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Most Influential

Seattle’s Most Influential People

Making a significant difference in our community

By Rob Smith January 8, 2024

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This article originally appeared in the January/February 2024 issue of Seattle magazine.

Five women fighting Asian hate. The Civic Poet of Seattle. The Medical Mythbuster. A woman in charge of helping to revamp Seattle’s waterfront.

They are just four of Seattle magazine’s Most Influential People of 2024. These extraordinary individuals sometimes (not always) toil in obscurity, but they’re fighting to improve their communities with whatever means available. They are truly heroes working to make our constantly changing city, state, and nation more livable, accessible, and equal.

The list is based on three main criteria:

Who are the (potentially) unsung heroes who did something significant last year? Who is working selflessly to find solutions to our region’s or world’s problems? Who has been behind some of the year’s biggest news stories? It’s not often who you think.

All approach their work or activism from a unique lens. All are making a difference in our community.

These are Seattle’s Most Influential People. Join us every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday over the next two months as we roll out stories highlighting their impactful work.

Philanthropy

Equity

Politics

Arts

Business

Sports

Hospitality

Health Care

Education

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Movers & Shakers

Movers & Shakers

Profiling the people who shaped Seattle

Back in April 1968, Seattle magazine published a feature similar to our Most Influential issue, focusing on those who "truly call the shots."

Most Influential, Sports: Kalen Deboer

Most Influential, Sports: Kalen Deboer

Former University of Washington football coach

He started out small, leading Sioux Falls to three NAIA championships in his five years as head coach. He then worked his way up the NCAA food chain with stops at Southern Illinois and Western Michigan... Photo by Scott Eklund / Redbox Pictures

Most Influential, Arts: Shin Yu Pai

Most Influential, Arts: Shin Yu Pai

Poet, author, podcaster

Pai is an award-winning author, podcaster, and the city of Seattle’s 2023-24 Civic Poet. She has spent more than two decades in the literary field, penning 13 books... Photo by Sung Park

Most Influential, Arts: Jose Iñiguez

Most Influential, Arts: Jose Iñiguez

Educator, musician

Jose Iñiguez discovered the art of opera through a PBS special. As a teenager, he came across a program featuring a tenor singing an aria while watching TV with his dad... Photo by Ashley Genevieve