Caterina Fake	The Week of May 14th, 2006

Founder of Flickr

1. What’s in your wallet right now?

Cash in both US and Canadian currencies — I travel back and forth a lot, so I don't bother taking either out of my wallet. You can use US money in Canada, but not the other way around.

2. What do you wish your parents taught you about money?

My parents were very smart about their money, and taught my sister and I well. They taught us to save, and to invest, and to live below our means. I didn't raise my standard of living above "college student" for years, living in a studio apartment, driving an 11 year old Honda Civic. I guess the thing my parents were most concerned about was minimizing risk with investments, but it's understandable because my father was an insurance exec.

3. What is your worst habit around finances?

I have a small dog, and I spoil him, so he gets the best of everything. I hear the pet business is a great business to be in, and I understand why. Who can resist?

4. What makes you happy?

Dinner with friends, sunshine, color, making dreams a reality.

5. Personal philosophy around money?

Use money wisely. Money can be a force of good, or evil.

6. Where does money come from?

The ATM.

7. What would you do with a million dollars?

Woohoo!!! ParTAY!!! I'd buy a Learjet, and start wearing mink socks!!!! Waitaminute. Hm. I'd probably save it and invest it in my next venture. Not to be boring or anything.

8. What is your most prized possession?

My education. My parents also taught me that you can lose everything that you have, but so long as you are smart, and self-disciplined, and willing to learn, you will never be poor.

9. Who is your role model?

My mother. She's strong like a force of nature.

10. What is your greatest achievement?

Small daily things. Like getting up and going running in the morning. Finishing a task I've been dreading at work. Remembering to floss. It is all these small activities that add up to make a good life.

11. How did you get the idea for Flickr?

Flickr was a side project! We originally started the company to build a massively multiplayer online game. It was a very socially oriented game, including instant messaging, groups and a social network. We added the ability to share photos and Flickr was born. Flickr grew like wildfire, and grew to take over the whole company.

12. What contributions to society do you want to make?

I support the Foster Parents Plan, The Nature Conservancy, The World Wildlife Federation, Amnesty International and Doctors without Borders. I encourage any readers to look into those organizations, and consider contributing! I also sit on the board for a non-profit art collective here in Vancouver, Intermission, who do great work.

13. If you could buy one thing right now what would it be?

Art. Something great. Great art.

14. Favorite activity that doesn’t cost a dime?

Walking on the seawall in Vancouver. It's one of the best things about the city. It goes around the edge of the water and is over 40 kilometers long.

15. How do you indulge yourself?

Double scoop of dark chocolate gelato at Mondo Gelato.

Caterina's deep understanding of online community, blogs and the collaborative web has helped launch Flickr into the photo-sharing juggernaut of the Web 2.0! Caterina has designed countless websites, many of them for Fortune 500 companies, built and managed many online communities and created several webzines. She was an Art Director at Salon.com, winner of numerous design and content awards including Time Magazine's Best Site of the Year and 3 consecutive Webby Awards.

Caterina’s work is widely recognized and has appeared in Taschen's 1000 Favorite Web Sites. She is a regular speaker at many industry conferences and universities in the U.S. and Canada.

Caterina also shows her sculpture and installation work, publishes her fiction and poetry and last read her work at the Vancouver International Writers' Festival. She publishes a daily weblog, Caterina.net.

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