How did you end up in space with your study/work background?
I was always interested in international relations, probably due to the fact that my high school didn't have a debate team but it did have a Model United Nations team. So in college, it was easy to decide to study poli sci with a specialization in international relations; and then again it was a no-brainer to decide to study IR in grad school. I always thought I was going to work in development issues or at the State Department but, um, could not get hired in either. Defense contractors are always hiring, though, so I went to work for one where I was scripting wargaming scenarios for what is now the Missile Defense Agency. It was, to say the least, not a good fit so I switched to a non-profit that focused on arms control issues; I eventually switched to one that allowed me to work on missile defense, which was my entry to space issues (and coming at them from a space security angle). That's how I got to know the Secure World Foundation and when they were looking to formalize their DC presence, they asked me to apply for the job. That was 15 years ago - never looked back!
What is the most fun in your job?
Space is inherently international - one actor's behavior can affect everybody's ability to continue to utilize or get benefits from space - so it truly requires an international approach. This job allows me to use my international relations degree in a manner I never would have expected: geopolitical considerations shape policies and decisions; I work with people from all over the world; and it allows for international travel to discuss issues of common interest with relevant stakeholders.
What advice would you give fellow non-tech space enthusiasts if they want to pursue a job in space?
Space is a very big tent indeed: the space sector requires expertise and skills from all walks of life, not simply engineering/science. Read a lot to go beyond the news headlines in order to understand what is truly affecting the space sector, sign up to get news releases from organizations doing what you think to be interesting work on space issues, and look for opportunities to make connections (asking questions during a webinar, attending in-person events, joining space-focused groups, etc.).