Her Story
About Jessica
Jessica Lepo serves as Operations and Grants Manager at the American Bar Association in Washington, DC. With approximately five years in public law, she manages operations, reviews incoming funds, tracks portfolios across entities, updates burn rate trackers, sends invoices, conducts meetings, and prepares summaries and action items. Her professional interests center on immigration, supporting the homeless, and aiding women in shelters, which led her to join the ABA. Lepo earned a master's degree in Homeland Security and is currently enrolled in law school at Widener University in Pennsylvania, expecting to graduate in 2028. Originally from France, where she was born and raised, she moved to the United States to attend college after initially exploring medical school but ultimately pursuing studies in political science, history, and public law. She is fluent in French, English, and Spanish. Lepo values passion, compassion, drive, and transparency in both her professional and personal life, emphasizing the importance of helping people and finding solutions while remaining clear about legal boundaries.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jessica
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do not be too hard on yourself because you go on to make mistakes, and sometimes mistakes take you the right way, because without the failure there's no success.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do not give up and follow your dreams, and even though it's hard right now, there's always gonna be the light at the end of the tunnel, tough it out.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Fundraising issues and problems finding funding in federal grants to fund projects.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Be passionate and have an interest in what you do. In public law, have interest in trying to help people and find solutions, be compassionate, driven, and transparent on what the laws are and what we can and cannot do. The same applies to personal life.
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