Dale Bengston
History BA, 1995
Partner, The Whole Brain Group, Software Company

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History Graduate Profile: Dale Bengston

I am 44 years old, and partner in a small software company. My company's success comes from our collective ability to listen to the stories people tell, and identify the ways we can help them with software systems. Often the only way to get clients to relax and speak freely is to tell stories. Eventually, we get a clear picture of the problems they face and are trying to solve.

I learned to listen to - and tell - stories by studying history. First in high school, I had two teachers who brought history alive. Then at the UW, although History was not my declared major, I took History classes for fun until I ended up one seminar class short of a second major. Of course, I took that last class! Thus, I am a graduate of UW with a double major in History and Journalism.

Anyway, my study and love of history is a large part of my success as a business owner and listener. So much of history is spotting patterns in human behavior; it's very similar to solving people's problems with software systems.

Best regards,
Dale Bengston [BA '95]

The Whole Brain Group, LLC