How a Community Built a Tech CEO | Forest Frizzell
The story of Forest Frizzell doesn’t start with credentials, capital, or a clear path—it starts with people. Before he ever became a tech CEO, Forest was a kid struggling to find direction, dealing with dyslexia, ADHD, and a school system that labeled him early. He barely graduated high school, convinced for years that he simply wasn’t smart. But what he lacked in traditional structure, he gained through something far more powerful: individuals who saw something in him and chose to invest in his life.
From a family friend who gave him work and mentorship at a young age, to the Hawaiian family that later took him in and gave him a sense of belonging, Forest’s life was shaped by people who “Hānai’d” him—nourished and supported him beyond blood ties. That support wasn’t financial; it was emotional, spiritual, and deeply human. It gave him stability when he had none, and more importantly, it gave him belief when he didn’t yet have it in himself.
Finding Belonging Changed Everything
Forest’s move to Hawaii became a turning point—not because of opportunity, but because of connection. For the first time, he experienced what it felt like to be part of a family rooted in love, support, and shared responsibility. That environment didn’t just help him survive—it helped him grow.
Living with his Hānai family, he began to rebuild his identity. He worked multiple jobs, pushed through college despite having no academic foundation, and slowly rewired the belief that he wasn’t capable. What changed wasn’t just his external situation—it was his internal narrative. Surrounded by people who believed in him, he started to believe in himself. And that shift would become the foundation for everything that followed.
From Survival to Capability
Forest’s early career didn’t follow a traditional trajectory. He didn’t come from a top-tier university pipeline or a polished business background. Instead, he learned by doing—asking questions, staying late, and figuring things out the hard way. Whether it was working in Silicon Valley without a computer science degree or managing IT systems in Hawaii, his edge came from persistence, humility, and a willingness to learn in public.
What he discovered along the way was that his perceived weaknesses—his learning differences, his unconventional path—were actually strengths. They made him a better listener, a more empathetic communicator, and someone who could bridge technical complexity with human understanding. Over time, that combination became a leadership advantage.
A CEO Shaped by Community Values
When Forest co-founded Shifted Energy, the mission wasn’t just about technology—it was about people. The company was born out of a desire to help Hawaii transition to 100% renewable energy in a way that included everyone, not just those who could afford solar panels or electric vehicles.
That focus on equity and access came directly from his lived experience. He knew what it felt like to be on the outside looking in. So instead of building solutions for the privileged few, he helped create systems that allowed renters and underserved communities to participate in the energy transition. His leadership wasn’t driven by ego or status—it was driven by a responsibility to give back to the community that had given so much to him.
The Inner Work Behind the Outer Success
Despite building and scaling a successful company, Forest’s story isn’t one of clean, linear success. Internally, he still wrestles with the same doubts rooted in his early life—the fear that everything could disappear, the feeling of not being worthy, the instinct to keep pushing forward to stay safe.
But instead of ignoring those feelings, he’s learned to sit with them. Through experiences like his time in New Zealand, where he explored indigenous perspectives on leadership and connection, he began to understand the importance of pausing, listening, and aligning decisions with something deeper than personal gain. Success, for him, is no longer about titles or exits—it’s about impact, intention, and staying grounded in who he is.
The Real Definition of Success
When Shifted Energy was eventually acquired, it marked a major milestone—but not the one that mattered most to Forest. There was no big celebration, no attachment to the outcome. For him, the real success was the story itself: proving that someone without a traditional background, from a place like Hawaii, could build something meaningful on a global scale.
More importantly, it was about showing what’s possible when a community rallies behind someone. Forest doesn’t see himself as self-made—he sees himself as the product of countless people who lifted him up, guided him, and believed in him when he couldn’t yet believe in himself.
The Bigger Lesson: You’re Never Self-Made
If there’s one idea that defines Forest Frizzell’s journey, it’s this: no one gets there alone. Behind every achievement is a network of support, whether we acknowledge it or not. In Forest’s case, that network wasn’t just helpful—it was everything.
His story is a reminder that leadership isn’t just built through skill or ambition—it’s built through relationships. Through people who take a chance on you. Through communities that hold you up. And through the responsibility to one day do the same for others.
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