I've been telling stories and starting businesses since I was a tiny tot.
Age 4: Narrated family road trips into a cassette player.
Age 7: Wrote my first short story, followed by a series of chapter books my teachers read to the class at story time.
Age 8: Set up a record stand in front of our house and sold Cheap Trick 45s to the neighbors.
Age 12: Became the youngest person to place in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. My story and photo made the front page of the local paper and it seemed I was onto something with this writing thing.
Age 25: Started my communications career working with late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
Age 27: Joined Microsoft, which led to 25 years with the company as both an employee and consultant. Early in my tenure, I created the HR communications function and pioneered human-centered, data-driven storytelling to drive employee engagement.
Age 32: Left my first marriage and Microsoft to follow my creative heart and entrepreneurial spirit to New York. I continued to work with Microsoft as a consultant in addition to advising clients like Pfizer, WebMD, and American Express.
Age 42-44: Remarried and returned to Microsoft to expand into digital storytelling. Over the next four years, I hosted the Modern Communications series, produced and co-hosted the Managers 1:1 podcast, and was one of three employees hand-selected to moderate the monthly Employee Town Hall with Chairman & CEO Satya Nadella and the senior leadership team.
Ages 46-49: Weathered back-to-back life-threatening health crises, including a yearlong battle with ocular cancer; moved from Seattle to San Diego; stepped away from my career at Microsoft; left a decade-long abusive relationship; and felt my way to the other side of divorce—all during a global pandemic.
Age 49: Returned to entrepreneurship and founded Tulla Productions. I continue to advise senior leaders on communication strategy and messaging, namely around pivotal issues like trust, security, and equity.
Age 50: Began sharing my story of surviving complex trauma. On a mission to help others heal and reclaim their purpose, I launched my award-winning podcast, "Here For Me," which explores the power of choosing ourselves.
Age 51: Moved to LA, a childhood dream come true.
Age 52: Shared my story of finding light on the other side of darkness in my first TED talk, “Transmuting Trauma to Reclaim Your Purpose.”
Age 53: Followed my heart’s call to return to Seattle, where I’ve reconnected with loved ones, the glorious Puget Sound, and the music that runs through my veins.
Born in Milwaukee🍺 and raised in the Pacific Northwest 🌲—with chapters in New York 🗽, Montreal ❄️, San Diego 🏖️, and Los Angeles 🎥—I live in Seattle, where I’m surrounded by 🏔️ and 🌊.
