Pat O'Donnell co-founded Ridgeline with a belief he first learned from his students when he was a teacher: every young person has extraordinary potential and deserves the opportunity to discover who they are, pursue their purpose, and thrive. As CEO, he brings together employers, colleges, and high schools to build career pathways into high-demand, high-wage careers – connecting students to opportunity and employers to talent across the Bay Area.

As CEO of Making Waves Education Foundation, he led the organization to support historically underserved students on their journey from high school to college and into meaningful careers. Before that, he served as Executive Director of Teach For America – Indianapolis and as Vice President on the organization's National Development team, working to expand educational opportunity and build the talent pipeline schools needed to thrive. He began as a teacher in Los Angeles, where an amazing group of 7th and 8th graders showed him what young people are capable of, and inspired him to spend his career creating the conditions and systems that allow them to thrive.

Pat is a Pahara Fellow and an alumnus of Teach For America. He holds an MBA and M.A. from Georgetown University, an M.A. Loyola Marymount University, and a B.A. from Boston College.