Where Is Seattle Going?

Sam Cho 

commissioner, Port of Seattle

What do you think Seattle is going to be like in 10 years?
For years, Seattle has been underrated. But in 10 years, the cat will be out of the bag. We will continue to grow as a global hub and become a global city with global influence. 

What great future invention do you think is going to come out of Seattle?
I think the next great invention to come out of Seattle will be new treatments or even a cure for cancer. The future cure will require collaboration between biomedical research, data science, and big tech/AI. Seattle has all the ingredients. 

What Seattle-born invention can you not live without?
I grew up on Seattle teriyaki and there’s no place else in the country that makes it like we do in Seattle. 

Leslie Feinzaig

founder and general partner at venture fund Graham & Walker

What do you think Seattle is going to be like in 10 years?
I worry we’ll be in a tough spot economically. Too many people losing jobs, too many employers fleeing the city, too much animosity between businesses and local government, too hard and expensive to start or run a business. This cycle is punishing, and it will get worse before it gets better.  

What do you think Seattle is going to be like in 50 years?
The best city in America. We have all the ingredients for it, and if we can pull together, we can correct course and see Seattle thrive. 

What is your favorite futuristic part of Seattle?
Women’s sports. The Seattle Storm and Reign fandoms are so far ahead of their time. We’re only just starting to see other cities catch up, and both leagues—with hockey not far behind—are on a huge growth path. Plus, I love taking my daughters to games. Go Storm and Reign! 

Crystal E. Brown

executive director, Cultivate South Park

What do you think Seattle is going to be like in 10 years?
Ten years is not a long time. I think the older we get, we realize ten years goes by quickly, but I do think there will be some significant changes. I think we’ll have more density within the city. I think the public transportation will continue to increase and get better. Our light-rail system will connect more communities and neighborhoods and hubs, including connection between outside cities. 

What great future invention do you think is going to come out of Seattle?
Something related to green infrastructure alongside artificial intelligence technology. I think with sea level rise, with the things that we know about and are predicting for the future in this city with environment, with climate change, I do see some invention coming out of Seattle that has to do with mitigating those damages or preserving or preventing something along those lines.

Randy Engstrom

acting director, Seattle Center

What do you think Seattle is going to be like in 10 years?
I think Seattle will be one of the leading global cities for the experience economy—a vibrant system of cultural, civic, sports, entertainment, and immersive technology opportunities spanning from our city center to our vast ecosystem of dynamic communities.

What great future invention do you think is going to come out of Seattle?
Personal electric flying machines for daily commuting.

What Seattle-born invention can you not live without?
A three-way tie between commercial air travel, desktop computers, and widely available good coffee.

Ambika Singh

CEO and founder, Armoire

What do you think Seattle is going to be like in 10 years?
In 10 years, I think Seattle will be thriving. With the influx of driverless cars, our traffic challenges will reduce. The light rail is going to expand so that we’re all connected, and the city proper and the neighborhoods around will be a vibrant interchange of people and ideas.

What Seattle-born invention can you not live without?
The Seattle invention—actually, to be specific, the Bainbridge Island invention—that I can’t live without is Buy Nothing. It is now a global movement that was started by two women on Bainbridge Island in 2013, where you buy less stuff and you share more stuff, and it’s incredible how it has caught on globally in just over a decade. The movement is reminding people to return to a place where sharing is a currency and something that is celebrated, and of course, as a lovely byproduct, we produce less stuff and save our planet along the way.

Laura Clise

founder and CEO, Intentionalist

What do you think Seattle is going to be like in 50 years?
Over the past 50 years, we’ve proven that we can innovate and generate incredible wealth. But the benefits have been concentrated at the top. Seattle 2076 is the possibility of a city where shared prosperity is more than an aspiration.

What Seattle-born invention can you not live without?
Lately, it’s pickleball, invented on Seattle-adjacent Bainbridge Island in 1965. This year my wife and I have been playing regularly through Emily Wong Pickleball, an Asian woman-owned business that offers lessons and leagues that build community.

Joe Nguyen

president and CEO, Seattle Metro Chamber

What do you think Seattle is going to be like in 50 years?
I think in 50 years, Seattle could be the place where a city that really once felt impossible is now possible. Seattle will be known not just for inventing breakthrough technologies, but also for proving that economic growth and environmental stewardship and quality of life can all reinforce one another as well.

What Seattle-born invention can you not live without?
Microsoft Excel. I’m a spreadsheets person, and I have it up, even if I’m not making spreadsheets, it’s just fast for me to think in Excel. A lot of the world runs on spreadsheets, and I think having more data-driven decision-making is important, and Excel really deserves more credit than it gets.