Catherine Fitzpatrick Villari was born on October 11, 1970, in the Bronx, New York. She grew up in the Throgs Neck and Country Club neighborhoods, surrounded and raised by her extended Irish Catholic family—an upbringing that would deeply influence her identity, storytelling, and perspective on family, resilience, and accountability. Catherine earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College and later an MBA from Capella University. Over the course of her professional career, she worked across engineering, project management, leadership, and organizational culture, while also becoming a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a DEI speaker and advocate, she challenged organizations and leaders to examine bias, change mindsets, and take greater accountability for the cultures they create. Today, Catherine is still an engineer but also an author, digital creator, and public speaker focused on accountability in both personal and professional life. Drawing from her professional experience and her own life story, she speaks candidly about the patterns we inherit, the choices we make, the impact we have on others, and the power that comes from finally owning what belongs to us.  Catherine is also the proud mother of two amazing children, Caitlyn Anne and John Robert, and shares her life with three magical cats—Luna, Pippa, and Teddy Lupin.