Grace Lykins ’13 has a contagious enthusiasm about her work. That energy has powered her on a career path directing public policy and government relations for major multinational companies in the halls of power. As director of global government engagement for Visa in Washington, D.C., Lykins is responsible for representing the financial services company to government entities, both foreign and domestic.
“I love my job,” said Lykins. “I use my law degree every single day, but in a way that isn’t necessarily what you think about when you’re in law school.”
Quick to dispel the notion that Visa is “just a credit card company,” she has carved out a specialty in the legal implications of the company’s cutting-edge financial technology, from contactless payments and the use of biometrics, to serve underbanked communities. Most recently, her focus has been on issues related to consumer privacy and data use, as well as on use cases for digital identity. “Lack of official documentation can make it extremely difficult for some individuals to do fundamental financial tasks, such as opening a banking account,” she said. “Biometrics, like fingerprints or an iris scan, for example, can help to prove that you are you. Then, you can seamlessly get access to a financial product or service, without having to go through an arduous paper documentation process.”
Lykins entered Brooklyn Law School with the goal of working in-house at a large, global company. Having previously worked as a recruiter for law firms Locke Lord and Morgan & Finnegan, she knew the traditional legal career track, and was clear-eyed about the resume she wanted to start building. In law school, she served on the editorial board for the Journal of Law & Policy and took part in the U.S. Attorney’s Office Clinic (taught by Carolyn Pokorny ’94, profiled on p. 37).
Upon graduation, Lykins took a contract position in American Express’s compliance department. With her foot in the door, she cold-called colleagues across the company, asking them to chat over coffee about their work. She was vocal in volunteering for the projects that excited her. “I find that often, people are either afraid to ask or wait to be invited to join a project they are interested in,” she said. “I ask them, ‘have you told anyone you want to be a part of this project?’”
Within seven months, her efforts led to a full-time position in the company’s general counsel office, and later, its policy arm, where she found a perfect match for her skills in legal writing and negotiation, as well as her desire for new challenges. “You have to understand the law, but then you have to really understand what your company does,” said Lykins. “You need all of that to be able to analyze the language in a bill and ask, would this prevent us from doing X, Y, and Z? Or is this going to pigeonhole us in some way?”
From Amex, she moved to Visa’s San Francisco headquarters, before moving closer to the center of government in Washington, D.C. She describes her job as something that seemed designed for her. “I love writing, and I love talking to people. A fundamental part of my role is educating government officials and policymakers about Visa’s business and how we can best support consumers and the global ecosystem. Whether in person or through formal written submissions, I really feel like my work is a perfect combination of my legal and communication skills.”
Lykins is grateful that her law school education has led to a fulfilling career, and is eager to share her knowledge. This spring, she returned to the Law School to speak at a career panel.
“I had several students come up to me afterwards who told me, ‘That was so interesting to hear how you’ve paved this road for yourself,’” she said. “Today, I can say that I’m doing the exact work I’ve always wanted to do.”
Grace Lykins ’13 has a contagious enthusiasm about her work. That energy has powered her on a career path directing public policy and government relations for major multinational companies in the halls of power. As director of global government engagement for Visa in Washington, D.C., Lykins is responsible for representing the financial services company to government entities, both foreign and domestic.
“I love my job,” said Lykins. “I use my law degree every single day, but in a way that isn’t necessarily what you think about when you’re in law school.”
Quick to dispel the notion that Visa is “just a credit card company,” she has carved out a specialty in the legal implications of the company’s cutting-edge financial technology, from contactless payments and the use of biometrics, to serve underbanked communities. Most recently, her focus has been on issues related to consumer privacy and data use, as well as on use cases for digital identity. “Lack of official documentation can make it extremely difficult for some individuals to do fundamental financial tasks, such as opening a banking account,” she said. “Biometrics, like fingerprints or an iris scan, for example, can help to prove that you are you. Then, you can seamlessly get access to a financial product or service, without having to go through an arduous paper documentation process.”
Lykins entered Brooklyn Law School with the goal of working in-house at a large, global company. Having previously worked as a recruiter for law firms Locke Lord and Morgan & Finnegan, she knew the traditional legal career track, and was clear-eyed about the resume she wanted to start building. In law school, she served on the editorial board for the Journal of Law & Policy and took part in the U.S. Attorney’s Office Clinic (taught by Carolyn Pokorny ’94, profiled on p. 37).
Upon graduation, Lykins took a contract position in American Express’s compliance department. With her foot in the door, she cold-called colleagues across the company, asking them to chat over coffee about their work. She was vocal in volunteering for the projects that excited her. “I find that often, people are either afraid to ask or wait to be invited to join a project they are interested in,” she said. “I ask them, ‘have you told anyone you want to be a part of this project?’”
Within seven months, her efforts led to a full-time position in the company’s general counsel office, and later, its policy arm, where she found a perfect match for her skills in legal writing and negotiation, as well as her desire for new challenges. “You have to understand the law, but then you have to really understand what your company does,” said Lykins. “You need all of that to be able to analyze the language in a bill and ask, would this prevent us from doing X, Y, and Z? Or is this going to pigeonhole us in some way?”
From Amex, she moved to Visa’s San Francisco headquarters, before moving closer to the center of government in Washington, D.C. She describes her job as something that seemed designed for her. “I love writing, and I love talking to people. A fundamental part of my role is educating government officials and policymakers about Visa’s business and how we can best support consumers and the global ecosystem. Whether in person or through formal written submissions, I really feel like my work is a perfect combination of my legal and communication skills.”
Lykins is grateful that her law school education has led to a fulfilling career, and is eager to share her knowledge. This spring, she returned to the Law School to speak at a career panel.
“I had several students come up to me afterwards who told me, ‘That was so interesting to hear how you’ve paved this road for yourself,’” she said. “Today, I can say that I’m doing the exact work I’ve always wanted to do.”