Kate Ahern started as Director, Social Innovation, at the Case Foundation in August, 2011. She came from CDC Development Solutions, where she spent 7 years managing international development and corporate responsibility programs in emerging markets.

At Case, Kate oversees a portfolio of initiatives, including Billion + Change, which mobilizes corporations to provide pro bono service to nonprofits; Partners for a New Beginning, a partnership with the Aspen Institute and the US State Department dedicated to engagement in the Muslim world; and Change By Us, an online platform that lets people get offline to work together on projects to better their communities.

A Chicago native, Kate landed in DC in 2003, when she attended grad school at American University for international development and conflict resolution. While she’s not working, she spends a great deal of time cooking, mostly trying to make pasta like an Italian grandmother.

Favorite Be Fearless Principle: Make Big Bets

"I'm proud of all of the women who are making big bets, and as Sheryl Sandberg says, "leaning in," as they try to change the world."