About Us
Research, Insight, and Tradition Across Boarders
Founded in 2020, PNW Global grew out of two decades of work in global health, international development, and cross-cultural collaboration. What began as an effort to bridge evidence and real-world impact has evolved to include Mu Carvings — connecting the craftsmanship and cultural heritage of Yunnan’s Bai artisans with the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Jacob Wood
Founder & Principal
Jacob Wood founded PNW Global in 2020 to bring together two enduring commitments: advancing global health and development through research and strategy, and preserving the cultural traditions that connect communities. His journey began with a study abroad trip to China in 2000 and has since spanned more than two decades of work across China and the United States, with additional collaborations in Africa.
Jacob’s career bridges leadership roles in both the non-profit and corporate sectors. He has managed multi-million-dollar global health programs in partnership with governments and international foundations, guided multinational companies and NGOs through China’s complex business and policy landscape, and advised executives on strategy, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. At the U.S.–China advisory firm GreenPoint Group, he supported projects for Fortune 500 companies including Walmart, Microsoft, and Nike, as well as global NGOs such as WWF and Conservation International. His experience also includes contributing research and analysis for the Economist Intelligence Unit, supporting international development initiatives in Ethiopia, and serving as a liaison officer for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Equally important to Jacob is the thread that connects his global work with his community engagement at home in the Pacific Northwest and his long-standing ties in rural southwest China. Years spent living and working in Yunnan introduced him to Bai artisans whose woodcarving traditions inspired the creation of Mu Carvings, a curated collection he now shares locally and abroad. In Seattle, he is an active Rotarian, where the principle of “service above self” continues to guide both his professional and personal commitments. For Jacob, consulting and cultural exchange are part of the same mission: fostering understanding, building bridges, and strengthening communities — whether across borders or close to home.
Jacob holds a Master’s in Development Practice from Emory University, a Master’s Certificate from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, and a BA in Chinese Studies from the University of Washington. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
