Meet the Fishe Team
Meet Tom Yee: Building Better Systems for the Fishe Team
Tom Yee joined Fishe as Director of Operations in August 2022, bringing years of fashion-industry experience and a practical eye for how a growing team works together.
At the center of his approach is a straightforward idea: build systems that help talented people do their best work. We asked Tom about his role, life away from work, the values that guide him, and the advice he would give someone entering the outdoor apparel industry.
Operations with purpose
Helping the Team Do What They Do Best
Tom’s work touches the systems behind the scenes—the processes that keep ideas moving and give the Fishe team room to focus on their strengths.
Question
What is your favorite part of your job at Fishe?
Tom
I feel like I’m still very early in the impact Fishe will make on the women’s outdoor wear space. My favorite part is working with the talented individuals on the team and building systems for them to do what they do best.
A surprising story
The Reality-Show Mystery
Question
What is something that people are often surprised to learn about you?
Tom
This probably won’t surprise anyone that already knows me, but I have tried out for a reality show competition in the past. I won’t say which one though…
Beyond the office
Family, Dogs, and the Trail
Question
When I’m not at work you can find me…
Tom
on a local hiking trail with my wife, daughter and three dogs.
Tom’s fast facts: favorite fish—koi fish; cake or pie—definitely pie, unless it’s a cheesecake; most loved Fishe product—Kaleido King Backpack Dry Bag; secret talent—hip hop dance choreography.
Lessons from the industry
Stay Flexible and Be Ready to Adjust
Question
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the outdoor apparel industry?
Tom
Things always move faster than you want, or slower than you expect. Always be flexible in what’s to come and be ready for adjust on the fly
Values that travel everywhere
Honesty, Integrity, and Determination
Question
What are the values that drive what you do—both at work and beyond?
Tom
Honesty, integrity and determination. Whether it’s personal and professional, I try to surround myself with people that are true to themselves, aren’t afraid to be honest even in difficult situations and are able to give it their all in anything they want to accomplish through success or failure.
A Practical Mindset Behind the Fishe Team
Tom’s answers connect the work behind Fishe to the values that support it: strong systems, honest collaboration, flexibility, and the determination to keep moving when the pace changes.
That steady work makes creative work possible. Explore more stories from the people behind Fishe in Related Reading below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tom Yee’s role at Fishe?
Tom Yee is Fishe’s Director of Operations.
When did Tom Yee join Fishe?
Tom joined the Fishe team in August 2022.
What does Tom enjoy outside work?
He enjoys hiking local trails with his wife, daughter, and three dogs.
What values guide Tom’s work?
Tom identifies honesty, integrity, and determination as the values that guide him at work and beyond.
Related Reading
Meet the Team: Micah Peel
Meet Fishe’s warehouse manager through an original team interview about fishing, Alaska, and warehouse life.
Meet the Team: Alix Gingrich
Get to know Alix through stories about sunrise fishing, growing up in Anchorage, books, dogs, and Alaska.
Meet the Team: Tica Drury
Read Tica’s Fishe team story about world travel, birdwatching, bush planes, and life outdoors in Alaska.
