Fellows Spotlight
Originally from the Midwest, Annette Zinky has called Arizona home since her youth. Growing up in the state shaped her deep appreciation for what she describes as the “spirit of adventure and determination,” a quality that grounds her work and leadership.
Since 2017, Zinky has served as the Chief Operating Officer of TheraSpecs, an e-commerce company with specially tinted glasses for people with different kinds of light sensitivity and a past Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program participant. The glasses support individuals affected by brain injury, chronic migraines, and others who experience discomfort from prolonged exposure to screens, fluorescent lighting, sunlight, or other bright environments.
Zinky’ began her career as an entrepreneur when she launched her first company as a college student. She later spent more than a decade in higher education, including serving as the Director at the Small Business Development Center at Coconino Community College, where she supported startups, business expansion, and local economic development. This quasi-public role gave her unexpected insight into public sector work, an experience she carried into future leadership roles.
At TheraSpecs, Zinky is intentional about building a company that both serves people and treats its employees well. She emphasizes that it is possible to create a successful business in a supportive work environment.
“It requires a high level of engagement and thoughtfulness from people,” said Zinky. “We ask for a lot from people, and it is not a depleting thing. It feels good to work in a company that takes care of its people and does good work. It turns out it’s good for business, too.”
Zinky has also noticed a shift in how people think about work. While meaning has always mattered, today’s workers are more open about prioritizing purpose in their careers.
“We have this journey through life and work that gets us closer and closer to the things that make us feel like we’re contributing in a meaningful way, “said Zinky.
She credits the Flinn-Brown Network for keeping Fellows engaged and informed, describing it as a community of thoughtful, motivated leaders whose expertise she trusts. She recalls moments when Fellows supported one another without prior connections, reinforcing her confidence in the strength of the Network.
“I trust that all the other Fellows are showing up with their expertise,” Zinky said. “They can help the other Fellows be more aware, understanding, engaged, and well-versed in the nuances of life in Arizona.
She also values the opportunities within the Network for connection and dialogue, not for agreement, but to deepen understanding.
Reflecting on the state’s civic health, Zinky references a quote from the late Dr. Jane Goodall: “the greatest danger to our future is apathy.” She cautions that exhaustion can lead to disengagement and emphasizes that continued care, even when difficult, is what sustains progress.
“The worst possible thing that we can do is check out and become apathetic” Zinky said. “The small actions that we can continue to take and the ways that we continue to move forward is what makes a difference.”
Book Recommendation
I loved this book and I really like Jane McGonigal. She’s a futurist and a game designer. The way she thinks and the way she talks about the intersection between games, brains, and the way humans act is really creative … it is idea generating and it sparks questions. Her premise in the book is that we can do very game-like things and exercises to help ourselves be more mentally flexible about the way we think about the future.
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