by Anya Blaney
How can an adventure lead to a career in strategic planning? For Martinique Grigg, a trustee of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Washington, it all started with a love for the outdoors. Adrenaline chasing led her to join the Appalachian Mountain Club, where she met her mentor, the club’s former president Andy Falender, who taught her that “a personal connection to nature drives a personal desire to protect it, and that’s how strong environmentalists are made.”
© Martinique Grigg
This lesson connected to an early experience that forged Martinique with resilience, determination, and an affinity for teamwork that has resonated throughout her life. As a high school sophomore, she embarked on an expedition with Outward Bound, an outdoor education organization for teens. One standout memory was a rigorous two-week backpacking and canoeing expedition through Maine’s rugged wilderness that taught Martinique to navigate and survive in the wilderness while thinking on her feet.
“At the time, I never thought I would be capable of surviving that level of physical adversity,” Martinique reflected. “As we gained experience, the trip leaders would start to fade into the background, and we were expected to navigate, organize our food, and take turns leading.”
Nature’s splendor revealed itself through the challenge. Martinique recalls “watching the sunrise as we hiked and seeing the beauty of the forest at night with just the light of our headlamps. It gave me a deeper love of the outdoors that naturally led to wanting to protect it.”
Her transformative experience with the program shaped her into a confident and capable explorer, leading her to diverse leadership roles. These include positions at outdoor retailers L.L. Bean and evo, pioneering sustainable salami at Coro Foods, and co-founding Grant Peak Capital, a private equity firm investing in small-to-mid-sized businesses across Puget Sound.
“I love collaborating with companies that prioritize the interests of multiple stakeholders, not just selling stuff,” she said. “It's about how we treat our employees and community, and how we take care of the environment.”
Martinique first crossed paths with TNC when she was CEO of The Mountaineers, a volunteer-led alpine club that intersected with her passion for exploring and conserving the outdoors. Through an encounter with Mike Stevens, the state director of TNC in Washington, she became a marketing volunteer before becoming a trustee. Martinique's strategic planning skills continue to contribute to the nonprofit’s mission.
“I respected TNC in Washington and what they bring to the table—their perspective, science-driven approach, and the immense impact they can make on a large scale,” Martinique said. “The resources they can bring to bear on conservation situations are truly inspiring, so when Mike asked me to join the board, I jumped at the opportunity.”
Martinique has played a crucial role in developing a strategic plan that aligned the organization's 2030 goals with its work in Washington State. Drawing on her business background, including an MBA from Harvard Business School, she contributed to a plan that provides staff with a solid framework for resource allocation that ensures the greatest impact.
© Martinique Grigg
“I love figuring out how things work [in an organization] and how you make change,” Martinique explained. “I want my efforts to be put towards something with a values component I care about. All my work carries that thread; for example, I get to spend my time on projects related to the environment.”
Wilderness exploration also led Martinique to encounter Clara Veniard while skiing on Washington's Mount Baker. The pair became business partners and launched Grant Peak Capital in 2016. Their socially conscious venture fund served as a platform for individuals with business expertise to raise capital and acquire small companies. They aim to empower entrepreneurs to embark on their journeys, harnessing their talents to help society and the environment.
“I enjoy working in fields where women are underrepresented,” she said. “I’m not afraid to tackle a challenge or change the dynamic of what is considered ‘typical’ in a field.” Her can-do attitude stems from the time she led outdoor expeditions and realized that being a leader means “you’re the one who is willing to step in and keep everyone’s spirits up.”
As a co-CEO of Coro Foods, a pioneer in sustainable charcuterie, she is no stranger to male-dominated fields. In 2017, Martinique and her business partner took ownership of Salumi, an iconic Seattle deli. Committed to reshaping the traditionally male-dominated deli industry, they embarked on a year-long apprenticeship to immerse themselves in making salami using all-natural ingredients and fostering a welcoming environment for their diverse workforce. They established Coro by Salumi, the sole female-founded salami company in the U.S.
Martinique's dedication extends to other environmental nonprofit organizations like the Wilderness Society, where she is a board member and chair of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. By integrating strategic planning into these domains, Martinique drives positive change, enriching the intersection of environmental conservation, community leadership, and sustainable practices.
When asked about Washington state’s climate challenges, Martinique referenced the devastating effects of extreme heat waves, flooding, forest fires, and poor water and air quality on vulnerable communities.
© Martinique Grigg
“We have to be realistic about the challenges we’re facing, but I’m also very optimistic about where we’re focusing,” Martinique said. She is particularly attentive to TNC in Washington’s work preserving the Emerald Edge, a temperate rainforest spanning the Pacific Northwest that is culturally and economically significant to First Nations communities, provides wildlife habitat, and sequesters carbon.
“The Emerald Edge protections alone could contribute almost 20% to the Nature Conservancy’s world office goals for 2030,” Martinique said. “We’re already making huge progress here.”
By Anya Blaney, Partner, Blaney Consulting
