Julie Lind
Executive Officer
San Mateo County Central Labor Council
“If you’re looking for perfection, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Look for fulfillment rather than perfection.”
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By Roadtrip NationJulie Lind
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I grew up in a union household and am a fourth generation union member.
By the time I got to college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in, so I chose English because I liked to read.
During my last year of college, I got an internship to work for San Jose Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, where I helped individuals navigate their pathway to citizenship.
Realizing that I really liked public service, I applied to keep working in government but no one was hiring, so I got a job working as a substitute teacher instead.
I quickly realized that teaching was not the right fit for me—fortunately, I got a call to work for State Assemblywoman Rebecca Cohn’s office instead.
After working for Rebecca Cohn, I spent three years working for Senator Ellen Corbett’s office.
When the San Mateo Central Labor Council posted a job opening for political director, I jumped at the opportunity.
I started with the San Mateo Central Labor Council as the political director in 2010 and took over as head of the organization in 2016.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Certification/License
MC3 Instructor
North America's Building Trades Unions
MC3 Instructor
North America's Building Trades Unions
Career
Executive Officer
I serve as a convenor and aide for all of the labor unions in San Mateo County, California.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Non-Profit Organizations
Politics
Helping People
Day to Day
As the head of a Labor Council, there is no typical day at work. On any given day, I could be advocating for legislation at any and all levels of government, meeting with elected officials and community partners, writing an OpEd or LTE, conducting a training, walking a picket line, assisting with contract negotiations, delivering a presentation, speaking at a Council or Union meeting, attending a meeting of one of the numerous boards of which I am a part, or working through emails.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
A degree is not required to do the work I do—I just happen to have a couple. For those wishing to pursue a degree as part of their journey toward a similar career, I recommend majoring in labor studies or political science with a minor in communications or public administration.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
