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Imagination and Courage Continue… The Pacific Northwest is home to its fair share of public companies—but what’s truly remarkable is that nearly half of them are leaders in their respective domains. Many have become household names, which is an unusually high ratio. Personally, I don’t recognize the names of even a quarter of public companies […]

Redfin and Zillow: Making the Pacific Northwest the Real Estate Tech Capital Redfin and Zillow were founded within two years of each other—Redfin in 2004 and Zillow in 2006. Together, they established the Pacific Northwest as the real estate tech capital of the United States. While Redfin consistently positioned itself as a consumer-first company, Zillow […]

From Rookie to Leader: My Journey of Transformations From time to time, a brief pause for reflection reveals the threads that weave our lives together. For me, this week felt like the perfect moment to do just that. After a much-needed and entirely voluntary (aka friends asking “are you crazy?”) break to prioritize health and […]

Starbucks: From 4 to 40,000 in 40 Years Starbucks is yet another story of imagination and courage from our beloved Pacific Northwest. Over the past 40 years, it has grown into a global cultural phenomenon. Originally a coffee bean wholesaler, Starbucks was reimagined in 1987 when Howard Schultz acquired the company. Schultz envisioned the brand […]

T-Mobile: How an Underdog Outweighed Elephants The next company in our Imagination and Courage series is T-Mobile. Its story exemplifies what imagination and courage can accomplish. Over three decades ago, it began as VoiceStream before becoming T-Mobile in 2001. VoiceStream—and later T-Mobile—was known for affordable, albeit low-quality, mobile connectivity. By 2010, with a 12% market […]

Expedia: A Success Story Despite Missed Opportunities The next company in our Imagination and Courage series is Expedia. It is undoubtedly a successful company, but does it match the extraordinary success of some others in the Pacific Northwest? In some ways, yes, but in others, not quite. Let’s discuss. First, my credentials—I am a frequent […]

The job market is competitive, and standing out requires more than just a polished resume. It’s about intentionality, creativity, and building connections that reflect your unique value. Here’s my perspective on how you can elevate your job search and make a lasting impression: Craft a Standout LinkedIn Profile Your LinkedIn profile is your digital business […]

Microsoft: A Story of Imagination and Courage The first company I want to discuss in our “Imagination and Courage” series is Microsoft. While it may not always be synonymous with “imagination,” one can certainly rely on Microsoft to pursue big ideas with bold determination—even if those ideas were first conceived elsewhere. Over the past 25 […]

Department of Imagination and Courage! Let’s take a look at some of the Pacific Northwest companies. They are all successful, with many of them dominating their industries. Some, however, are widely successful. The question is: What sets apart successful companies from those that achieve extraordinary success?   The answer I find is imagination—and the courage […]

The chemicals industry, a cornerstone of modern life, faces a critical challenge: balancing industrial growth with environmental responsibility. By harnessing AI and biocatalysis, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future. In recent years, expanding biological data and advances in computational techniques have given rise to AI algorithms capable of everything from designing […]