TheBridge profile: June Williams

Name: June Williams

Current city: Oakland, CA

Current job: Policy Advisor, Trust & Safety at Google

Past job: San Francisco District Director for U.S. Senator Kamala Harris

Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Farley’s East in Oakland

Q. Describe how a skill you learned in a previous job helped you in your current job. Being a good listener is not a skill I learned in my previous job, but it’s definitely one I needed more than ever. Excellent listening skills are crucial to being an effective problem solver. In my career as a legal and policy advisor, I need to solve problems. The main ingredient to delivering an efficient and effective solution is a clear assessment of the problem or issue at hand.

Q. Job advice in three words? Always follow through.

Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between politics and tech / innovation and regulation? On a personal level, I’m committed to educating the masses about how to use tech innovations in a way that increases awareness about important issues.

Q. What can innovators teach regulators/policy makers? Innovators can teach regulators to try new things and not be afraid of failing (safely).

Q. What can regulators/policy makers teach innovators? Structure and bureaucracy are not the enemy.

Q. Do you have a favorite podcast you recommend? Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday Podcast never disappoints.

Q. Last time you completely unplugged? The last time I was completely unplugged was s few months ago at a Silent Retreat - it was amazing.

Q. Do you have a morning routine? Morning routine includes a 5:30am wake up time. Then I check my schedule, scan my inbox for urgent messages, exercise when possible, and usually run for the bus/train. I usually read during my commute.

Q. Do you work from home? I hardly work from home because I prefer face to face interactions when possible.

Q. What is the best advice you have received? The best advice I’ve received is relationships are everything!

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