TheBridge profile: Chris Pappas
Name: Chris Pappas
Current city: San Francisco
Current job: Director, Global Communications, Trov
Past job: Communications & Public Policy, NerdWallet
Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Stable Cafe (can't beat that patio)
Q. Describe how a skill you learned in a previous job helped you in your current job. As a former teacher (who retired early), one skill you learn quickly is how to adapt information for every learning style in your audience. Whether that's a new idea, a challenging problem, or managing up, recognizing how your stakeholders absorb data and discovering what's important to them will positively influence your results.
Q. Job advice in three words? Trust your gut
Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between innovation and regulation? Trov is an insurance technology platform, enabling the new ways people live, work, and move. We've been at the forefront of assessing the dynamic risk associated with emerging mobility and bridging the gap between insurance and technology to empower mobility businesses. In our work with car-sharing and autonomous vehicles companies, we're utilizing real-time insurance data to support innovators and regulators when innovation and regulation are moving faster than ever.
Q. What can innovators and policymakers learn from each other? I still question if innovators and policymakers understand how each other operates. Like anything, we fear what we don't understand, but both groups stand to gain from a cooperative relationship. That begins with a shared understanding of what each is solving for and why. We all need to facilitate a more productive conversation, not just share best practices.
Q. Favorite book/podcast/long-form article you recommend? I'm a big fan of a16z's podcasts, and can always geek out over NPR's Planet Money.
Q. Most underrated virtue in an employee? Virtue.
Q. Favorite app? I'm intrigued by the wave of astrology tech/apps, so have been playing with Co-Star quite a bit lately.
Q. Last time you were completely unplugged? The last time I was genuinely "unplugged" I think MTV was still airing it as a show.
Q. Startup to watch? I'm closely watching all of the new mobility startups (Lime, Bird, Scoot, etc.). They've quickly attracted both the attention of VCs and regulators and are having an early and profound impact on how we get around. How fast they work through regulatory hurdles (and capital) will make this a fascinating space to watch from both coasts.
Q. Favorite under the radar company? Digit and Qapital. Their commitment to behavioral economics, and how quickly they've helped me save money, has made me a big advocate of both companies.