Meet Kate

Hi! I’m Kate. I am a values and strengths-based leader. That means I wholly embody and “live out” my values and lead with my strengths. My highest values are curiosity, connection, and impact and they drive everything we do at Anchor Ascend.

My top strengths (from CliftonStrengths) are: strategic, activator, and developer. In short, I am someone who can easily flow between the highest levels of complex strategy through the nitty-gritty tasks to make big dreams come true, and developing the talents of others along the way brings me joy.

I am a world-traveler, voracious reader, truly terrible singer, lover of large bodies of water, positive energy magnet, friend, partner, and mother.

Professional Biography

Kate San Juan is a strategic systems-thinker with extensive experience in designing and managing leadership development programs. She is particularly passionate about the interplay between policy and practice and has a proven track record in building catalytic partnerships that enhance efficiency and drive impactful change.

In 2024, Kate founded Anchor Ascend, a consulting firm dedicated to providing expert services in program design, implementation, management, and partnership building. Through Anchor Ascend, Kate leverages her comprehensive experience to help organizations create and optimize programs that anchor in what matters most and drive impact.

Previously, Kate served as the Director of Alumni Leadership Advancement Programs at Teach For America in Chicago. In this role, she oversaw four cohort-based leadership fellowships and collaborated with over 20 organizations to provide equity-centered leadership development opportunities to 150 Teach For America alumni annually. Her innovative approach led to the creation and continuous improvement of fellowships such as the Rise and Aspire Fellowships, which focus on cultivating equity-oriented school leaders. Under her leadership, these programs achieved over 90% retention and a constituency where at least 70% came from historically marginalized backgrounds.

Kate’s expertise extends to designing comprehensive evaluation models and tracking systems that support data-driven continuous improvement. She successfully established partnerships with prestigious institutions like the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and IBM, enhancing the quality and reach of leadership programs.

A dedicated DEI practitioner, Kate served on the DEI Council at Teach For America, where she played a key role in developing equitable and inclusive policies and practices, including a power-sharing agreement between the Council and the C-suite.

Kate holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Dominican University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Latin American Studies from Lewis & Clark College. She has been recognized for her contributions to the field with several fellowships and awards, including the Barbara Bowman Policy Fellowship and the Employee of the Year award at Casa Central Social Service Agency.