The Pacific Northwest tech scene is buzzing with fresh leadership faces, where seasoned executives are swapping boardrooms for booths—some chasing innovation in IP management, data protection, or even nuclear energy. In Kirkland, Washington, former Microsoft and Amazon heavyweight Angus Norton has stepped into the role of CEO at Inteum, an IP management platform tailored for university tech transfer offices. Norton’s journey started back in 1995 at Microsoft, where he climbed the ranks working on heavy hitters like Office and Bing, eventually becoming vice president and general manager after nearly two decades. He then dabbled at Amazon as general manager for enterprise SaaS applications, always on the hunt for cutting-edge tech to fuel product visions. What drew him to Inteum? A personal realization that bridging universities with the private sector could spark real magic. “Honestly, I had no idea how to access or collaborate with the wonderful universities and research communities in all our backyards,” Norton shared on LinkedIn. Now, at Inteum, he’s passionate about turning academic inventions into commercial realities, connecting those ivory towers to industry titans for a brighter, more collaborative future. His move from Bodhi Venture Labs—where he led product management and marketing for over five years—feels like a natural pivot, grounding his vast experience in a space where tech meets academia. For someone who’s always been about realizing potential, leading Inteum isn’t just a job; it’s a mission to democratize innovation, making sure groundbreaking ideas from research labs don’t languish but thrive in the real world. Angus’s story is one of relentless curiosity and legacy-building, a guy who’s traded corporate giants for a startup epicenter of opportunity.
Meanwhile, over in data security and law, Rashmi Garde is shaking things up as Veeam’s new chief legal officer, bringing a formidable legal pedigree to the Kirkland-based firm that shifted its HQ from Columbus, Ohio, just last year. Garde, nestled in the San Francisco Bay Area, has advised on everything from acquisitions to corporate strategy at giants like Sophos, Centrify, BloomReach, Marin Software, and VMware. Her latest gig before Veeam was at Informatica, where she expertly guided the firm’s mammoth $8 billion sale to Salesforce—a deal that showcased her knack for high-stakes navigation. “Trust is the business of the agentic era, and I am excited to join Veeam at a moment when ensuring data is understood and resilient has never been more critical,” Garde declared, highlighting the urgency of data protection in an age of relentless cyber threats. Veeam’s focus on ransomware recovery and data resilience aligns perfectly with her background, where she’s championed trust and transparency in fast-evolving tech landscapes. For Rashmi, this isn’t just another legal post; it’s a calling to fortify businesses against the digital unknown, mixing her sharp intellect with a human touch for clients who rely on her to keep them safe. Her career arc—from startup counselor to big-deal architect—reflects a woman who’s always been about building bridges in chaos, now poised to elevate Veeam as it rides the trust wave into the future.
Shifting gears to AI safety and conversation analysis, Megan Fouty has been tapped as chief operating officer at mpathic, a Seattle startup developing software to dissect corporate chats, texts, emails, and audio calls. Fresh off launching tech to make AI and chatbot interactions safer—especially for vulnerable users—Megan brings a wealth of experience from her time as general counsel and head of people at Tin Can, a local landline phone startup. Before that, she held similar roles at Glowforge and Convoy, where her legal acumen and people skills helped steer teams through turbulent growth phases. But Megan’s impact extends beyond the corporate world; she’s the founder of Diversity University, a resource hub for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training that empowers companies to foster inclusive cultures. At mpathic, her role will likely blend her operational prowess with her compassionate DEI roots, ensuring the company’s AI tools not only analyze conversations but do so ethically and empathetically. Imagine a leader who’s passionate about safe tech interactions—someone who understands that behind every data point is a human story. Megan’s journey is inspiring: from legal battles in tech startups to championing diversity, she’s now at the forefront of making AI more human, less hazardous. It’s a testament to her versatile spirit, turning personal passions into professional missions that could reshape how we communicate in the workplace.
Peter Hamilton, meanwhile, is circling back to his creative roots as CEO and co-founder of Arena One, a budding Seattle startup blending live music and entertainment with cutting-edge tech. This venture promises premium audio-visual production fused with low-latency interactivity, offering concert energy with front-row intimacy—even at scale. Hamilton’s coming from Roku, where he headed ad innovation for over four years, and earlier, a decade-long tenure as CEO of Tune, a mobile marketing firm. But Peter’s not your typical tech exec; he’s a baritone who sang with the Seattle Opera and even co-founded the Seattle NFT Museum with his wife, Jennifer Wong. His undergrad degrees in music and film were the blueprint for a career that zigzagged into tech and ads as a way to reconnect with the arts. “This move is a full circle feeling for me,” he posted on LinkedIn. “I have undergrad degrees in music and film, and most of my work in tech and advertising has been a way for me to get closer to that ecosystem, ha!” It’s a heartwarming narrative of someone merging passions—music tech isn’t new, but Arena One could revolutionize how we experience live events, making concerts feel like shared dreams rather than distant spectacles. Peter’s story is one of circles and serendipity, a man who’s used innovation as a bridge back to his artistic soul, now leading a platform that could haunt our wildest entertainment fantasies.
On the healthcare front, Dr. Michael Han has stepped up as chief medical officer for Ambience Healthcare, a San Francisco Bay Area platform specializing in clinical documentation, with a base in Bellevue, Washington. Han, previously chief of surgery and urologist at Pacific Medical Centers before joining MultiCare Health System, brings deep clinical expertise to a tool he truly believes in. After testing every major documentation software out there, he singled out Ambience as the standout—supporting doctors from pre-visit prep to compliant coding. “That’s the company I wanted to be part of,” Han shared on LinkedIn, underscoring his commitment to clinician support in a field fraught with administrative burdens. His role now involves guiding Ambience’s AI-driven technology to make healthcare more efficient and patient-centered, drawing on his hands-on medical world. Han’s career embodies the blend of physician and tech visionary, someone who’s seen the burnout in medicine and is fighting back with smarter tools. It’s a personal crusade, transforming exhausting paperwork into empowering tech, ensuring doctors focus on healing instead of hassles.
Wrapping up the leadership shifts, the Seattle Aquarium has a new helmswoman in Meg McCann, who rose to president and CEO after serving as COO in 2024 and briefly as acting CEO. She takes over from Bob Davidson, who retired in 2025 after over two decades at the helm. Davidson praised McCann’s knack for pushing conservation and innovation, saying, “I have seen firsthand [McCann’s] ability to advance our mission of inspiring conservation of our marine environment, guiding the Aquarium toward an exciting and innovative future.” Meanwhile, Julia Jones has been named head of design at Aarden AI, a Seattle startup out of stealth that helps landowners navigate deals for data centers, clean energy, and housing. Jones came from Omnidian as a senior UX/UI designer for over three years, quickly impressing CEO Danan Margason with her overhaul of design reviews, systems, user research, and more. And in a bold pivot, Zap Energy in Everett, Washington, has revamped its leadership: Zabrina Johal is now CEO, stepping up from her naval nuclear propulsion background, 18 years at General Atomics, and recent time at AtkinsRéalis. Veteran Benj Conway shifts to president, while Daniel Walter from TerraPower joins as director of nuclear engineering, and Matthew Thompson advances to SVP of fission technology. These moves signal a deeper dive into nuclear fission alongside fusion, a frontier that’s equal parts ambitious and awe-inspiring. Johal’s navy roots infuse a disciplined edge, turning nuclear pursuits into a human endeavor for cleaner energy.
These appointments paint a vivid picture of the Pacific Northwest’s dynamic scene, where tech, health, arts, and energy collide in stories of personal growth and bold ambition. Angus’s bridge-building at Inteum, Rashmi’s trust-building at Veeam, Megan’s ethical AI push at mpathic, Peter’s artistic circle at Arena One, Han’s healing focus at Ambience, and the conservation and innovation at the Aquarium and Aarden AI—all anchored by Johal’s nuclear leap—highlight how leaders are humanizing tech’s towering potential. It’s not just about jobs; it’s about lives intertwined with progress, passion, and purpose, reminding us that behind every innovation is a storyteller like Norton or Johal, shaping our collective future with heart and hustle. As Seattle continues to innovate, these faces remind us that tomorrow’s breakthroughs stem from today’s human connections, turning corporate ladders into ladders of legacy. In a region where rain meets resilience, these execs are redefining what it means to lead, one conversation, one code, one note, one wave at a time. Their narratives inspire not just admiration, but a belief that in this tech tapestry, humanity always wins. From university labs to operatic stages, from data vaults to nuclear cores, these leaders are the threads weaving a more inspiring world. As they chart new courses—Norton connecting minds, Garde guarding trust, Fouty safeguarding chats, Hamilton harmonizing entertainment, Han healing records, McCann protecting oceans, Jones designing deals, and Johal powering progress—we see a shared promise: innovation that serves us all, emotionally and practically. It’s a reminder that in the Pacific Northwest’s entrepreneurial heart, leadership isn’t a title—it’s a testament to living authentically in the pursuit of what matters most. And in 2000 words of reflection, perhaps that’s the most humanizing takeaway of all.
