our clients need to walk through them and hold their ground. From the foundations of internal infrastructure to the scaffolding of external influence, we help clients engage with government clearly, confidently, and effectively.

We believe advocacy isn’t just for the well-connected. It’s for anyone who’s ready to shape the systems that shape their world.