TheBridge profile: Brooke Hunter

Name: Brooke Hunter

Current city: Washington, DC

Current job: Chief of Staff & Director of Strategic Initiatives, Open Technology Institute at New America

Past job: COO at Engine; COO at Public Knowledge

Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? The Illy at the Renaissance Hotel on New Hampshire. You can sit in the lovely, quiet hotel lobby. It more private and less chaotic than most coffeeshops.

Q. Describe one way how a skill you learned in a previous job helped you in your new job. Being a focused listener can solve so many problems. If you're willing to take the time to hear people out, you can be much more effective at offering solutions.

Q. Job advice in three words? Treat people well

Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between politics and tech? I currently advise the TechCongress program which places technologists in Hill offices or on committees. This program is a great example of how you can build bridges between tech and policy.

Q: Underrated virtue in an employee? Coming to the work with an equity framework. 

Q: Under the radar groups/companies? Gide and Engine. Using different approaches, they are actively trying to connect startups to DC and vice versa. 

Q: Last time you unplugged? August. I highly recommend it. Time can flow by without time to reflect if you're constantly connected.