From Oak Tree Road to Pennsylvania Ave, Meet Reema Shah
Nishi Shah, Suryaraj Jain
We spoke to Reema in her personal capacity, and her statements and views do not reflect those of the U.S. Government.
Many of us have seen shows and movies depicting the lives of White House staff, Secret Service, and elected-officials. From “The West Wing” to “Designated Survivor,” the entertainment industry has sought to portray a number of viewpoints, but media portrayals are often exaggerated. Countless people work behind the scenes to ensure that every aspect of the government runs smoothly. One may ask: what is life truly like as a member of the Presidential staff? To delve deeper into this question, we recently had the opportunity to chat with Reema Shah, a Deputy Associate Counsel and a first generation Indian-American.
The Office of the White House Counsel handles a range of legal issues involving the White House and the President, such as advising on policy proposals, handling judicial nominations, and providing ethics advice to White House staff. As part of the legal counsel staff, Reema focuses on the policy process — she works with policy teams in the White House and legal offices in other federal agencies to provide advice on a range of domestic issues.
What does working in an administration that is making history (through diverse Cabinet picks and the first WOC Vice President) make you think about shifting identities in the USA today?
“I’m proud to be part of an Administration that is committed to building a team that looks like America — and I hope that seeing leaders like VP Harris and others will inspire other young women and minorities to get involved in government and public service.”
Have you ever doubted yourself or had to compromise your beliefs while working in politics?
“I have doubted myself many times throughout my career — each time, however, I tried to use those doubts to push myself to work harder and be better. I’ve also been lucky enough to have the support of a very loving family — my husband, parents, brother, and sister-in-law — who have always believed in me even when I doubted myself.”
For Reema, the path to the White House took a lot of hard work. The Edison, NJ native first attended Harvard University for her undergraduate degree in Social Studies, after which she pursued a Master in International Relations at Cambridge University. Following that, she went to law school at Yale University and worked for a few different federal judges and the federal government. She was a law clerk for Justice Elena Kagan (U.S. Supreme Court) and Judge Sri Srinivasan (D.C. Circuit), and worked in the Department of Justice for a year. Prior to joining the Biden campaign, Reema was working at the law firm of Latham & Watkins. After the Biden-Harris victory, she continued onto the Biden-Harris transition team culminating in her current position in the Office of the White House Counsel.
How do you determine success — in your career or otherwise?
“To me, success has two main components. First and foremost is having strong relationships with family and friends and taking the time to be there for the people you love. Second is having a fulfilling career that lets you pursue your interests. Growing up, my dad always used to say that if you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work — which is some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten.”
What are your future goals post-Biden administration?
“In or out of government, I’d like to find a job that is intellectually engaging and from which I’m constantly learning, involves public service, and allows me to work alongside other brilliant and kind individuals.”
What lessons have you taken from the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic?
“I’ve realized how much I used to take for granted — things both big and small — everyday interactions with colleagues, working in a coffee shop, traveling the world, and attending friends’ weddings. Looking forward to resuming all of that soon, and feeling very grateful for the opportunity to do so!”
Do you have advice for Desi people who want to go into government, law, or politics?
“My general advice would be to pursue your passions — which might require putting yourself out there to create opportunities (which has always felt challenging to me), or taking a job that might not be your dream job but that helps set you on the right course. If you keep working hard and doing good work, that will get noticed and bring you closer to achieving your dreams.
In terms of government/law/politics, I’d encourage people to do lots of internships to get a sense of what they like — there’s a lot of different types of jobs in that space (legal/non-legal, career/political appointee), and it’s only by diving right into that world that you can get a sense of the range and start to figure out what works best for you.”
Although there are just a handful of Desi Americans in government and politics compared to other fields, and even fewer who are in the White House, it is helpful to get insight from people such as Reema, who has been helping to blaze the trail for others. Reema has worked hard to get to where she is, and her perseverance has paid off and brought her to where she is today. She hopes that future generations continue to pursue their careers in this field without feeling discouraged by the tough path it took for her to land in the White House.
