TheBridge profile: John Heath
Name: John Heath
Current city: San Francisco, CA/Phoenix, AZ
Current job: Manager, Government Relations and External Affairs, Turo
Past job: Consultant and Executive Director
Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? I have yet to acquire the coffee bug, however, I love hot chocolate. You can't go wrong with a little chain called Starbucks!
Q. Describe how a skill you learned in a previous job helped you in your current job. I have worked for a variety of elected officials at every level of government, Special Assistant to Rep. Elijah Cummings, Chief of Staff to MD State Senator Clarence Mitchell IV, Sr. Policy Advisor to Maryland Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, Sr. Advisor to former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich, and Sr. Policy Advisor to former Harris County TX County Judge Ed Emmett. Working for those individuals I dealt with a host of lobbyists and advocates. I understand that the ability to make a concise yet compelling argument to lawmakers and staff is what leads to success. Also, it is critical to learn a lawmaker’s “language” and communicate in a manner that resonates with them to get a favorable outcome.
Q. Why are you part of TheBridge community? I was advised to join TheBridge early in my tenure with Turo. It was important to me to connect with my peers in tech, as well as, stay abreast of what's happening in the industry. TheBridge is incredibly important because all of us are extremely busy, however, it allows us to connect, stay informed, and build relationships that are key for professional, business, and personal success!
Q. Job advice in three words? COMMUNICATION - RESILIENCE - RELATIONSHIP. COMMUNICATION is a critical skill to have for any relationship. However, it is extremely crucial to master communication in the workplace. The average individual spends more time at work than at home. Your professional ascent as well as the trajectory of your family hinges on your ability to communicate with superiors and colleagues alike. RESILIENCE is another key to professional success. One will experience failure, disparate treatment, and even bias. The resilient individual keeps pressing through, over, and around every obstacle to succeed. Lastly, RELATIONSHIPS and the ability to be relational, and manage and cultivate relationships is key no matter what industry you're in. In the diversity world, the reason we have lack of diversity is not necessarily inherent racial or gender bias, it is because people hire, dispense contracts, and give opportunity based on people they went to school with, worship with, and/or are in their social space. I'm living proof that one can utilize relationships and being relational to enter doors and arenas I could only dream of as a child.
Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between innovation and regulation? Turo is at the forefront of bridging the gap between innovation and regulation. We are working across the nation with state lawmakers to implement sensible legislation/regulation that enables peer to peer car sharing to flourish, and for lawmakers to see that marketplace facilitators have a critical role to play in the modern economy. Wages have not increased some say since the 70's. My colleagues and I share how Turo is providing an economic opportunity for their constituents to earn money to keep up with the rising cost of living. Additionally, we show how platforms like Turo are helping communities of color have an additional tool to shrink the wealth and income caps.
Q. What can innovators learn from policymakers? Innovators must have a listening ear and be humble even if they feel they have the greatest idea. Lawmakers can help innovators see that there are often unintended consequences from the implementation of great ideas. As such, it's better to take a deliberate patient approach to produce a sound legislative/policy product, as opposed to rushing to get something on the books that will be painful to repair in the future.
Q. What can policymakers learn from innovators? The world is experiencing another dynamic period of change. We live in another age of great ideas and innovation. Lawmakers can benefit from embracing innovation and not seeing it as a threat but as a help to constituents improving their lives and their economic outlook. The leaders of innovation today will be remembered in the annals of history like Edison, Graham, Carver, Tesla, Walker, and Latimer. I believe that by supporting the modern innovators, lawmakers stay on the right side of history, but also can be inspired to infuse innovation in public sector agencies, and even in their respective legislators.
Q. Favorite book/podcast/long-form article you recommend? I am an avid reader, but I believe if it's not the favorite, certainly it's one of my top favorites, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. I believe everyone should be a leader, and these laws help you to be successful in leading yourself, family, or thousands of employees in the marketplace.
Q. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself in the beginning of your career? I'm a firm believer in providence and divine destiny, and everything happens for a reason with a purpose. However, if I could share one thing with my younger self, I would have encouraged myself to enter the private sector much earlier than I did. Since I made the leap to the private sector, I have had some of the best experiences professionally, and connected with the most incredible people.
Q. Living person you admire? Bishop Jerry W. Macklin is a person I admire. Bishop Macklin Pastors Glad Tidings International Church in Hayward, CA. He literally turned around a drug ravaged crime ridden neighborhood into an oasis. He's merged ministry and the marketplace and has created incredible partnerships with tech companies to close the digital/tech divide, he's worked with foundations to move South Hayward from being a food desert, he's working with hospital systems to raise the health index of South Hayward, and he's worked with business leaders and developers to create economic opportunities and provide sustained affordable housing in the community. Bishop Macklin also serves as the number three leader in his denomination, providing leadership to more than 7 million adherents. He's been called on by several Presidents, Governors, and major CEO's as an advisor, yet he retains his touch with the common man.
Q. Favorite under the radar company? I would say Turo, but it seems that with all of our legislative battles around the country, we are no longer under the radar. The under the radar company I believe is ready for a breakout is Homie. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Homie CFO Mike Peregrina, and was so thoroughly impressed with him, Homie's business model, and its growth pattern. As a sister company in the sharing economy, I believe they are the next big thing in the fin/tech space!
Q. Last time you were completely unplugged? I can’t remember that! In addition to my role at Turo, I’m a husband, father, and a Pastor who coaches other Pastors and conducts leadership development sessions and retreats around the nation. I promise, I’m going to take a week and do that before this year is out!
Click below to join TheBridge community and, among other resources, receive our bi-weekly updates with featured profiles.