Sarah Szczypinski

As recently as 2021, Big Tech was growing at a breakneck pace in Seattle, with the industry’s key employers offering thousands of high-salaried positions. Unfortunately, recent layoffs have soured the job pool to the tune of 5,400 in-state jobs, according to the state Employment Security Department. As the threat of more layoffs looms, Microsoft and Amazon no longer lead the charge of companies hiring in Washington, leaving many tech workers to wonder where to find their next opportunity.

Team sports can be a grounding force for kids, helping them foster friendships, develop problem-solving skills and achieve better mental health and physical fitness.

Still, access to the playing field isn’t always fair game.

According to a 2020 report released by financial services company Lending Tree, 59% of families feel the financial strain of enrolling their children in youth sports.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our children’s physical and mental health.

Mental health challenges are creating educational and social hurdles for children. According to an analysis released by the Mayo Clinic, 28% of people ages 4 to 19 suffered from anxiety in 2021, and 23% struggled with depression. Youths also reported persistent feelings of loneliness, stress and tension.

Things move quickly in the Cascadia region—as long as you aren’t in a car trying to get somewhere. Seattle-area drivers lost 138 hours during peak commuting times in 2018, according to an annual report released by INRIX, a traffic data firm. Portland and Vancouver faced similar gridlocks, as drivers lost 116 and 102 hours respectively in 2018.

In the Cascadia region of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, 5,802 wildfires were reported in 2018.

Wildfires are a rising concern. Here in the Cascadia region of Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, wildfires are a serious problem, with 5,802 reported in 2018. In the U.S., 31,677 wildfires burned 3.8 million acres during the same period, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Humility is a key element of the kind of leadership that creates growth for all involved.

There’s no shortage of opportunity in Seattle. The King county nonfarm workforce grew by 103,500 jobs between November 2017 and November 2018, a 3 percent increase in the metro area alone. Harnessing exemplary talent requires leaders who share a number of essential, personal qualities. What sets these people apart?