TheBridge profile: Jessica Jones

Name: Jessica Jones

Current city: Washington, DC

Current job: Senior Manager, State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at Twilio

Past job: Regulatory Affairs at DISH Network, Marketing Analytics at Sling TV, Government Relations at BT

Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Philz

Q. Describe how a skill you learned in a previous job helped you in your current job. Don’t be afraid to vocalize your goals. I had three very different roles at my last company that came about by seeking opportunities to try new things. Those roles gave me the opportunity to get hands-on experience in different areas of the tech/telecom industry and I’m able to draw on those experiences to be better informed in my current role.

Q. Job advice in three words? Always be networking.

Q. How are you (or your company) currently bridging the gap between innovation and regulation? At Twilio, we're helping our customers reinvent how they connect with their customers. As communication technology evolves, I focus on ensuring regulation stays relevant to the technology being developed.

Q. What can innovators learn from policymakers? Innovators pride themselves on their ability to invent fast, fail fast, make changes and keep moving forward. Taking a bit more time to conduct comprehensive risk assessments could help innovators avoid potential roadblocks and additional costs in the future.

Q. What can policymakers learn from innovators? New ideas and innovations won't always fit within the parameters that currently exist. Policy makers should be excited by what innovators are doing, stay informed and be open to crafting dynamic policy solutions.

Q. Favorite book you recommend? I mainly read history books and Erik Larson's, The Splendid and the Vile, about the London Blitz, was an incredibly engaging read!

Q. Why are you part of TheBridge community? Why do you think it's important this community exists for tech, policy and political professionals? Collaboration is the key to successful, continued innovation. The more policy and political professionals understand the tech landscape and how technology functions, the better they’re able to develop dynamic policies that can evolve with the rapid pace of technological change.

Q. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself in the beginning of your career? Don’t worry so much. Stay focused, learn something from every job you have and try new things. You’ll get where you want to go.

Q. What's one piece of advice you are still trying to master? Hearing “no” isn’t a bad thing. It’s one data point, among many, that you can use to figure out next steps or a different approach.

Q. Most underrated virtue in an employee? The ability to build relationships.

Q. Favorite app? Libby. It’s an easy way to download books from your local library.

Q. If you had to live in another city, which would it be? In the U.S., Charleston. Outside the U.S., Lisbon.

Q. Best advice you've ever received? Bring solutions, not problems and speak with confidence.

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