Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

Monica Nickelsburg is GeekWire’s Civic Editor, covering technology-driven solutions to urban challenges and the intersection of tech and politics. Before joining GeekWire, she worked for The Week, Forbes, and NBC. Monica holds a BA in journalism and history from New York University. Follow her @mnickelsburg

Why Amazon is suddenly going on the offensive amid a growing techlash

Harvey Mudd President Maria Klawe has a message for computer science grads — and the tech industry
Which candidates do you align with? Seattle startup vet provides answers with new matchmaking site
Affordable housing campaign raises $48.8M from Microsoft, Amazon, Ballmers, and others to combat homelessness in Seattle region

Latest from Monica Nickelsburg

Seattle entrepreneur stirs up controversy with new candidate-vetting tool Alignvote

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 at 8:03 amComment

A new app designed to match voters with candidates whose values they share has become a lightning rod, highlighting deep divisions in Seattle as elections that could upend the City… Read More

Why Amazon is suddenly going on the offensive amid a growing techlash

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 17, 2019June 17, 2019 at 12:49 pmComment

Amazon is finding its voice. The notoriously quiet company known for keeping its head down, focusing on the work, and rarely commenting on controversy is whistling a new tune. Over… Read More

Video

Apple CEO Tim Cook takes tech industry to task: ‘If you want to take credit, first learn to take responsibility’

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 17, 2019June 17, 2019 at 10:43 am1 Comment

Stanford University has long been a Mecca for techno-optimists, a place where innovation, student idealism, and the tech elite converge. But Stanford’s 2019 commencement address struck a more sober tone,… Read More

Satya Nadella’s ‘karma’ gaffe was ‘one of the best things that ever happened for Microsoft,’ says former board member who was on stage with him

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 16, 2019June 17, 2019 at 10:17 amComment

It has been five years since Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told Harvey Mudd College President Dr. Maria Klawe — on stage at a celebration of women in computing — that… Read More

Podcast

Harvey Mudd President Maria Klawe has a message for computer science grads — and the tech industry

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 13, 2019June 14, 2019 at 10:37 amComment

In the 13 years since Maria Klawe took over as president of Harvey Mudd College, she has surprised skeptics and achieved a milestone that has confounded most institutions of higher… Read More

Amazon hires Washington DC economic development lead in charge of HQ2 courtship

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 at 11:14 am 2 Comments

The Washington D.C. official tasked with luring Amazon’s prized second headquarters project will join the tech giant’s public policy team. Brian Kenner is leaving his post as D.C.’s Deputy Mayor… Read More

Which candidates do you align with? Seattle startup vet provides answers with new matchmaking site

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 12, 2019June 13, 2019 at 10:36 am 6 Comments

“You can’t really Google, ‘Which candidates most align with me on transit and zoning tradeoffs?’ So said Steve Murch, a veteran Seattle entrepreneur who has spent the past few weeks… Read More

Howard Schultz pauses presidential campaign as staff shrinks

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 12, 2019June 12, 2019 at 2:40 pm1 Comment

Howard Schultz is putting his presidential campaign on hold, in the latest signal that the coffee mogul’s 2020 bid is losing steam. Schultz told supporters he will take the summer… Read More

Uber and Lyft CEOs team up to respond to driver concerns in rare op-ed

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 12, 2019June 12, 2019 at 9:14 amComment

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Lyft co-founders Logan Green and John Zimmer lead companies that have been locked in fierce competition for years. But more and more, these executives find… Read More

Lawmakers and activists push for net neutrality legislation on the anniversary of its repeal

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 at 12:53 pmComment

Senate Democrats took to the chamber floor Tuesday to demand Majority Leader Mitch McConnell call a vote on net neutrality legislation that passed the House in April. More than 100… Read More

Affordable housing campaign raises $48.8M from Microsoft, Amazon, Ballmers, and others to combat homelessness in Seattle region

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 11, 2019June 12, 2019 at 10:39 am 5 Comments

A new campaign to build affordable housing for Seattle residents experiencing homelessness received a big boost from the tech industry. Microsoft, Amazon, Steve and Connie Ballmer, and other organizations in… Read More

Amazon donates $8M for affordable housing in ‘HQ regions,’ launches employee matching program

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 at 10:28 am 2 Comments

Amazon is donating a total of $8 million across Seattle and Arlington, Va., to non-profits that provide housing for people experiencing homelessness. In its original headquarters town, Seattle, Amazon will… Read More

University of Washington researchers use robots to unlock mysteries of massive holes in Antarctic ice

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 10, 2019June 10, 2019 at 10:47 am1 Comment

For years, giant holes in Antarctic sea ice have confounded scientists. But this week researchers from the University of Washington announced a breakthrough. The mysterious phenomenon: Giant holes in the… Read More

Smartsheet targets government agencies with new workplace software powered by AWS

by Monica Nickelsburg on June 10, 2019June 10, 2019 at 9:35 amComment

With hundreds of federal agencies eager to modernize their processes, competition in government tech is hot. Take the Department of Defense’s JEDI contract, a $10 billion cloud migration project that… Read More

Uber and Lyft drivers roll up to Seattle City Hall to demand better wages and worker protections

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 30, 2019May 31, 2019 at 2:40 pm 2 Comments

A caravan of Uber and Lyft drivers arrived at the steps of Seattle City Hall on Thursday afternoon to demand better wages and treatment from the ride-hailing companies. The rolling… Read More

Why this early Amazon investor is backing an effort to shake up the Seattle City Council

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 29, 2019May 30, 2019 at 8:40 am 4 Comments

One of the biggest names in Seattle tech is a founding member of a new political action committee that wants to see fresh faces on the City Council this fall.… Read More

Seattle rolls out electric garbage trucks in pioneering transition away from fossil fuels

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 29, 2019May 30, 2019 at 7:20 am 3 Comments

Seattle is transitioning its fleet of waste management vehicles away from fossil fuels, starting with the nation’s first full-sized, 100 percent electric garbage trucks. The vehicles come from Recology, a… Read More

Microsoft reveals criteria for $500M affordable housing fund as it prepares to take applications

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 29, 2019May 31, 2019 at 3:28 pmComment

In about a week, Microsoft will begin accepting applications for its pioneering $500 million affordable housing fund. Microsoft Philanthropies Director Jane Broom announced the company’s criteria for affordable housing projects… Read More

Ex-Instagram exec departs Howard Schultz’s team after 5 months as presidential endeavor goes quiet

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 at 9:15 pm 2 Comments

Mike Develin, a former Instagram and Facebook analytics chief, has left Howard Schultz’s team just five months after he was hired. Develin’s LinkedIn page notes that he is currently “taking… Read More

MacKenzie Bezos promises to give away half her fortune, highlighting Jeff Bezos’ absence from ‘Giving Pledge’

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 at 10:16 am1 Comment

One of the richest women in the world will give the majority of her fortune away to charity. MacKenzie Bezos has signed The Giving Pledge, a commitment that hundreds of… Read More

Reach Now acquires Validated, a Seattle startup providing transportation incentives

by Monica Nickelsburg on May 23, 2019May 23, 2019 at 9:03 amComment

Reach Now is bringing Seattle startup Validated under its roof as the joint mobility venture between BMW and Daimler continues to expand its offerings. Validated allows businesses and employers subsidize… Read More

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Articles by Monica Nickelsburg

Top Stories from Monica Nickelsburg

Why Amazon is suddenly going on the offensive amid a growing techlash

Latest from Monica Nickelsburg

Seattle entrepreneur stirs up controversy with new candidate-vetting tool Alignvote

Why Amazon is suddenly going on the offensive amid a growing techlash

Apple CEO Tim Cook takes tech industry to task: ‘If you want to take credit, first learn to take responsibility’

Satya Nadella’s ‘karma’ gaffe was ‘one of the best things that ever happened for Microsoft,’ says former board member who was on stage with him

Harvey Mudd President Maria Klawe has a message for computer science grads — and the tech industry

Amazon hires Washington DC economic development lead in charge of HQ2 courtship

Which candidates do you align with? Seattle startup vet provides answers with new matchmaking site

Howard Schultz pauses presidential campaign as staff shrinks

Uber and Lyft CEOs team up to respond to driver concerns in rare op-ed

Lawmakers and activists push for net neutrality legislation on the anniversary of its repeal

Affordable housing campaign raises $48.8M from Microsoft, Amazon, Ballmers, and others to combat homelessness in Seattle region

Amazon donates $8M for affordable housing in ‘HQ regions,’ launches employee matching program

University of Washington researchers use robots to unlock mysteries of massive holes in Antarctic ice

Smartsheet targets government agencies with new workplace software powered by AWS

Why this early Amazon investor is backing an effort to shake up the Seattle City Council

Seattle rolls out electric garbage trucks in pioneering transition away from fossil fuels

Microsoft reveals criteria for $500M affordable housing fund as it prepares to take applications

Ex-Instagram exec departs Howard Schultz’s team after 5 months as presidential endeavor goes quiet

MacKenzie Bezos promises to give away half her fortune, highlighting Jeff Bezos’ absence from ‘Giving Pledge’

Reach Now acquires Validated, a Seattle startup providing transportation incentives

Shareholders reject efforts to rein in Amazon’s sale of facial recognition tech to law enforcement

Amazon shareholders reject all 11 annual meeting proposals, including employee-backed climate plan

Scammers impersonate Amazon customer support in new scheme as robocalls surge

Seattle IT department cuts 14 jobs in major reorganization to ‘foster innovation’

More than 7,600 Amazon employees demand action on climate change in advance of annual meeting

T-Mobile and Sprint shares rise as FCC chairman recommends approval of merger

Real estate investors bet on tech hubs to withstand economic downturns, study finds

Seattle mayor: Fighting traffic with congestion pricing is an uphill battle in West Coast tech hubs

Scooter mania spreads through Seattle region as Lime launches in Everett

HNTB to host networking event for disadvantaged and small businesses

StartOut Seattle Networking Mixer & Launch Event

Creativity, community and the cloud: what’s next for Seattle as a tech, business and entertainment community?