Finding a mentor is not easy, let alone an impactful one. Cee took a chance early on in her development and found a pro-bono service, SCORE Business Mentorship, a non-profit providing business mentors and classes for Founders. It was a long-shot to find the right match, but finding David Lewis is one that she will never regret, and their mentorship has now become a foundation of CEEATTLE. 

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Cee and David’s mentorship relationship started strong in 2021 and turned into a deep friendship between two people who love business and the city of Seattle. They meet every week of the year, never missing a beat. 

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We explore David’s enriching mentorship experience with Cee, inviting you to discover the transformative benefits of finding a mentor for yourself. The advantages of mentorship extend beyond mere business success, encompassing personal growth as well. In this insightful Q&A interview, Katie walks you through David’s insight on the woman behind it all: Cee Ng. And who’s behind her? Her mentor: David Lewis.

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Katie Kutskill: What are some of Cee’s best qualities/characteristics (personally and professionally)? And how can these qualities help Founders similar to Cee?

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David Lewis: Cee allows her personality to come out and flourish. In first meeting her, it was clear that she was very positive, and it was easy for her to socialize. She isn’t the standard mentee that I had interacted with, as her background is diverse, and uncharacteristically (for our city) based in Fortune 500 advertising and marketing. All areas, I as a CFO, did not interact with much. But despite this, she has qualities that allow her to succeed in this start-up community, and those qualities know no department, education, or experience. She didn’t have to be a tech guru to make it in this city because she had a broad capacity to learn and push towards her dreams. Thus, I created a list of 16 qualities that I believe she has, and that any founder should consider finding within themselves. Because when building your own company it isn’t just about IQ, but also EQ. The 16 Qualities: Assertive, Methodical, Strategic, Innovative, Passionate, Risk Taker, Effective Communicator, Visionary, Resilient, Adaptable, Tenacious, Principled, Win-Win Focus, Positive, Fun, and a Quick Learner. 

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Katie: What about Cee sets her apart from others you’ve worked with throughout your career/mentorship role? How are these qualities an inherent part of CEEATTLE?

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David: This is a difficult question as I have worked with a few incredible colleagues throughout my career. However, after working with Cee, I can say that her drive and innovativeness truly sets her apart. Her ability to turn a problem into an opportunity, create a vision and strategy and tenaciously pursue that strategy is helping her achieve and bring tangible products and experiences to life. Many founders could describe themselves similarly – they wouldn’t be fighting for funds and working endless hours if they weren’t dedicated. With CEEATTLE, these same disruptive and driven founders can now improve their chances for finding additional funds and grow their company with the support of like-minded individuals.

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Katie: What is the best part of being Cee’s mentor?

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David: As a mentor, the best part of working with any mentee is watching them grow. I try to help accelerate growth and reduce the learning curve by sharing insights and providing encouragement and support. Cee’s growth has been phenomenal. Cee and I have completely opposite career paths and education, making it a great match for quality conversations, discussion, and growth. While I, as a native Seattleite, don’t always relate to the “Seattle Freeze'' that CEEATTLE is working to resolve, I can truly respect that many non-natives that come to Seattle for an opportunity feel this way. I better understand this now because of Cee and it is from this mentorship that we are able to help each other grow together.

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Katie: Can you share anything you’ve learned from working Cee?

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David: Cee has the gift of positive persuasion. It is something that I had seen before in my career, but not quite used in the way that Cee has deployed it throughout her development of CEEATTLE. Most companies fall into two camps: “Trailblazers” or “Me-Too”. CEEATTLE is certainly a Trailblazer. CEEATTLE is focused on innovation, taking greater risks, and developing in a space where the market is uncapped. It is in this space that Cee has been able to build something unique, filling an unknown gap in the market, by positively persuading those around her that Founders don’t have to deal with the current tumultuous landscape, it is possible to have a network built on a win-win system.