Randy Massengale, Owner and President, Spinoza Tech

Randy Massengale has spent decades helping students discover their potential and translate ambition into real-world impact. Over the years, he has mentored countless young entrepreneurs through programs like the Albers-SJIM Virtual Competition and RAMP-UP, bringing his wealth of corporate and educational experience to bear on their growth.

"I got hooked once I started giving," he admits. "It’s almost addictive. Once you see the impact you can have, you start looking for more avenues to help."

Randy’s approach blends hands-on mentorship with a deep commitment to Jesuit principles. For him, guiding students is not just about teaching business skills, it’s about cultivating integrity, adaptability, and a spirit of service. Whether working with domestic or international students, he emphasizes the importance of reading the room, adjusting techniques, and exercising both freedom and judgment.

"International students often come here without the preconceptions that many U.S. students have," he explains. "They haven’t been told 'you can’t,' so they approach challenges differently. Some cultures emphasize carrying out authority, so students balance that with the freedom they experience here. It takes time to adjust, but when they do, it’s amazing to see the impact they can make."

One of Randy’s key lessons is the value of patience and perspective. He recalls a student tasked with evaluating a disorganized restaurant owner. "The student saw a mess and thought it was hopeless," he says. "I told him to look past the paperwork and see the willingness to learn. If you help them organize and focus on what really matters, you can achieve incredible outcomes." That restaurant eventually opened successfully, securing $250,000 in funding — a testament to the power of guidance and perseverance.

Randy has seen similar stories repeatedly: students whose creativity and determination transform ideas into thriving businesses. One MBA student launched a medical staffing service in multiple states while finishing school; another created a mobile MRI company that attracted over $100 million in private equity; and yet another ran a refrigeration business, eventually managing a $75 million venture fund. What sets these students apart, he believes, is not just skill but the values instilled at Seattle University. "At Seattle U, we don’t just train students narrowly," Randy says. "We expose them to real-world challenges and let them drill down where they choose. They learn to operate in ambiguity, assess situations, and execute effectively."

Jesuit values: service, integrity, and discernment are central to this approach. Randy encourages students to carry these principles beyond the classroom. Many international students initially plan to return home to help their communities, domestic students often leverage their experience to make an impact in corporations and organizations across the country. "We send them out into the world like Jesuits," he explains. "Don’t come back here with that stuff; go out there and make a difference."

Whether mentoring in the Albers-SJIM Virtual Competition, guiding teams through RAMP-UP, or advising on the Jones Progress Awards, Randy’s philosophy remains consistent: combine practical skill with purpose, and support students in discovering the impact they can make.

"The students who thrive here are the ones willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work," he says. "They learn to see opportunity, act decisively, and help others along the way. That is the essence of what we do and what we hope they carry into the world."