TheBridge profile: Liz Howard
Name: Liz Howard
Current city: Washington, D.C.
Current job: Counsel, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Past job: Deputy Commissioner of Elections at Virginia Department of Elections
Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Dolcezza in CityCenter
Q. Job advice in three words? GSD
Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between innovation and regulation? We bring together members of different communities to work together on discrete and innovative projects. In my role, I have the opportunity to partner with state and local election officials, academics, technology experts and cybersecurity legends on piloting various election security measures. These partnerships create bridges and serve as important opportunities for non-election officials who learn about election administration, and election officials who gain hands-on experience with and access to customized procedures, tools and other resources. These bridges lead to relationships, which lead to additional collaborations, experiments and better policies.
Q. Why are you part of TheBridge community? TheBridge community addresses a critical need. Bringing together these communities can help identify - and implement - solutions to many of the threats facing our democracy today.
Q. What can innovators learn from policymakers? Policymakers can teach innovators about consensus building, the value of incremental change and how to appreciate, and anticipate, the different interests that they work to balance on an ongoing basis.
Q. What can policymakers learn from innovators? Innovators can teach policymakers about the practical implications of legislation and the amazing potential of change.
Q. Favorite book/podcast/long-form article you recommend? Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman is a must read. It provides valuable insight into how we think and the factors that impact our choices.
Q. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself in the beginning of your career? Embrace failure by seeking out challenges. Everyone fails and the more you fail the better you will get at recovering from it and getting through it.
Q. What’s one piece of advice you’re still trying to master? When and how to say no.
Q. Best advice you’ve received? Everyone has something to offer. Take the time to learn what people bring to the table, especially if you can't immediately recognize it.
Q. How often do you work from home? It varies depending on the projects on my plate. Working from home is an easy hack for working without interruption, which can be critical to complying with deadlines.
Q. Best career advice? The only way to avoid upsetting anyone is to do nothing.
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