Most Influential
The extraordinary individuals—and one organization—building community and advocating for equity in Seattle and beyond.
The Positive Influence: Michelle Merriweather
A community builder inspired to lead a legacy organization.
Urban league of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) CEO Michelle Merriweather traces her commitment to civic work back to her high school history class in suburban Los Angeles. Over 30 years removed from Moorpark High School, she continues to refer to her history teacher by the formal Mr. Jones (first name Larry), in reverence to her mentor…
The Hip-Hop Kid: Yonny
The 25-year-old artist looking to lead the Northwest scene.
Yonny laughs when he admits he hadn’t been to he Crocodile, Neumos, or Barboza until after he’d already started performing. “I’ve lived here my whole life,” he says. “But I never really went to any shows. The Seattle scene was something I only really discovered in 2022.” That same year, he met producer Evan George,…
The Restaurateur: Lily Wu
The food-forward entrepreneur with a heart for community.
There has never been a grand, overarching plan guiding Lily Wu’s life. Indeed, from her childhood in a small village in northeast China to her standing as one of Seattle’s rising-star restaurant owners, everything has unfolded step by step, but whenever a chance came along, she never hesitated to take it. “I come from a…
The Record-Breaker: Skylar Diggins
The standout Storm player advocating for women in sports.
Skylar Diggins was a star before she ever touched down in Seattle. She’d won an Olympic gold medal in 2020, been named a WNBA All-Star six times, and pioneered a new era of marketing opportunities. She was the first women’s basketball player to have more than 1 million followers on Instagram and one of the…
The Artist: Shogo Ota
The designer behind some of the city’s most prominent murals—and the poster for its biggest sporting event of the year.
When artist Shogo Ota learned his design had been chosen as Seattle’s official FIFA World Cup poster, he was so surprised that he nearly had to pull his car over. “I couldn’t believe it,” he says with a laugh. “I’ve been making posters for local bands and events for over fifteen years, but this was…
The Cultural Torchbearer: Barbara Earl Thomas
The visual artist representing Seattle around the world.
“When I was a kid, I would lie in bed in the morning and have this feeling that something amazing could happen,” says artist Barbara Earl Thomas. “It didn’t always happen, but there was that feeling that it could. That’s still how it is when you’re in the studio working. It’s just crazy wonderful to…
The Mayor: Katie Wilson
The local leader who shook up the city’s political landscape.
Katie Wilson didn’t start 2025 planning to be mayor. “If you had told me at the beginning of this year that I would be the mayor-elect* right now, I would’ve been like, ‘What are you smoking?’” she says with a laugh. But the February special election changed that. Proposition 1A—a new business tax on high…
The Design Star: Michael Bennett
The former NFL player exploring history and culture through design.
Last September, as Seattle’s summer slipped into the golden light of fall, a simple structure made from cross-laminated timber appeared at Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum. Called Night Chapel, it stood vigil in front of the historic brick building for three months as a space for contemplation, meditation, and communal gathering. Designed by former NFL…
About
Every year, Seattle magazine’s Most Influential list takes a close look at the people shaping the city right now. The 2025 cohort spans politics, philanthropy, arts, hospitality, business, and community work, highlighting leaders whose influence shows up in tangible ways across the city. Some are longtime fixtures. Others are newer voices. What connects them is impact—and the ability to move ideas, systems, and conversations forward as the city heads into 2026.
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