6:00-7:00 7:00-7:30 Sadie Frank is the CEO and Co-Founder of N4EA, a predictive intelligence engine focused on global supply chain disruption. She brings more than a decade of experience at the intersection of climate, strategy, and management, helping organizations translate complex risks into actionable insights.<\/span> Nina is an Enterprise Contracts & Procurement Specialist with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, where she leads complex, high-value procurements in the transportation sector. She currently manages one of Washington State\u2019s highest-grossing contracts for motor vehicles and is drafting a billion-dollar country-wide contract for transit buses, one of the largest of its kind. Before her role with the state, Nina worked as a prosecutor in the City of Bothell.<\/span><\/p>\n Nina holds a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law \u201922 and earned her B.A. with Honors in Geography from the University of Washington in 2018. Her legal training and academic foundation in geography inform her strategic approach to procurement. Guided by Washington State\u2019s procurement policies, Nina is helping to advance equitable, fair, and forward-thinking public purchasing practices.<\/span><\/p>\n Outside of being a public servant, Nina spends time outside, mostly exploring mountains in our state or in her home country of Bosnia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Anirudh Ramanathan is a UX designer and researcher with experience across broadcast, startups, and consulting. He focuses on how people interact with technology and translates those insights into clear, useful experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n Ani graduated from the University of Washington in 2018 with a B.A. in Geography. He later earned graduate degrees in Information Design & Strategy from Northwestern University and Human-Centered Design & Engineering from UW.<\/span><\/p>\n He has also co-founded early-stage startups in credentialing and scheduling, experiences that continue to shape how he approaches design and strategy. Outside of work, Ani enjoys reading, running, hiking, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Introduction
<\/strong>Joe Boyle ’03, Executive Vice President, Columbia Brand President, Columbia Sportswear Company
Panel Discussion Moderated by Sarah Elwood
<\/strong>Professor and Chair, Department of Geography
Audience Questions Facilitated by Gretchen Sneegas
<\/strong>Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Geography
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Small Group Discussions<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\nMeet Our Panelists<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Sadie Frank | CEO and Co-Founder, N4EA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/span>Before launching N4EA, Sadie led climate risk work at CarbonPlan, where her research informed regulatory conversations at the SEC and the Federal Insurance Office. She also held research positions at the Brookings Institution, producing analysis that shaped national discussions on climate finance and resilience. Her writing and expertise have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Grist.<\/span>
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<\/span>Sadie\u2019s career bridges academia, policy, and the private sector. She has advised Fortune 500 companies and top research institutions on sustainability strategy, and today she works with logistics and finance leaders to anticipate and plan for disruption across global supply chains.<\/span>
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<\/span>She holds a Master of Development Practice from UC Berkeley and a B.A. in Geography from the University of Washington. When not working, Sadie enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling, and playing music.<\/span><\/p>\nNina Mesihovic | Enterprise Contracts & Procurement Specialist, Washington State Department of Enterprise Services<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Anirudh Ramanathan | Senior UX Researcher<\/strong><\/h3>\n