DevHub CEO Finds Joy Beyond Startups Through Music

Building a startup can be demanding, but for DevHub co-founder and CEO Mark Michael, the perfect escape isn’t sports or binge-watching TV—it’s sitting at a piano and performing in front of an audience.

Michael is the latest entrepreneur featured in GeekWire’s Out of Office series, which highlights the passions and hobbies that Seattle’s tech leaders pursue outside of their professional lives.

From Startup Founder to Piano Student

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael decided to take up piano lessons, hoping to learn something completely different from the fast-paced world of startups.

As his skills improved, his instructor encouraged him to participate in a recital, believing that performing in front of an audience was one of the fastest ways to become a better musician.

About three years ago, Michael took the stage for his first recital in his teacher’s backyard. While most of the performers were young children, the then-43-year-old startup CEO proudly joined them in a black tuxedo.

After finishing two piano performances, he joked that he felt like a legendary entertainer.

“I thought I was Elton John or Liberace,” Michael recalled. “It was 11 a.m. on a Saturday, I’m wearing a black tuxedo. My head was so big.”

Taking the Stage as a Singer

Michael didn’t stop at piano lessons. He also began taking singing classes with the same instructor, eventually organizing a live performance attended by around 80 people in Seattle.

Despite describing his own vocal performance as “horrible, horrible, horrible,” he said the audience genuinely enjoyed the show.

According to Michael, people couldn’t quite tell whether the performance was serious or intentionally theatrical, which made the event even more entertaining.

Another Concert Planned in Maine

His musical journey is far from over.

On September 26, Michael plans to perform another concert in Kennebunkport, Maine, a vacation destination he and his wife have grown to love over the years.

He describes the upcoming performance as a blend of Dean Martin’s classic style mixed with 1980s synth-pop influences.

In a humorous twist, Michael said he has even invited former U.S. President George W. Bush to attend the show.

Overcoming Stage Fright

Although he enjoys performing, Michael admits every appearance comes with intense nervousness.

He says standing in front of an audience makes him feel anxious and deeply uncomfortable, but overcoming those emotions is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

The feeling after finishing a performance, he explained, is similar to crossing the finish line after a long race.

“It’s a release of all the tension,” he said. “And once it’s done, that high, whatever you want to call it, it’s like, ‘Oh, wow.'”

Music Helps Him Become a Better Leader

Michael believes his musical hobby has benefits that extend into his professional life as CEO of DevHub.

Playing the piano requires concentration and patience—qualities that also help him lead a growing technology company.

He admits that when he performs well, he sometimes gets carried away, imagining himself playing sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden. Returning to work helps him stay grounded and focused on the tasks that matter most.

Music also gives him something meaningful to focus on during weekends instead of thinking about work around the clock.

Rather than spending his free time checking LinkedIn or working nonstop, Michael says music engages a different part of his brain and helps him recharge before the start of another busy week.

For the DevHub CEO, performing may never replace running a startup, but it has become an important creative outlet that helps him balance ambition, overcome fear, and enjoy life beyond the office.

Also read : EU Lawmaker Probing Pegasus Spyware Was Hacked, Researchers Say