Anderson Alumni Success Story: DigBI Consulting
April 18, 2023 - Megan Borders
DigBI Consulting is a Seattle-based entrepreneurial company founded and managed by CEO and two-time Anderson alumnus Lee Derks.
Lee graduated in 2005 with a BBA in Management Information Systems and in 2010 with his MBA. In his nearly 20-year career, he has worked at the senior leadership level in multiple industries, including NASA Langley Research Center and Sandia National Laboratories. He attributes his enthusiasm for information systems to Professor Nick Flor’s classes. With the help of Professor Flor and Anderson faculty members, Lee learned how to build business applications and databases, the foundations for his career trajectory. The solid foundation from Anderson and years of diverse IT experience led him to fulfill his dream as a business owner.
"The knowledge gained in Professor Flor’s classes helped me obtain my first full-time job as a web developer at Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union after graduation," he said. "To this day, I still use the foundational concepts that Professor Flor taught me."
He also credits his ability to make strategic decisions and win-win business partnerships to his time at Anderson.
Lee mentors Anderson students and serves on our Information Systems Advisory Board. He recommends that students take full advantage of Anderson mentorships and networking opportunities, as these experiences can open doors for students. He also advises that students learn what motivates them and choose a career path accordingly.
When it comes to running his company, Lee uses compassion, respect and research to fuel projects and culture. Lee has grown DigBI Consulting by hiring 10 employees and completing several enterprise-level customer projects since he founded the company in 2022.