Steve
Huy Trong Vu
DOB: November 12th, 1976
From Seattle to Saigon: Building Systems, Leading Teams, Embracing Kaizen
From Seattle to Saigon
Family Legacy
My parents emigrated from Vietnam in 1975 with nothing. They built a manufacturing company from a garage, later expanded into restaurants. Their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit became my foundation.
Origin Story
Born and raised in Seattle. Studied at University of Washington. Chose the name "Steve" inspired by football legend Steve Largent due to it being difficult to pronounce "Huy".
Today
Married since 2013—met my wife on Facebook in 2011 through my cousin. Father of two, 6 year old daughter, Crystal, and 19 mos old Son, Carter. Deeply committed to supporting our daughter with high-functioning autism.
25+ Years Building at the Intersection of Tech and Business
1
Dotcom Era
AtOnce Software, MountainZone. Witnessed history when George Mallory's body was discovered on Everest in 1999.
2
Microsoft (7 Years)
Part of team building Encarta Online; bringing CD/DVD experience online. Learned how to blend product vision with engineering excellence at enterprise scale.
3
Disney (9 Years)
Led and supported technology across ESPN, ABC, Parks & Resorts. Discovered how to serve millions while protecting creative integrity and brand values.
4
Starbucks (9 Years)
Led Platform, Quality, Cloud Engineering & Developer Experience teams. Transformed global operations through distributed systems, organizational design, and human-centered technology.
5
Pizza 4P's (Now)
SVP of Tech & Innovation. Aspiring to lead Technology, transformation, and systems that power our global expansion.
How I Lead: Two Principles That Guide Everything
Two Empty Chairs
A Howard Schultz principle that shapes every decision: always leave room for the customer and the partner. They see what we cannot. Their voices matter most.
Stay Invisible
Technology should enable business, never get in the way. The best systems are felt, not seen. When people focus on work instead of fighting tools, magic happens.
Three Moments That Shaped My Leadership
Learning from Parents
Watching my parents build from nothing taught me resilience, ingenuity, and the power of serving others with excellence.
Scale at Microsoft & Disney
Leading Enterprise teams taught me that vision without execution is just talk. Systems, discipline, and empathy make dreams real.
Transformation at Starbucks
Refining the craft and building from the ground up showed me that patient, intentional change creates lasting impact and trust at global scale.
Kaizen: The Thread That Connects It All
1% Better Every Day
From my parents' garage to Starbucks engineering to Pizza 4P's technology—Kaizen is woven through every chapter. Continuous improvement isn't a strategy; it's a way of life. It's how we honor the past, serve the present, and build the future.
Beyond Work: Family, Traveling & Food!
Family First
Being present for my kids. Supporting my daughter's journey with autism—learning that different is beautiful. Sharing life with my wife across two countries.
Traveling & Food
My wife and I love to travel and we enjoy looking for new food spots! I like a mix of western and asian foods, where my wife prefers Vietnamese,.