The Christiansen family at Oregon basketball's Final Four game in 2017. Photo courtesy of Justin Christiansen.

A recipe for success

Entrepreneurial team and married couple, Rebecca and Justin Christiansen, are both leaders at Fortune 500 companies in the technology field. After their day jobs at Microsoft and Intel, the two work together on their own creative venture: Portland Salt Company, an artisan blend seasoning company. 

As lifelong Oregonians, the Christiansens have always been avid Duck fans. The 2005 graduates enjoy reminiscing on their time as college students.

From studying at the coffee shops around campus and going to football games at Autzen Stadium, to being in the honors program at Lundquist College of Business, Rebecca and Justin were incredibly active during their time as students. 

“The honors program and the college of business provided us with an ability to grow confidence to walk into the corporate world, knowing that we had a purpose for being there,” Rebecca said. “It prepared us to be able to have a seat at the table and contribute in a meaningful way.” 

Their preparation paid off; after graduating, Rebecca and Justin both earned jobs at Intel, where they worked in finance. 

Through their careers in the technology industry, Rebecca and Justin have traveled the world. They say that their international experiences opened their eyes to many cultures and cuisines. 

On a trip to Barcelona, Spain, Rebecca and Justin explored the city for two weeks, before working abroad at Intel’s Barcelona office. 

“It was an eye-opening experience,” Rebecca said. “The food, the people, the culture. For me, that was an incredibly formative experience that bridged the corporate world and unlocked this passion for travel.” 

In discovering their love for travel, Rebecca and Justin realized that something was missing in their lives – they wanted to share their creativity and passion for cooking with the world. 

Inspired by their love for international travel and food, they began their work on Portland Salt Company. The married team admits that starting Portland Salt Company was no easy feat, especially in learning to balance their careers in technology with their new venture. They attribute much of their newfound knowledge to the community of entrepreneurs in Portland. 

“The Portland community has been incredibly helpful,” Justin said. “All of these small business owners who have gone through similar challenges – building a website, working with manufacturers, figuring out what’s required from an FDA perspective – it’s a continuous learning experience.”

Seeking out leadership and mentorship has helped the team learn and grow to new heights, as the couple officially launched Portland Salt Company in December 2021. Orders flooded in from family, friends, and colleagues. 

“Even our corporations have supported us through this journey,” Justin said. “They have been incredibly supportive about pursuing our passions outside of work.”

Rebecca adds that there is a lot of synergy between her career in technology and Portland Salt Company. Experiences in technology and finance, such as website and product design, financial analytics, and business planning skills, have proven incredibly beneficial in the logistical side of running a business.

Likewise, building their creative skills through Portland Salt Company has shifted the ways that they approach innovation at their jobs in technology. “At the end of the day, it's all about bringing people together, whether you're in corporate world, or around a dinner table,” Rebecca said.

Launching their company has truly been a Christiansen family endeavor.

The couple’s two children have been a part of the venture along every step of the way. From helping to design the logos, to building the boxes and stamping the packages, and even ideating where the company’s next line of products will go. The Christiansen kids even inspired the company’s newest product, Toast Sugar.

“Our kids have been really proud to see us building something from the ground up,” Rebecca said. “They have acted like little adults and stepped into these roles. They’ve taken on some leadership of their own through this process.” 

Rebecca and Justin have enjoyed the challenges and opportunities in balancing tech careers while establishing their own company.

With the support of their family and community, a passion for travel, and new products in development, the alumni are beyond excited for the future.

-By Peyton Hall, UO Alumni Association student associate