OL Reign Legend: Betti Fujikado – Experienced Entrepreneur and Mentor

The Legends Campaign, a partnership between OL Reign and Starbucks, honors women for their extraordinary contributions to our community in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Prior to OL Reign’s match against NJ/NY Gotham FC on May 21, OL Reign recognized Betti Fujikado, experienced entrepreneur and mentor. 

Betti is co-founder and former CEO of advertising agency Copacino+Fujikado, co-founder of coaching platform Success Cohorts, and a co-founder of Our Stories Are Your Stories created for AANHPI Heritage Month. Accomplished in many areas, Betti’s drive and determination are deeply rooted in her identity. Her parents, both Japanese American, were incarcerated in Camp Minidoka during World War II. 

“When my parents returned, jobs and places to live were hard to find and racism still existed even after the war. My parents wanted to protect us, their four daughters, and hoped giving us very American names would help--Patti, Betti, Julie, and Joan. What they got were four daughters deeply believing in social justice.” 

Betti is the second of her parent’s four daughters and that also had an impact, even today. 

“I always admired my older sister, so that made me want to try even harder. I have always been extremely competitive and pushed to see how far I could go. I say that I am competitive, but not comparative. I want to succeed on my own and make my own place, but I also want to help others thrive from my position.” 

She entered college as an art major, but graduated as a business major and was launched into the business scene. At the time, Betti was not around many women of color and sometimes felt like she didn’t belong. Her competitive nature fueled her experiences and pushed her to strive for more experiences.  

“I wanted to be better. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to get as many experiences as I could, so I did. In my 20s and 30s, I had numerous career pivots. I can look back now, knowing I benefited from every experience, good and bad.” 

Betti laughed, “I think some people, like my parents, worried I couldn't keep a job. I felt as though I was chasing new experiences. At that point in time, I wasn’t a leader – I was an explorer and a learner. The experiences I was able to gain as an adult were so different than the world I grew up in and I wanted to take it all in.” 

At the age of 40, Betti got married for the first time and at the age of 41, became a mother for the first time. After the birth of her twin daughters and at 42, she pivoted once again, co-founding Copacino+Fujikado – one of the most successful advertising agencies in Seattle’s history, alongside Jim Copacino.  

“I am a late bloomer in many aspects, including leadership. In my 20s and 30s I was learning and observing. In my 40s and founding an agency, the ante for leadership was high. I co-owned a company. I felt the responsibility to our staff. I felt the responsibility to our clients. I was a mother of one-year old twins. I was doing all these new and exciting things all at once. I was able to take the good learnings I saw in terms of what leadership looks like and give it my own spin.” 

Now, Betti has been recognized countless times for her work in the business and advertising sectors. She is a recognized community leader and has received awards for her distinguished leadership and excellence in the advertising industry. Thanks to her own experience, becoming a leader and mentor was natural to Betti. 

“When you have had many different experiences as a woman of color in business, you want to be able to create a space for others to thrive. You create the spaces that you wish you would have had.”  

The desire to find ways to help has always been at forefront of Betti’s journey as a leader. She has the firm belief that leadership goes beyond strategy and pushing the needle forward in a corporate setting. 

“Leadership is constantly asking yourself what you can do to support others and help solve problems. Leadership is honing in on your ability to understand and empathize with others. I’m going to be honest – early in my career, I failed many times. However, if you’re willing to learn from those mistakes and reflect on those situations, you come out a better leader.” 

As someone who strives to be a positive force in her community, Betti is constantly looking for ways to give back to others. She has a plethora of experience mentoring young adults through UW Foster School of Business, former Trustee at Western Washington University, and co-created Our Stories Are Your Stories, a campaign to support the AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander) community. 

Betti also co-founded Success Cohorts, a coaching and community-building organization dedicated to leveling the playing field for early career individuals from diverse and historically underrepresented communities.  

“I ask myself how I can give back to my communities, now that I’m retired.  When you've worked and gained some amount of power, I believe you should give some of that power and experience back by supporting others. Think back to points in your life where things were difficult. Wouldn't it have been nice if somebody had reached out and showed you a bit of compassion, kindness, connection, mentoring or support?” 

As someone who has gone on her own journey to become a leader, Betti has insightful advice for young women pursuing goals of their own. 

“Find places that you belong in so that you can have honest, authentic, and trusting discussions. Think about your goals and search out connections. On the other side of that, as a mentor, be someone that others are comfortable talking to by listening, empathizing, and supporting. Personally, I’m an introvert, so sometimes meetings are difficult, but I’m committed to that conversation because I know what I wished I’d had and, in the end, I always learn something from the interaction.” 

Inspired by her mother for her perseverance and twin daughters for their perspectives, Betti continues to make a positive impact in our community and beyond, each and every day. 

“I’m really appreciative to my mother and my daughters. They pushed me to do more and create Success Cohorts. They challenged me to be better and use our privilege to support others who are early in their careers.” 

“It is an honor as well as a surprise to be named an OL Reign Legend. When you go through the list of past Legends, it’s such a diverse and accomplished group of women. I’m grateful for the opportunity to stand up and be recognized alongside them and represent my communities, including all late bloomers. One thing I learned is you don't necessarily reach your career goals in a straight line.”