OL Reign Legend: Laura Clise – Founder and CEO of Intentionalist

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 the November 14 match against the Washington Spirit, OL Reign recognized Laura Clise, Founder and CEO of Intentionalist.

Clise grew up in Seattle and despite spending most of her adult life in other cities, she has always considered Seattle home.

“I left Seattle for college and spent nearly twenty years away, only to find myself returning in 2015. Suffice to say the city had changed. I was struck by the palpable tension between economic growth and concerns about who still had a physical place in our city and who felt a sense of belonging,” said Clise.

She continued, “As someone who spent years searching for belonging and community, I believe in the power of human connection. Who I am influences Intentionalist and our belief that we build understanding and community through connecting with and relating to one another.”

“I am a Korean adoptee from a biracial family. My mom’s grandparents immigrated from Japan to Hawaii to work on the sugarcane plantations. My maternal grandmother was a seamstress and small business owner. My dad’s family has been in Seattle for generations. My paternal grandmother volunteered at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital, which was founded by my great, great grandmother in 1907,”shared Clise.

“I came out as gay in 1996 and started a gay-straight alliance at my high school in 1997. This kicked off my involvement in LGBTQ and social justice activism that continues to this day — including leading the LGBT employee group at General Mills, co-chairing the Maryland marriage equality business coalition, and co-chairing the Athlete Ally board of directors.”

Before founding Intentionalist, Clise worked in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at multinational corporations.

“Much of my work was a protracted and seemingly Sisyphean change management effort to facilitate opportunities for people with very different perspectives to collaborate on issues from clean energy to sustainable forestry,” said Clise.

She serves as co-chair of the Athlete Ally board of directors and also serves on the board of IslandWood and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Net Impact Advisory Council.

Clise has received a number of honors and recognitions, including the Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow, Human Rights Campaign Award for Exceptional Individual Achievement, National Diversity Council LGBT Leadership Award, Seattle Sounders FC Community MVP in 2017, SVP Fast Pitch Winner in 2020, Female Founders Alliance Unsung Hero Award in 2020, Seattle Magazine Most Influential in 2020, GSBA Business & Humanitarian Awards - Business Person of the Year in 2021, Puget Sound Business Journal – Outstanding Voices in 2021 and Puget Sound Business Journal – Power 100 in 2021.

Intentionalist was inspired by Clise’s appreciation and passion for holding space in the middle – bringing people together on the foundation of what we share in common.

“How do we reorient ourselves on a path toward a more inclusive economy? How do we mitigate and mend the fraying social fabric of our communities? I believe small businesses are an important part of the solution,” questioned Clise.

“Small business matter in ways so many of us take for granted — I know this, because I’m not a lifelong small business evangelist. I used to be someone who had reasonably good intentions when it came to supporting local businesses, but I have since learned about the unique ways they are key to so many of the economic and social challenges we face,” Clise added.

“We live at a time when technology makes our dreams of transactional convenience come true with just a few swipes and clicks. The tools at our fingertips cater to how busy “I am” and the value we place on maximizing every minute. But we also live at a time of growing division between “us” and “them” and between “have” and “have not” that increasingly alienate us from our shared humanity. When it comes to the everyday decisions about where we eat, drink, and shop, the dollars we spend are an opportunity to connect with and support the diverse people behind the small businesses in our communities.”

Frustrated by trying to find all the information regarding “what” she wanted but also “who” benefited from the purchasing decisions, Clise decided to cut the excuses and create the solution she was looking for.

“Intentionalist answers the call for a resource and community that makes it easier to translate our good intentions into action — economic allyship is an extension of our shared values when it comes to a more just, equitable, sustainable world. Because the world we want is one where the money we spend is more than a transaction,” said Clise.

“I spent much of my career looking up to corporate and nonprofit leaders — people whose global reach and platforms seemed to represent the pinnacle of potential impact. I have long dreamed about what it would be like to harness and wield influence for good.”

“Perhaps the most important and humbling lesson I have learned over the past three years is the extent to which small business leaders are overlooked when it comes to community leadership and the very real impacts of their work, day in and day out. In addition to the jobs they provide and their generous contributions to local organizations, youth sports, and help taking care of community members in need, they also facilitate cross-cultural sharing and provide unique spaces where people can come together and feel safe and seen,” Clise said.

“I experience Seattle and its neighborhoods differently and feel more connected to the community than ever before. And when I spend time in other cities, my experiences are different when I experience them through the lens of local businesses. Intentionalist has been inspired by ongoing efforts by both small business owners and community members to support the local businesses we love. But the unfortunate truth is they need much more help.”

Clise believes that we all have a role to play – consumers, companies, organizations and policy makers alike – when it comes to the survival of local businesses.

“Not only for the sake of the people and families who depend on them for their livelihoods, but also because of the many ways small businesses are so much more than the products and services they sell. The economy of the future must be relational, not just transactional. And that starts with each of us recognizing the opportunity and responsibility we have to make a difference through the everyday decisions about where we eat, drink, and shop.”

When asked about the advice she would give to young women pursuing a career in the field they are underrepresented in, Clise said, “Know your worth. And don’t give up. I have spent my entire professional career in fields and roles where I was both underrepresented and underestimated. And yet I have always known that I am not alone. We are fortunate to stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us, and as we continue to move forward, extend a hand to those a few steps back. While representation lags and gaps remain. Community is the answer. Because we are the cultural force that will transform the world.”

Clise has been an OL Reign fan and season ticket holder for more than five years, going back to before she moved back to Seattle with her wife, and is an avid fan of the team.

“I love that from day one this club has been committed to celebrating and supporting the incredible athletes whose example on and off the pitch impacts fans throughout and beyond Washington,” said Clise. “Over the years, through Athlete Ally, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with OL Reign athletes like Megan Rapinoe, Jess Fishlock, Lauren Barnes, Bev Yanez, and many more in support of LGBTQ equality and inclusion and greater gender equity in football.”

She continued, “What I love and appreciate most about OL Reign is that way that the club embodies excellence and dedication to the sport and recognizes that their platform is an opportunity to contribute to a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.”

“Being honored as an OL Reign Legend is special, because I love the way that OL Reign uses its platform to increase access, uplift, inspire – to advocate for racial justice, LGBTQ equality, gender equity, and sustainability. I share the club’s passion for and commitment to contribute to a more connected, compassionate, inclusive, equitable world, but I didn’t have a platform – so I founded Intentionalist. And to have Intentionalist recognized for our impact connecting and mobilizing tens of thousands of people to #SpendLikeItMatters in support of the diverse local businesses at the heart of our communities – it means so much to feel seen as a partner – so that we can continue to intentionally shape the world around us through everyday decisions about where we eat, drink, and shop,” concluded Clise.

To join Intentionalist's growing community, you can follow Intentionalist on social media @intentionalist_, signing up for their newsletter and using their website to discover and #SpendLikeItMatters at diverse local businesses.