TheBridge profile: Soribel Feliz
Name: Soribel Feliz
Current city: Washington, DC
Current job: Senior AI and Tech Policy Advisor to Senator Bill Cassidy
Past job: Microsoft, Program Manager
Q. How are you currently bridging the gap between innovation and regulation? In my job as Senior Tech and AI Policy Advisor to Senator Bill Cassidy I advise him on policy matters relevant to his committee assignments. He's the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions so those topics are of special interest to me.
Q. Job advice in three words? Hire your manager
Q. What can innovators learn from policymakers? The importance of regulations and compliance for technologies. The bureaucracy is a pain, but it's there to protect you.
How to make innovations relevant and beneficial to society. Otherwise, there will be a backlash against you which you won't be able to easily ignore, especially in this Internet and social media age.
Thinking long-term about the impact of innovations. Move fast and build, don't break things
How to communicate complex ideas simply and clearly. Cut the tech talk, explain it in simple terms.
Q. What can policymakers learn from innovators? How emerging technologies work and their capabilities. They can be used for good or evil, it's up to our representatives to fight for their citizens.
The rapid pace of technology development. With the advent of AI, the pace of tech development is exponential, not linear.
Adopting nimble and iterative approaches. Regulations can no longer be static, it needs to be elastic and adapt to the times.
Balancing innovation opportunities and risks.
Q. Can you describe a skill you have carried throughout your career that has always proved to be valuable? Building relationships early on. Showing genuine interest in people.
Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Tatte
Q. Favorite book/podcast/long-form article you recommend? Book: Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark
Long-form article on Foreign Affairs by Ian Bremmer and Mustafa Suleyman - How AI Could Upend Geopolitics
Q. Every day is probably different, but are there certain skills you think are essential to your job? Yes, interpersonal skills, self-confidence and humility
Q. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself in the beginning of your career? Looking back, I'd tell myself to be more confident, to sit at the table and to not let anyone tell me I don't belong.
Q. Most underrated virtue in an employee? Humble Confidence
Q. Startups to watch? Anthropic, Lambda Labs, Scale AI
Q. Last time you completely unplugged? I can't remember but I hope soon. I need it.
Q. Which Member of Congress is most tech savvy? I have to plug my Congressmember Bill Cassidy here.