Ed Barker talks to Laura Ruderman, CEO of the Technology Alliance, about Washington State's innovation economy.
Ruderman's path to leading the Alliance is anything but straight: she moved to Seattle from New York in the early 90s to stage manager at the Rep, ended up at a small multimedia startup owned by Bill Gates, got swept into Microsoft through an acquisition, and then spent years in the state legislature before landing at the Alliance. The conversation covers a lot of ground – AI-driven workforce disruption, Washington's persistent gaps in postsecondary attainment, and what the state is missing: despite strong GDP growth, Washington has never had a real economic development plan.
There's also a pointed discussion about companies quietly shifting jobs out of state – and what that means for the health of the broader ecosystem. Rudermann makes the case that Seattle's startup scene is genuinely underrated: faster to unicorn status than San Francisco or New York, with smaller median rounds and one of the highest unicorn retention rates in the country. The problem isn't the ecosystem. It's that nobody's shouting about it.
00:00 Sound Investments
00:59 Introduction & Welcome
03:39 Laura's Career Journey
09:16 From Microsoft to Politics
13:50 Technology Alliance's Mission
18:08 AI, Workforce & Education
21:57 Washington State's Economic Future
38:36 Startup Ecosystem
About Your Host
Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. Sound Investments shines a small light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.
Studio 1878
Ed is Founder of Studio 1878, a podcast strategy and production studio focused on helping brands tell smarter, more human stories. We work with founders, operators, and marketing leaders to design shows that serve clear strategic goals. Studio 1878 handles the full process - from concept and positioning through recording, editing, and distribution. Our work blends editorial thinking with production craft, prioritizing substance over noise. The result is podcasts that build trust, credibility, and long-term brand value.
Laura Rudermann, Technology Alliance
As Chief Executive Officer of the Technology Alliance, Laura leads efforts to strengthen Washington’s innovation economy through cross-sector collaboration, workforce development, and research capacity building. Before joining the Technology Alliance in 2019, Laura served as Interim PAC Director for the Children’s Campaign Fund and represented the 45th District in the Washington State House of Representatives. During her legislative tenure, she was elected Vice Chair of her party’s caucus and served as Vice Chair of the Technology, Telecommunications, and Energy Committee. Her professional experience also includes leadership roles at Microsoft and extensive work as a fundraising professional for a wide range of nonprofit organizations.
Connect with Laura:
* Technology Alliance: technology-alliance.com
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