Brittany Sickler

I spent three years in the Peace Corps in Guatemala. I used to complain about government programs until a friend challenged me to really understand the systems in place and find ways to make them better. So, upon returning to the United States, I took the leap into a new job at a small district office of the Small Business Administration (SBA). In this role, I connected people to advice and programs to help grow their businesses, while I also fed information up the chain to policymakers so they could understand what was taking place on the ground. The more I learned about how things worked, the more convinced I was that we needed dedicated people in every federal arena.

Now, I oversee a new and growing portfolio at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) that powers large scale networks of economic development organizations. My team’s projects identify and address barriers that underserved communities face. Working in government has allowed me to work with and on behalf of many incredible people, getting resources to communities who need them. I’ve built meaningful relationships with hundreds of organizations around the country and worked with colleagues to find creative ways of improving our programs. It’s rewarding to see the fruits of our work over the years and to be part of positive change across government.

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