Working Geek

Working Geek: Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson uses social media ‘like a stethoscope’ in public health crusade

by Lisa Stiffler on March 23, 2019March 25, 2019 at 7:47 am1 Comment

It didn’t take long for Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson to realize that if she wanted to effectively provide a research-based alternative to the unfounded claims of Jenny McCarthy and others… Read More

Working Geek: Fred Hutch CIO Kathy Alexion shifts from ‘corporate soldier’ to mission driven

by Lisa Stiffler on March 15, 2019March 15, 2019 at 3:31 pmComment

With a resume that includes Amazon, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Chase and others, Kathy Alexion confesses to being a “corporate soldier.” But her nearly three years at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer… Read More

Working Geek: From Amazon to OfferUp, COO Bill Carr experimented to find the right career fit

by Lisa Stiffler on March 5, 2019March 5, 2019 at 10:56 amComment

OfferUp’s Chief Operating Officer Bill Carr says that he’s not a scientist. At least not in the chemical engineering way that his dad and grandfathers were. But he is an… Read More

Working Geek: Neal Gottsacker brings Midwest how-to and startup lessons to Nintex

by Lisa Stiffler on February 22, 2019February 22, 2019 at 5:41 amComment

When Neal Gottsacker decided to take the role of chief product officer at Bellevue, Wash.-based Nintex, he was confident that it was going to be a good fit. He interviewed… Read More

Working Geek: Former Mayor Marilyn Strickland is Seattle Metro Chamber’s uniter in chief

by Lisa Stiffler on February 8, 2019February 9, 2019 at 9:01 amComment

Marilyn Strickland likes mixing things up. She has transitioned between the corporate world of Starbucks, two terms as mayor of Tacoma and now CEO and president of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber… Read More

Working Geek: After startup stint, Ari Steinberg leads Airbnb’s operations in Seattle

by Lisa Stiffler on February 2, 2019February 5, 2019 at 9:05 pm1 Comment

Ari Steinberg wanted to start a company when he graduated from Stanford University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science. He tried to convince his three college roommates to join… Read More

Video

Working Geek: DreamBox’s upbeat CEO Jessie Woolley-Wilson is focused on empowering kids

by Lisa Stiffler on January 24, 2019January 24, 2019 at 3:02 pmComment

DreamBox Learning CEO Jessie Woolley-Wilson is a quote machine. As she explains the whys and hows of her successful math education software company, which raised $130 million in venture capital… Read More

Working Geek: Sage CTO Michael Kellen builds software for medical collaboration and crowdsourcing

by Lisa Stiffler on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019 at 7:11 amComment

As chief technology officer for Sage Bionetworks, Michael Kellen has the rare opportunity to merge the commercial drive of a startup with the mission-driven focus of a nonprofit. Kellen leads… Read More

Video

Working Geek: F5’s Kara Sprague sees a maddening gulf between tech and government

by Lisa Stiffler on January 10, 2019January 9, 2019 at 1:33 pmComment

Kara Sprague’s dad was an attorney and her first choice for college was Harvard University, leading to a career in law. But when that offer didn’t come through and a spot… Read More

Working Geek: To botox or not to botox? RealSelf’s Tom Seery helps consumers find their answer

by Lisa Stiffler on January 3, 2019January 3, 2019 at 9:28 amComment

More than a decade ago, Tom Seery’s wife was the inspiration for the launch of RealSelf, a site featuring public reviews of more than 400 cosmetic procedures — but not… Read More

Working Geek: Act-On CEO Kate Johnson on the tech talent upsides of a Portland headquarters

by Lisa Stiffler on December 27, 2018December 27, 2018 at 11:45 amComment

For Act-On Software CEO Kate Johnson, Portland is a perfect fit. She loves her walkable West Coast city that boasts terrific restaurants and bars, plus plenty of parks for her… Read More

Working Geek: ConDati co-founder and chief marketer Linh Ho reminds us to dream big

by Lisa Stiffler on December 21, 2018January 2, 2019 at 11:06 amComment

Linh Ho has some cool ideas, some bigger and some smaller, some realized and some still just dreams. One was to create an app to connect kitchen-challenged people like herself… Read More

Video

Working Geek: For Amazon’s Alex Kravis, passion and practicality combined for role of a lifetime

by Lisa Stiffler & Starla Sampaco on December 11, 2018December 10, 2018 at 6:49 amComment

Not only is Alex Kravis’s job as head of product and creative teams for Amazon’s Prime Video X-Ray a gig that blends her passions for film and TV with her… Read More

Working Geek: Eugenio Pace’s journey from failed startup to CEO of Auth0 with $110M in funding

by Lisa Stiffler on December 7, 2018December 7, 2018 at 8:14 pmComment

Eugenio Pace was destined to be a tech entrepreneur. He just jumped the gun. After earning a degree in electrical engineering and a master’s in computer science in Buenos Aires, he… Read More

Working Geek: Microsoft’s Justin Spelhaug is drafting a new blueprint for tech philanthropy

by Lisa Stiffler on December 3, 2018December 3, 2018 at 11:59 amComment

Justin Spelhaug likes to make lists, to enumerate things. Maybe it’s because he has a big role running the Tech for Social Impact group within Microsoft Philanthropies. Perhaps helping lead… Read More

Working Geek: Marketing leader Jeremy Korst is at home in the board room – and the dude ranch

by Lisa Stiffler on November 23, 2018November 21, 2018 at 3:18 pmComment

Jeremy Korst has serious Ivy League, Fortune-500, city-slicker bona fides. He earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His resume includes leadership roles… Read More

Working Geek: As PitchBook soared, so did career of employee No. 5 Adley Bowden

by Lisa Stiffler on November 16, 2018November 17, 2018 at 8:51 pmComment

Sure Adley Bowden has been with the same company for a decade. But the PitchBook that hired him practically straight out of the University of Washington back in 2008 bears… Read More

Working Geek: UW computer scientist Jennifer Mankoff channeled adversity into a career path

by Lisa Stiffler on November 7, 2018November 7, 2018 at 7:05 amComment

Jennifer Mankoff faced a slate of challenges that could have derailed her academic aspirations. It started with a repetitive stress injury from a poorly designed keyboard during graduate school in… Read More

Working Geek: A diverse workplace creates conflict – and that’s the goal, says COO Nat Cartwright

by Lisa Stiffler on November 2, 2018November 2, 2018 at 9:41 am1 Comment

People talk a lot about building a diverse workplace with employees who vary by gender, race, socioeconomic background, age, abilities and life experience, and how those differences can fuel innovation.… Read More

Working Geek: ‘Consummate networker’ Heather Redman connects tech, VC, civic circles and raises millions

by Lisa Stiffler on October 23, 2018October 23, 2018 at 11:37 am 2 Comments

If you’ve seen venture capital investor and Seattle tech veteran Heather Redman work a room or present at an event, you’re unlikely to guess that she’s actually somewhat shy by… Read More

Working Geek: Dr. Christopher Murray’s mission to make the world healthier through better data

by Lisa Stiffler on October 22, 2018October 22, 2018 at 10:21 amComment

There’s a Seattle-based enterprise that has a worldwide reach that few organizations can match. And no, we’re not talking about Amazon, Microsoft or Starbucks. The Institute for Health Metrics and… Read More

Working Geek: Crowd Cow CEO Joe Heitzeberg finds startup success off the ‘narrow path’

by Lisa Stiffler on October 12, 2018October 12, 2018 at 12:28 pm1 Comment

Joe Heitzeberg is a serial entrepreneur, launching and running Snapvine, which was acquired by Whitepages, and then MediaPiston, which UpWork bought. He co-founded Madrona Venture Labs, a startup studio and incubator.… Read More

Working Geek: Sage Bionetworks’ Lara Mangravite brings scientists together to speed discovery

by Lisa Stiffler on October 6, 2018October 5, 2018 at 2:25 pmComment

Scientists aren’t known for playing well with others. After all, their world is set up to reward individual accomplishments through journal publications, professorships and grants. Lara Mangravite, president of Sage… Read More

Until there’s telepathy, Zipwhip CEO John Lauer says texting is the king of communications

by Lisa Stiffler on September 29, 2018October 1, 2018 at 12:59 pmComment

John Lauer, CEO and co-founder of business texting-software provider Zipwhip, says there’s no faster, easier way to communicate than text messages. Or at least, he says, that’s true until someone… Read More

Working Geek: Stephanie Gowing aids clean energy entrepreneurs and companies eager to go green

by Lisa Stiffler on September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 at 9:06 amComment

As the Green Business Advocate for the city of Seattle, Stephanie Gowing is working to boost the city’s eco enterprises and help interested business become more environmentally friendly. Recently that’s… Read More

Working Geek: Inclusive-design UX whiz Kat Holmes has tips for serving a broader audience

by Lisa Stiffler on September 14, 2018September 15, 2018 at 9:34 am 3 Comments

Kat Holmes became aware of inclusive design when working a few years back on Cortana, Microsoft’s voice-activated assistant. She was part of a perfectly talented team of engineers and designers,… Read More

Working Geek: Axon CEO Rick Smith aims to curb gun deaths by making bullets ‘obsolete’

by Lisa Stiffler on September 6, 2018September 7, 2018 at 7:48 am 3 Comments

Many people concerned about gun violence want to alter laws. Rick Smith is focusing on a tech solution. “Our track record for solving major problems with technology is really good,” said… Read More

Working Geek: Flexe’s COO Ed Yue finds startup inspiration in warehouses, and everywhere else

by Lisa Stiffler on August 29, 2018August 29, 2018 at 9:08 amComment

Ed Yue‘s first foray into the world of warehouses was not particularly auspicious. “I almost got run over by a forklift,” said Yue, who is co-founder and chief of operations… Read More

Working Geek: For Code.org’s Alice Steinglass, writing software can be a kid’s 21st Century ‘voice’

by Lisa Stiffler on August 17, 2018August 17, 2018 at 2:44 pmComment

It’s hardly possible to imagine schools not teaching kids how to write. No essays, no poetry, no reports or creative writing. For Alice Steinglass, president of Code.org, that scenario isn’t… Read More

Working Geek: A star in science ed, astrophysicist Dennis Schatz wants to expand minds

by Lisa Stiffler on August 7, 2018August 7, 2018 at 7:53 am 3 Comments

Dennis Schatz, president-elect of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and senior advisor at the Pacific Science Center, draws inspiration from an encounter that saddened him. Schatz was shooting photos… Read More

Working Geek: Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson uses social media ‘like a stethoscope’ in public health crusade

Working Geek: Fred Hutch CIO Kathy Alexion shifts from ‘corporate soldier’ to mission driven

Working Geek: From Amazon to OfferUp, COO Bill Carr experimented to find the right career fit

Working Geek: Neal Gottsacker brings Midwest how-to and startup lessons to Nintex

Working Geek: Former Mayor Marilyn Strickland is Seattle Metro Chamber’s uniter in chief

Working Geek: After startup stint, Ari Steinberg leads Airbnb’s operations in Seattle

Working Geek: DreamBox’s upbeat CEO Jessie Woolley-Wilson is focused on empowering kids

Working Geek: Sage CTO Michael Kellen builds software for medical collaboration and crowdsourcing

Working Geek: F5’s Kara Sprague sees a maddening gulf between tech and government

Working Geek: To botox or not to botox? RealSelf’s Tom Seery helps consumers find their answer

Working Geek: Act-On CEO Kate Johnson on the tech talent upsides of a Portland headquarters

Working Geek: ConDati co-founder and chief marketer Linh Ho reminds us to dream big

Working Geek: For Amazon’s Alex Kravis, passion and practicality combined for role of a lifetime

Working Geek: Eugenio Pace’s journey from failed startup to CEO of Auth0 with $110M in funding

Working Geek: Microsoft’s Justin Spelhaug is drafting a new blueprint for tech philanthropy

Working Geek: Marketing leader Jeremy Korst is at home in the board room – and the dude ranch

Working Geek: As PitchBook soared, so did career of employee No. 5 Adley Bowden

Working Geek: UW computer scientist Jennifer Mankoff channeled adversity into a career path

Working Geek: A diverse workplace creates conflict – and that’s the goal, says COO Nat Cartwright

Working Geek: ‘Consummate networker’ Heather Redman connects tech, VC, civic circles and raises millions

Working Geek: Dr. Christopher Murray’s mission to make the world healthier through better data

Working Geek: Crowd Cow CEO Joe Heitzeberg finds startup success off the ‘narrow path’

Working Geek: Sage Bionetworks’ Lara Mangravite brings scientists together to speed discovery

Until there’s telepathy, Zipwhip CEO John Lauer says texting is the king of communications

Working Geek: Stephanie Gowing aids clean energy entrepreneurs and companies eager to go green

Working Geek: Inclusive-design UX whiz Kat Holmes has tips for serving a broader audience

Working Geek: Axon CEO Rick Smith aims to curb gun deaths by making bullets ‘obsolete’

Working Geek: Flexe’s COO Ed Yue finds startup inspiration in warehouses, and everywhere else

Working Geek: For Code.org’s Alice Steinglass, writing software can be a kid’s 21st Century ‘voice’

Working Geek: A star in science ed, astrophysicist Dennis Schatz wants to expand minds

MIT Technology Review Presents: EmTech Digital 2019

Google + Taqtile: Startup War Stories

Fireside Chat with Bill Bryant