About Us

Pamela and Mary-Lynn’s partnership began nearly 20 years ago and they’ve been a powerhouse duo ever since. With a proven track record navigating industry shifts, leadership transitions, and complex policy landscapes, they’ve built and led government relations teams that don’t just adapt—they deliver.

Their work has spanned everything from orchestrating high-impact events in Washington, DC, to opening a new Capitol Hill office as in-house lobbyists. Over the years, they’ve secured millions in federal funding for clients across multiple Congresses and Administrations and safeguarded hundreds of millions by protecting core business interests through strategic advocacy.

Whether driving external affairs, forging mission-critical alliances, or guiding organizations through high-stakes change, Pamela and Mary-Lynn bring sharp strategy, deep institutional knowledge, and an unwavering focus on impact to every client engagement.

Meet the Team

Pamela Murphy, M.S.W.

Founder & CEO
Connect on Linkedin

Pamela Murphy is a seasoned executive and strategic advisor with decades of leadership in government relations, public affairs, and corporate advocacy. As the Founder and CEO of Minerva Insight Strategies, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm, Pamela helps clients navigate complex policy landscapes, align public policy with business strategy, and drive lasting impact.

Pamela specializes in transforming government relations into a strategic asset. She partners with leaders across sectors to shape policy outcomes, strengthen reputational influence, and build business resilience through smart, actionable strategy. Her approach combines nuanced political insight with a strong results orientation.

Prior to founding Minerva, Pamela held senior executive roles at Adtalem Global Education and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, where she led legislative advocacy, ESG strategy, and coalition-building efforts that shaped federal policy and advanced sector-wide goals. She also served on Capitol Hill as a Senior Policy Advisor to a U.S. Member of Congress, managing legislative initiatives and press strategy.

She is a frequent speaker on strategic advocacy and has been featured on panels addressing transformational leadership, building high-impact teams, and evolving government relations from a transactional function to a results-driven discipline. When she’s not shaping thought leadership in government relations or strategizing with clients, she’s exploring the world with her husband and son, catching up on best-selling books, or helping leaders step confidently into their influence and impact.

Pamela holds a master’s in social work and social policy from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Stockton University.

Mary-Lynn Bender

Founder & Partner
Connect on LinkedIn

Mary-Lynn Bender is a collaborative leader with extensive experience in government relations, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement and advocacy. As Founding Partner at Minerva, Mary-Lynn helps mission-driven organizations mitigate challenges, unlock potential, and create meaningful, lasting outcomes.

She previously steered federal, state, and international government relations efforts, including corporate political affairs strategy, at Adtalem Global Education, a publicly traded company, and managed a broad portfolio of policy priorities across multiple continents. Prior to her time there, Mary-Lynn spent more than a decade at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, a trade association championing the priorities  of administration, faculty, and students, and leading across the government relations, marketing and communications, and public affairs functions. She cut her teeth as a journalist for local newspapers and regional magazines, learning to distill complex issues into compelling stories.

Mary-Lynn is a graduate of West Virginia University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in news-editorial journalism. She pairs political savvy with a storyteller’s instinct to help organizations convert influence into measurable outcomes in Washington and beyond. Her specialties include optimizing government relations operations, internal and external communication strategies, and designing and executing impactful advocacy initiatives. She is a longtime member of the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and Women in Government Relations.  

She lives with her husband, daughters, and two mixed-breed Great Pyrenees/St. Bernard rescue dogs in McLean, VA, and can often be found on the weekends volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader or exploring the DC area.

Our Values

  • We believe transparency and accountability are non-negotiable.

  • Adaptability is key, and continuous learning drives success.

  • Every plan is designed to create meaningful, measurable change.

  • We build long-term relationships based on mutual respect, collaboration, and shared goals.

  • Success is defined by outcomes, not effort alone.

  • We transcend politics to pursue solutions rooted in principle and practicality.

Our Commitment to You

At Minerva, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We become an extension of your team—championing your mission, safeguarding  your interests, and positioning you for long-term success in an ever-evolving policy landscape.