Phillip Coomes

Since graduating from WWU and the CBE in 2011, my career has been a global odyssey (further beyond Bellingham than I ever could have imagined) that's brought me to a path & singular mission: restoring our environment and mitigating the effects of our rapidly changing climate. My journey after WWU took me first to Belgium, where I served as a Financial Management Analyst supporting NATO infrastructure projects with the US Department of Defense. After several rewarding years in Europe, I returned to Seattle to join Expeditors International as an Internal Auditor (in fact, hired there specifically for my business-level proficiency in Arabic—a skill directly attributable to my two years of Arabic studies at WWU!) While in Seattle, I balanced my job traveling to 22 countries for audits while concurrently earning my MBA from the University of Washington. I also began exploring my entrepreneurial spirit and launched a small side business, Seattle Cat BnB, together with my wife (which was a tremendously fulfilling). Soon after earning my MBA, I moved into the software sector and joined PayScale, deepening my expertise in technical accounting and revenue recognition.

However, the definitive turning point in my life arrived in 2021. Amidst the reflection forced by the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly alarming climate reports, I realized that "earning a living" was no longer enough. I needed to align my financial expertise with my values. I couldn't work just to boost profits, so thoughtlessly. And so I pivoted to the climate sector, joining Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy as Controller. There, I managed financial operations for a network of non-profits dedicated to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This role opened my eyes to the challenges early-stage founders face in financing their visions. This inspired me to join Climeworks, a global leader in direct air capture, as the Regional Finance Controller for North America, helping manage the deployment of large-scale carbon removal plants. These various experiences gave me the courage to have founded my own practice, AdAstra CFO, based in Driftwood, TX. As Managing Partner, I focus on the "Diligence Gap," helping early-stage climate and energy startups build the financial architecture they need to survive scrutiny from venture capital investors. My clients range from nuclear fusion startups to methane capture ventures. As I look back, my focus has shifted from personal career growth to using my skills to give back. I view my professional development now as a "positive externality" to the core work of helping founders save the planet. I remain immensely grateful to the faculty at WWU's CBE; those lessons were the foundation for every mile of this journey.