Kate McElligott Buchanan
Autodesk Foundation
Washington, DC USA
"It’s a superpower to have a brain that works differently."
Career Roadmap
Kate's work combines: Business, Non-Profit Organizations, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Providence College
Graduate Degree
American University School of International Service
Certification
Project Management
University of Texas at Austin
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I grew up believing education could open doors, even when my learning disability made school feel harder than it seemed for everyone else.
2.
I started college studying education but realized that wasn’t the best fit for me, and pivoted into political science.
3.
I found my passion in international development, where traveling and working across cultures showed me new ways to create meaningful impact.
4.
I turned my fear of numbers into a strength by leaning on relationship-building, opening the door to a career in impact investing.
5.
When the GMAT stood between me and graduate school, I found another path, earned a scholarship, and proved there is always more than one way forward.
6.
I embraced careers that didn't have a roadmap, trusting my curiosity over other people's doubts and creating a path that felt true to me.
7.
Today, I invest in ideas that expand opportunities to help others build meaningful careers and brighter futures.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I discovered that I had a learning disability, which pushed me away from math and science. It caused me a lot of stress and anxiety growing up. Now, I know it's a superpower to have a brain that works differently and asking for help isn't a weakness.