Sally Jewell is CEO of Recreational Equipment Inc. Her career has included stints as a mechanical engineer (Mobil Oil) and a banker (WaMu, Rainier, West One). She climbs mountains and rocks. She also bikes, sails, kayaks and skis. She serves on the board of regents of the University of Washington, her alma mater.

What is your favorite place in Washington?

Hiking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, then being snug and warm inside a tent with the rain pouring down. (Note: this requires a good tent).

What is your idea of happiness?

Going on an REI Adventure like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with my son, hiking around Mont Blanc through three countries with my daughter, or touring rainforests and oceans in Queensland with my husband.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Being married to Warren for 28 years and raising two wonderful children who respect people and nature.

What do you most regret?

Not taking my dad up on his frequent offers to hike together when I was busy building my career. He died nearly four years ago. I missed some wonderful opportunities to connect with him.

What do you most fear?

That the U.S. and other wealthy nations will retreat from the world's problems, using "hard power" to attempt to insure our security rather than "soft power" to help address the planet's needs.

Who in history do you most admire?

Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi, for his leadership, moral compass, self sacrifice and commitment to secure real change.

What Washington CEO do you most admire?

Bill Gates III for his and Melinda's commitment to effectively use their resources to enhance health and education around the world.

What personal trait would you rather not have?

The need to constantly (and quickly) fix things that I perceive need improvement. Some things (and traits) are not fixable. I just need to learn to chill once in a while.

What trait bothers you most in others?

It makes me crazy when people are disrespectful of individuals in positions that they perceive to be less powerful, while being warm and gracious to those in power.

What is the most overrated virtue in an executive?

Toughness. People at all levels need to feel comfortable approaching an executive, and the executive must be prepared to listen and take action as necessary.

When do you find it necessary to lie?

Never. I practiced as a kid, and it never worked, or the guilt overwhelmed any potential benefit. I don't even lie about my intake of chocolate.

What person - living today - do you most despise?

People who use religion for personal financial gain and to further their own agendas. They don't practice what they preach.

What is the greatest love of your life?

Being in the outdoors, preferably with family and friends. My annual January 1 paddle around Squaxin Island in my kayak.

When and where were you most happy?

As a child on camping trips with our teacher, Mrs. Black, living in nature and getting beef jerky "rewards" when I answered her science questions correctly.

What talent would you most like to possess?

True fluency in a foreign language and culture to be able to fully enjoy another country and understand its people.

What is the greatest obstacle to Washington's future economic growth?

Our current inability to educate our own children from preschool through college is very discouraging and will impact our state's ability to compete in a global marketplace.

What is your most significant achievement?

Receiving the Isabel Coleman Pierce award for community service from the YWCA in 2005. Being in the company of some of our region's most amazing community servants meant a great deal to me. If you could come back as another being, what would it be? Jonathan Livingston Seagull.