Maggie Hubbell of Shift
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Maggie Hubbell (founder and COO) of Shift, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of Shift – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
Shift first came to my attention when I was introduced to CEO Wendy Morgan by a mutual friend. Wendy had developed a VR prototype designed to reduce teacher bias in the classroom. I loved Wendy’s passion and creativity for using technology to solve human problems, and when, a few weeks after meeting her, I learned she was looking for a co-founder, it just made sense for us to go on this journey together, to use technology to make the world a better place. Since that time, we have been called to make an impact in healthcare by supporting nurses with better training, as well as giving them tools to support their wellbeing and help them become more resilient.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
The hurdles are also our opportunities, and we try to look at them that way as much as possible. For example, we made some quick pivots when the pandemic started, which set us in a new direction. It very well could have been a slowdown for the company.
What does the future hold for Shift?
The ideas, and the opportunities, are endless, so the trick is to stay focused. For now, the plan is to serve our customers more deeply and continue to bring them more solutions to scale training with technology and improve employee wellbeing.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Bend?
Some of us have taken to calling the the tech startup scene in Bend a “dolphin tank” as opposed to a “shark tank”. It is a truly supportive community for those that participate in it. We have attracted a lot of startups and talent to the area, and so have more resource and expertise to draw from than most towns of this size.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
No matter what, make sure you are passionate about what you are doing, whether that is the product you are building, the problem you are solving or the market you are serving. Startups are just too damn hard if you don’t have a whole lot of passion.