TheBridge profile: Stephanie Volk

Name: Stephanie Volk

Current city: San Francisco, CA

Current job: Strategic Marketing & Commercial Development, GE Ventures

Past job: Deputy Communications Director, NYC Department of Education; Business Development, NYC Economic Development Corporation

Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Ritual Coffee on Valencia Street

Q. Describe one way how a skill you learned in a previous job helped you in your new job. Stakeholder analysis. Whether evaluating a new policy, program, investment or partnership, it is critical to understand how all sides will be impacted and balance competing priorities.

Q. Job advice in three words? Bring missing solutions

Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between politics and tech? By helping to bring innovation to vital sectors like healthcare, energy, and manufacturing, we’re showing government what’s possible in shaping new markets and improving lives. Industry can catalyze bold new change, but it often requires government collaboration through infrastructure and regulation to provide the conditions necessary for new technologies and business models to thrive.

GE is also taking a critical look at the Future of Work and what this means for industries and economies around the world. This comprehensive assessment should help governments to understand the implications and opportunities associated with the changing nature of the workforce and how individuals navigate and add value to their professions.

Q. Most underrated virtue in an employee? Taking initiative. When a team member independently proposes a plan or makes a recommendation to get a project moving or take it in a different direction, it demonstrates their commitment and helps the entire group to move forward. 

Q. Favorite app? Stitcher. I’m addicted to podcasts. Some of my favorites are Pod Save America, How I Built This, and the a16z podcast.

Q. Favorite restaurant? In SF, Nopa. A classic. Souvla or Little Chihuahua for something more casual.

Q. Living person you admire? My mom. The best problem-solver, trailblazer, and student of society I’ve encountered. 

Q. Startup to watch? M.M. LaFleur. They get their customer like few brands I’ve seen.