We recently connected with Haley Lickstein and have shared our conversation below.
Haley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
A year and a half ago, I made a bold decision to move across the country from Washington, D.C. to Seattle, Washington, to start what I thought was my dream job at a foundation whose mission I wholeheartedly believed in. The excitement of working for an organization that aligned so deeply with my values was undeniable, but the move to a city where I knew fewer than five people came with its own set of challenges.
With more free time on my hands in a new city, I began to dive deeper into my passion projects, particularly around advocacy and youth organizing. I started sharing my thoughts online about the issues I care about, and soon, I was leaning into every opportunity to create programs and resources to help young people get involved.
What happened next was beyond anything I could have imagined. In just one year, I was invited to the White House, joined Stacey Abrams on her podcast, appeared on live news broadcasts, and so much more—all while doing work that felt deeply meaningful and impactful.
This summer, I took the biggest leap of all: I left the job I loved, with its stable paycheck, and decided to go all in on my own. I moved back to D.C. and began working full-time with organizations and advocacy groups, using my voice and platforms to bridge the digital generational divide. My mission is clear—to empower young people, especially young women, to get involved, make a difference, and feel confident in their ability to shape the future. I am so grateful for each day and opportunity to do this work.
Haley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Haley Lickstein is a civic influencer and advocate with a mission to empower young people, especially women, to make their voices heard and get involved in the political process. Growing up in a household that deeply valued grassroots advocacy and organizing, Haley’s mother instilled in her the power of activism at a young age. From door-knocking for city council members in elementary school to writing letters and speaking at public comment meetings in middle school, she learned firsthand that organizing could create real change in her community.
In high school, Haley interned for her United States Senator and spent a summer in Washington, D.C. as a United States Senate Page. These experiences sparked her passion for public service, leading her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in an interdisciplinary program in communications, law, economics, and government at a D.C. university.
During her time in Washington, D.C., Haley interned at several prominent organizations, including EMILY’s List, the Democratic National Committee, and Capitol Hill. After graduating in 2019, she joined Meta’s policy organization on the social and economic impact programs team, where she focused on promoting economic recovery, reducing the stigma around the opioid epidemic, increasing access to STEM education, and supporting workforce development across the country. Most recently, Haley worked in the Office of the CEO at the Gates Foundation, contributing to foundation-wide strategy work.
In her spare time, Haley was always passionate about using her voice to inspire young people to take action on political issues. After the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, she began posting online about reproductive justice, which fueled her decision to fully commit to advocacy work. Since then, Haley has built a thriving online community, using her platforms to interview dozens of policymakers, women activists, and leaders. She collaborates with national advocacy organizations to bridge the generational divide and educate young voters about the issues and candidates driving them to the polls.
With over 100,000 followers across platforms, Haley is dedicated to empowering young women and inspiring them to become active participants in the political landscape. Through her social media channels, interview series, and partnerships, she continues to be a leading voice for her generation.
How did you build your audience on social media?
To build a social media I think the biggest thing is to be authentic and unapologetic about the things you are passionate about. If it is really “you” and what you care about your audience can see that. My biggest advice for anyone starting out is to just go all in—don’t let the fear of what others might think hold you back. Start posting and worry less about trends or trying to fit into a certain mold. Be yourself, share your personality, and lean into what makes you unique. The great thing about social media is that there’s a community for everyone, and if you’re true to who you are, you’ll naturally attract your people.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
As a perfectionist, one of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn is that when it comes to advocacy and social media, things will never be perfect—and that’s okay. In these spaces, perfection can often become the enemy of progress. Especially in advocacy, where being timely and responsive is so important, I’ve had to let go of the idea that everything needs to be flawless before I hit “post.”
It was a real shift for me to prioritize urgency over perfection, recognizing that sometimes it’s more impactful to get a message out quickly than to obsess over every tiny detail. Of course, accuracy and staying fact-focused are always a top priority, but I’ve learned that being effective in advocacy often means embracing imperfections, because the work itself—raising awareness, mobilizing people, and driving change—matters far more than whether my video or post is perfectly polished.
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