Seattle Culture
Built on Trust
Company leaders reveal secrets to a buzzing, productive workplace. Hint: It’s more than perks.
At Pot O’ Gold Coffee Service, company leaders were pleasantly surprised when employees told them they enjoyed after-hours events with colleagues. At Fully Integrated Team HR — which has a remote workforce — employees often schedule in-person working sessions, sometimes with their children in tow. Salespeople who close a big deal ring a loud gong…
Most Influential: Matika Wilbur
Photographer, Activist
When Tidelands Gallery opened last September along Seattle’s rapidly evolving waterfront, it was, in a sense, a full-circle moment for photographer Matika Wilbur. The 6,000-square foot Indigenous-owned creative space, comprising an art gallery, production studio, rental space, and boutique, is just steps away from the Pike Place Hill Climb, where Wilbur had her first studio….
How Pierce County is Tackling Youth Homelessness
100-Day Challenge launches in February
Last year’s 2024 Homeless Point-in-Time Count found that about 500 youth and young adults in Pierce County were unhoused. Half of those were under the age of 18. Thanks to some help from the federal government, Pierce County officials hope to make that a thing of the past. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development…
Most Influential: David Baker
Scientist
David Baker grew up on Capitol Hill with scientist parents. His father, Marshall Baker, was a physicist. His mother, Marcia Bourgin Baker, was a geophysicist. Both were faculty at the University of Washington. But as an undergraduate at Harvard, the younger Baker initially eschewed his famous parents’ paths and focused on the humanities, majoring in…
The Pulse: January in Motion
Scholarships, piano recycling, and Seattle’s shifting tech scene
January feels like a recovery month. After December’s frenzy, things have finally settled. The days are lengthening, but just barely. I’m re-reading this book to remind myself how to tackle 4:30 p.m. sunsets without turning into a candle-obsessed recluse — or at least to feel better about if I do. Our new magazine is out!…
Seattle’s Shelf Discovery
Physical bookstores face challenges, but still provide plenty of ink-spiration
As a kid growing up in Portland, I couldn’t wait to go downtown. It had a large B. Dalton bookstore (the chain was liquidated and eventually bought by Barnes & Noble), and I would peruse every aisle, checking out as many books and magazines as time allowed. I absolutely loved bookstores, and even the book…
Most Influential: Nia-Amina Minor
Dance
For dancer and choreographer Nia-Amina Minor — a cofounder of Black Collectivity with David Rue, marco farroni leonardo, and Akoiya Harris — collaboration is at the core of her practice. A longtime dancer (Minor moved to Seattle to join Spectrum Dance Theater), it wasn’t until attending grad school at UC Irvine that she seriously dove…
Must List: 5 Things to Do in Seattle This Week
Jan 09 - Jan 15
Haunting photos, Black brilliance, and a gripping new drama
Hey, how are you doing? It’s such a nice day for January — cold but bright, which feels like a win. I’ve been thinking about trying new things this year. I just signed up for a pretzel-making class at PCC (imagine the possibilities!) And this low-stakes dance studio is calling my name. What about you? We’re…
Editor’s Note: The Microsoft Way
The past matters. The future matters more.
Brad Smith first visited Microsoft’s Redmond campus as a young lawyer in 1990. The cab driver got lost on the way from Sea-Tac Airport. Imagine that happening today. The tech sector exploded shortly thereafter. Suddenly, everybody knew Microsoft. The region quickly became more cosmopolitan, more diverse, more affluent. It earned a global reputation, all because…
Most Influential: Nick Ferderer
Entrepreneur, Activist
With a background in government relations, legislative advocacy, and business strategy — including stints at the U.S. Department of Commerce and Microsoft — Nick Ferderer admits that he isn’t the first person to come to mind as an art gallery owner. And yet, in just three short years, Ferderer has opened two of the city’s…
Most Influential: Luther Hughes
Poet
Luther Hughes was 12 years old when poetry made its first impact on them. “I was in church, and the choir director read a poem about birds,” recalls Hughes, whose work has appeared in major publications including American Poetry Review, Paris Review, and Poetry Northwest. “It was likening birds to human behavior, and it blew…
The Most Influential People
Meet 25 extraordinary individuals and one transformative company building community and advocating for equity
Seattle magazine’s annual list of Most Influential people includes those who inspire, guide and uplift others through their actions, leadership and dedication. Their far-reaching influence stems from their achievements, but equally important, their ability to foster connections across the community, advocate for positive change, and empower others to make a difference. Here are Seattle’s Most…
Publisher’s Note: When Purpose and Talent Come Together
Seattle’s Most Influential people put community first
Each year, we take the time to highlight some truly remarkable individuals in our “Seattle’s Most Influential” people issue, and it remain one of the most important and rewarding projects we undertake. Frankly, it’s a real privilege for all of us here at Seattle magazine. This issue is about more than just recognition — it’s…
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