Get to Know Series: Hayley Pickard, Director of Client Relations and Development
How much do you really know about your immigration team?
Hayley Pickard is the Director of Client Relations and Development with Bashyam Global. Hayley manages the social media, digital marketing, and business development for Bashyam Global.
Hayley earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Spanish Language and Literature from North Carolina State University in 2015 and has been working in immigration law for over five years.
In continuation of our Get to Know series, we asked Hayley a few questions. We want you to get to know Hayley, an integral part of our law firm team.
Here’s what Hayley has to say:
Where are you from?
I am born and raised in North Carolina. I spent the majority of my childhood in Hillsborough, NC, which is about 45 minutes west of Raleigh.
Why did you go into immigration law?
In high school, I found that I really loved learning Spanish, which got me interested in the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. From there, I had an opportunity to learn about border issues and immigration my freshman year of college. Through that learning experience, I visited with a non-profit focused in assisting immigrants to obtain lawful status in the U.S. Fast forward a few years later and as I was about to graduate college, I decided I wanted to go into immigration law to be able to help the immigrant population that is prevalent in Raleigh and North Carolina as a whole.
What is your favorite vacation spot and why?
Last summer I visited Costa Rica for the first time, and I fell in love. I had the opportunity to spend time in the mountains and the beaches of Costa Rica and both are extremely beautiful. Photos do not do the natural landscape justice, and I think everyone should visit Costa Rica at least once in their lifetime.
What is your favorite TV show?
Hands down it is Brooklyn 99. I am unashamed to say that I have just started rewatching the whole series for the 3rd time. I love the nuances of each character and it’s an easy-going, light-hearted show.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I am very active outside of work, so I enjoy running, swimming, and biking. You can typically find me training for a triathlon while listening to a true crime podcast.
What are three things still on your bucket list?
- Go bungee jumping;
- Visit Australia and New Zealand;
- Compete in and complete a half Ironman.
Who do you admire and why?
Michelle Obama. I read her autobiography “Becoming” this past year and was enchanted by her perspective on life. One of my favorite quotes from the book, and it is an extremely quotable book, is, “do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?” I hold this quote as a daily reminder to put my best foot forward to create the change I want to see in the world.
What are three things everyone should know about immigration?
- Immigration brings in the best talent and benefits the U.S. economy;
- Immigration is interconnected with different areas of every day life, even though many people may not realize;
- Immigrant culture increases the quality of life for Americans.
Hayley makes an excellent point, we should all welcome each day and put our best foot forward to bring about the change and the goodness that we want to see in the world. We all have the opportunity and the power to effect change around us and to make the world a better place.
At our office, we know that immigrants and immigration make the U.S. a better place. Each day our attorneys, paralegals, and support staff get the opportunity to effect change in the lives of our business immigration and family immigration clients by assisting foreign nationals to live and work in the U.S. lawfully. At Bashyam Global, we are here to help our clients navigate the U.S. immigration process from end-to-end.
We hope you got to know an important member of our team, Hayley Pickard, a little better.
Stay tuned for more on the Get to Know series. We will be introducing a different Bashyam Global team member every month!
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Live long, prosper, and continue to reach beyond borders!