TheBridge profile: FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel

Don’t miss the Commissioner and Allie Brandenburger, TheBridge’s Co-founder & CEO, talking AI ethics

Name: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel

Current city: Washington, DC

Current job: FCC Chairwoman

Past job: Senior Communications Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Coffee anywhere and anytime.

Q. Describe how a skill you learned in a previous job helped you in your current job. As counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, I learned persistence pays off, humility helps, and distinguishing between the urgent and important is essential.

Q. Job advice in three words? Ask permission less.

Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between innovation and regulation? I have the privilege of serving as Commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission. That means I have a front row seat at the digital revolution. Every day I see how technology is changing every aspect of civic and commercial life. Every day I am reminded that the future belongs to the connected. No matter who you are or where you live in this country, you need access to modern communications to have a fair shot at 21st century success. This belief informs everything I do at the agency.

Q. What can innovators learn from policymakers? We have problems to solve, resources that are constrained, and communities that need help navigating what is possible in the digital age. Innovations that help address these challenges are always interesting for policymakers.

Q. What can policymakers learn from innovators? How to iterate, learn, and evolve.

Q. Favorite book/podcast/long-form article you recommend? Naturally, I recommend my podcast Broadband Conversations, where I speak to women doing amazing work in technology.

Q. Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself in the beginning of your career? Speak up. But be gracious. People will not only remember what you said, but how you said it.

Q. Last time you were completely unplugged? On a recent hiking trip in Vermont. Glorious.

Q. Living person you admire? Senator Jay Rockefeller. He was my boss when I served as staff in the United States Senate. He taught me loads about the power of principle and when compromise is necessary to get things done.