Foster Alumni Recognized in 2019 PSBJ 40 Under 40

Congratulations to Lian Carl (MBA 2010), Vanessa Brewster Laughlin (MBA 2007) and Joe Trieu (BA 2007) for being recognized by The Puget Sound Business Journal as 2019 40 Under 40 honorees. 

Launched in 1999, the Journal’s 40 Under 40 recognizes “leaders in the region who are making major strides in their career while leaving a positive impact and helping shape the Puget Sound region.”  

The list of the business community’s best and brightest young leaders has included a host of UW Foster grads since its inception and this year continues the trend. 

Lian Carl

An Evening MBA Program graduate, Lian Carl is currently VP of Product for Ookla, a global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, testing applications and technology, known popularly for their Speedtest software. Prior to joining the tech arena, Carl served as Director of the Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights. A Double Dawg, she earned her BA in Political Science from UW in 2002. 

Vanessa Brewster Laughlin

In early 2018, Vanessa Brewster Laughlin left a career in management consulting to focus on the launch of Banister Advisors, which offers its clients healthcare navigation, bereavement and estate services. The concept for the company was inspired in large part by the 2016 death of the Laughlin’s father-in-law, Jay Banister Laughlin, MSW, after an unexpected health crisis. She received her BA in Economics from Tufts University. 

Joe Trieu

Joe Trieu, who earned his BA in Business Administration from the Foster School, is a second-generation owner of Evergreen Beauty College. He took over as president of the company in 2010 and has grown it from a staff of 6 to the largest beauty school in the state. Along the way, Trieu has also championed a workplace culture which has placed Evergreen Beauty College on the Seattle Business list of “Washington’s 100 Best Companies to Work For” six years running. 

Each the honorees will be profiled in the September 27th edition of the paper and honored at the Journal’s luncheon on the same date.