Kate was first introduced to the Pangea Network in 2017 as a YWLC Participant. Throughout the year-long program, she continuously discovered a passion for empowerment through education. After completing her TAC, she attended UT Austin for Astronomy and earned a certificate in NGO Ethics and International Development. She also became a published astrophysicist after working with a research team on dark matter! Kate spent a few years in the booming tech industry in Austin, interning and volunteering for YWLC as much as possible for 7 years, before joining the Pangea team to fulfill her long-term goal of empowering other young women with invaluable skills and resources.

Michelle Patterson is a sharp brand architect and communications executive with over 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and communications. She is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at McLane Company Inc., one of the largest distributors in America, where she shapes the company’s brand presence, voice and vision, leads go-to-market strategies for new innovations and manages internal and external communications. Her finely tuned instincts, bold ideas and entreprenurial approach are steadily ushering the distribution and logistics giant into the future.

Prior to joining McLane, Michelle co-founded ShakeWell Creative, a strategic marketing agency based in Austin, Texas. For seventeen years she led the agency as CEO with a focus on positioning Fortune 500, medium-sized, and non-profit companies for long-term growth. Michelle is the Board Chair for the Pangea Network, an international nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of women and youth through proven education and empowerment programs. Her passion for advancing women in leadership positions continues in her work as a founding board member of Convenience Store Women (CSW), which formed in 2023 to drive positive change in the convenience industry.

When not in the board room or at the office, Michelle enjoys challenging hikes, long runs, birdwatching, devouring podcasts and books, and spending quality time with her husband, John and Boston Terrier rescue, Max. She resides in Austin is a proud graduate of the University of Texas.

Greg Mar’s management career spans over 20 years, but since 2006, he has overseen business operations for Valenta Eating Disorder Clinic in California. Greg has lobbied all over the country for improved insurance coverage, patients’ rights and mental health equality.

Ian is a Director/Producer and founder of FLMSCHL. FLMSCHL is pushing creative boundaries with clients across the globe. Located in Silverlake Los Angeles, handling business worldwide. We are creative and strategic brand leaders with 20+ years of experience across broadcast, digital, content, design/creative and consumer marketing for entertainment, media & global brands. We bring out the human voice that exists within every brand and create big moments with unique points of differentiation in an overcrowded sea of messaging.

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Kristin began her career with ExxonMobil in 2006 at the Baton Rouge Chemical Plant after graduating from the University of Tennessee with a Chemical Engineering degree and after working at Dow Chemical Company for two years. During her early career with ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge, she served as a contact engineer, coordinator, and coordination supervisor in two of the company’s Chemicals businesses. In 2010, Kristin relocated to Houston, TX, where she had an opportunity on the upstream side of oil and gas as a member of the Gas & Power Marketing business. In 2012, she returned to the Chemical Company and landed back in the Baytown Olefins Plant. Following two supervisory assignments at that manufacturing site, she then went back to HQ to support the Americas Regional Director in 2015. In 2016, a wonderful surprise came in the form of an expat assignment which moved herself and her family to Brussels, Belgium – the location of ExxonMobil’s European HQ. In 2019, upon repatriation to the US, Kristin returned back to Baton Rouge and two large leadership roles in the plant – Operations Manager at the Baton Rouge Polyolefins Plant and then Plant Manager at the Baton Rouge Plastics Plant. In summer of 2023, another career surprise presented itself – an assignment in Sales, which returned her and her family to Houston once again.

Prior to pursuing a degree in engineering, Kristin was a classically trained ballet dancer and performed with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. For much of her career with ExxonMobil, she has continued to both take and teach ballet classes, allowing her to tap in to her creative side (and provide some balance!) She is married to Connor, also an engineer by degree, and together they enjoy being active, outdoors and traveling. Kristin is also passionate about animal rescue – she and Connor currently have three dogs from three different rescueorganizations in Louisiana – Nora, Neyland, and Magnolia.

T’shai Christopher is a 2018 YWLC alumna. She previously interned with The Pangea Network to help provide girls with the same transformative experiences she gained through YWLC. Now, she continues to support Pangea’s mission as a member of the board, working to strengthen its impact and marketing opportunities. A UH graduate with a degree in marketing, T’shai is now a Digital Marketing Specialist at a branding agency, where she helps businesses grow through strategic storytelling.

Katherine’s life experiences have been greatly shaped by not only her education and career in technology and the energy industry but also by her travel to over 25 different countries. She uses these perspectives and passion for learning about others to drive innovation. Throughout her life, Katherine faced challenges of being the only woman on an executive team or being the only Latina in the room. She draws inspiration from her grandmother and parents who paved the way. Katherine’s main goal is to always mentor the next generation of young girls from all backgrounds to build their confidence and reach their goals. Katherine has been a mentor for the YWLC and her daughter also was in the program this past year. She lives by this motto: Be confident and go surprise yourself!