TheBridge profile: Kristina Wilcox

Name: Kristina Wilcox

Current city: Washington, DC

Current job: Senior Vice President at Capitol Hill Consulting Group and Executive Director, Women's High Tech Coalition

Past job: Worked at the Library of Congress

Q. Favorite spot for a coffee meeting? Firehook (for the cookies!)

Q. Describe one way how a skill you learned in a previous job helped you in your new job. One of my favorite jobs was during college, at Wegmans making subs. When you work in a job like that, you serve a lot of different types of people everyday. Factory workers, teachers, cashiers, sales people, single moms, big families, old people, young people. From those interactions, I learned that for the most part, everybody is doing their best. We all work hard in life, but we all catch different breaks. The most important thing to do, in any job, no matter what the situation, is to be kind, honest, sincere, and hard working. It will pay off.

Q. Job advice in three words? Don't doubt yourself!

Q. How are you (or your company, org, nonprofit) currently bridging the gap between politics and tech? The Women’s High-Tech Coalition was formed in November 2000 to connect women leaders in technology from across the business community with their counterparts in the public sector. The WHTC is a dynamic organization, still growing and still committed to building a support network for women who share an interest in technology policy. We hold regular events in Washington, DC and beyond bring together policymakers, senior congressional staff, federal agency executives, and leaders from industry to network and share information. The WHTC is honored to participate in events with the new Congressional Women’s High-Tech Caucus chaired by WHTC Honorary Congressional Co-Chairs, U.S. Sens Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN), Suzan DelBene (D-WA).

Q. Morning routine? Coffee, read news, run with my dog Buddy, eat breakfast, try to miss traffic.

Q. Favorite app? 1 Second Everyday - not the most complicated app, but it forces you to take a quick snap of your life every day. It was really fun to watch it after a year - I captured moments, travels and memories that I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

Q. Living person you admire? Congressman John Lewis - he's an American hero. When I see him walking through the halls or am fortunate enough to listen to him speak, I can't help but be humbled by what he's faced - overcome - and continues to fight for every day.

Q. What can Silicon Valley teach DC? One can wear jeans and sweatpants and hoodies and be successful.