Director of Program
Vice President, Finance & Administration
Senior Administrative Assistant
Senior Vice President, Selection & Program
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Managing Director
Director of Operations
Chief of Staff
Events Manager
Senior Director, Brand & Communications
Misty has over 20 years of experience in event management, including strategic development, design, logistics, and implementation of multi-day, global experiences. With a B.A. in Technical Writing from the University of South Florida and an M.S. in Hospitality & Tourism Management from the Rosen School of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, Misty has worked with a variety of businesses, including Entertainment, Sporting, Consulting, Data/Cyber Security, Medical, Corporate, Government, and Non-Profit. In her role at Kauffman Fellows, Misty will use her hospitality and entertainment background to fine-tune and tweak the Events experiences to create WOW moments that will keep Fellows coming back for more.
Bailey supports the Director of Events and Director of Programs in the delivery of the Kauffman Fellows two-year leadership program. She delivers impeccable customer service, administration, exceptional communication, and organization to support the team. Prior, she served as an Administrative Specialist at Meta, where she supported six senior-level leaders. She provided administrative support, travel and expense support, and helped organize the intern events at Meta. She managed high-volume calendar scheduling, established partnerships, and great communications with all clients and their teams. She has a master's degree in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin and over six years of professional experience in Administrative Specialist and Coordinator positions. She is a friendly, loyal, and ambitious individual who loves working with people and building relationships.
Katie has over 13 years of experience in technology, startups, and venture capital, with a broad knowledge of communications and marketing. She’s spent most of her career supporting entrepreneurs at various stages of growth, and has developed a well-rounded background in roles spanning management, operations, partnerships, and early-stage investing. She has a successful track record developing programs with impact and scale, including the global rollout of Techcrunch’s Startup Battlefield. Katie also served as the Managing Director of MEST, a Pan-African entrepreneurial training program, seed fund, and incubator. As Kauffman Fellows' Director of Content and Communications, Katie leads all current brand marketing, digital communications, and research efforts while also supporting KF's global network of Fellows with their personal brand and firm MarCom strategies.
At Kauffman Fellows, Maryann oversees the two-year program experience. She plays a pivotal role in developing an enriching curriculum, guiding and holding each Fellow accountable for their professional growth, and fostering meaningful connections throughout the network. Prior to her role at Kauffman Fellows, she excelled as the Director of Events and Programming at Capital Factory, where she spearheaded a talented team in championing the Texas entrepreneur community through innovative programming, engaging events, and strategic partnerships. With a rich background that encompasses both native Texan roots and formative years immersed in the vibrant theater scene of New York City, Maryann brings a unique blend of creativity, adaptability, and strategic thinking to her endeavors. Her expertise spans various disciplines, including events management, project coordination, strategic planning, account management, and marketing.
Katlyn Mease joined Kauffman Fellows in October 2016 and manages the recruiting and class selection process. Katlyn serves as the main point of contact for candidates as they move through the selection process from their initial application, through the interview process, to their ultimate transition to Fellow. She is uniquely adept at bringing organization to incredibly complex projects, and ensures our candidates and Fellows have seamless and exceptional experiences in their interactions with the organization.
Jeff Harbach is an entrepreneur, an investor, and a mentor to both. As President and CEO of Kauffman Fellows, Jeff leads a diverse team in delivering a world-class experience for each investor participating in the Kauffman Fellows program. A graduate of the Kauffman Fellows program (Class 16), Jeff brings a unique perspective and passion to the organization while providing leading-edge content around venture capital formation and creating business networking opportunities to help Fellows maximize their personal and professional development. Jeff has been an entrepreneur and investor since 2002 and has served as the Executive Director of the Central Texas Angel Network, based out of Austin, Texas. He has led multiple startups and is also an angel investor with the Vegas Valley Angels. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Information Systems from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, where he served as the Director of the Venture Fellows program and the Co-Founder of Texas Venture Labs. Through the Kauffman Fellows Fund, Jeff has invested in Zoom, Carta, finAccel, Flash, Groww, and Icon.
Lisa started with Kauffman Fellows in 2008, one day a week, handling accounting, audit, and tax. Ten years later, she is the VP of Finance and Administration, still making sure all the numbers tick and tie. Previously, Lisa spent 15 years as a finance and accounting consultant for small companies, assisting several through successful acquisitions.
Natasha joined Kauffman Fellows in October 2019 and leads Selection and Program. She is energized about increasing diversity in the industry and is here to support the next generation of VCs in becoming world-class leaders. Natasha founded her first company in 2006 and that is when she realized her passion for the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She moved to her native country of Brazil and helped grow Endeavor, worked for a couple of startups, ran a franchise of her own, and ended up in venture capital. Although she has many years of experience in business development, she attributes her success to her passion for building and fostering communities.
Kirsten joined Kauffman Fellows in September 2011 and plays a key role in driving cross functional initiatives including organizational strategy, business development, and team development. She leads all organizational partnerships and also partners closely with the Director of Content and Communications driving forward the overall brand, marketing, and communications strategy for the organization. Prior to her current role, she worked as the Director of Learning Design, owning all of the content, programming and curriculum for the two-year program and drove the engagement strategies for the overall network. In previous careers, she gained eleven years of experience as part of an executive coaching and management consulting firm supporting start-ups and venture capital firms. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Kirsten moved her family to Bainbridge Island, Washington in 2014. She has a beautiful daughter, a passion for traveling, loves fitness (especially weight lifting), and enjoys great conversations over an amazing meal.
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