Who we are

Who We Are – Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Women’s Leadership and Entrepreneurship Center is a dedicated group of leaders, advocates, and professionals committed to advancing the mission of empowering women through leadership development, entrepreneurship, and education.

Our board brings together diverse expertise across business, academia, nonprofit leadership, and community development. Together, we provide strategic guidance, governance, and support to ensure the Center’s programs and initiatives have lasting impact.

Each Director shares a deep commitment to equity, innovation, and creating pathways for women to thrive as confident leaders and successful entrepreneurs.

Meet the individuals driving our vision forward.

J. Kanani Patricio-Young

Chief Executive Director

J. Kanani Patricio-Young is the Chief Executive Director of the Women’s Leadership & Entrepreneurship Center (WLEC), where she leads with a mission to Support, Empower, and Equip women leaders and entrepreneurs across the Pacific Northwest. A Hawai‘i native with over 12 years of experience spanning environmental consulting, industrial hygiene, and DEI leadership, Kanani is also the founder of Young Leadership Inc. Her work is driven by a passion for authentic leadership, community building, and creating spaces where women can thrive. Recognized as a 2024 Young Professional Award winner by the Tri-Cities Journal of Business, she continues to inspire by blending professional excellence with mentorship, innovation, and impact.

Zdenka Barisic

Executive Director of Community Engagement

Zdenka Barisic serves as the Executive Director of Community Engagement for the Women’s Leadership & Entrepreneurship Center (WLEC). With a career rooted in resilience, reinvention, and purpose-driven leadership, she is passionate about building authentic connections and empowering women to lead with confidence. A global traveler, speaker, and cofounder of Mompreneurs PNW, Zdenka brings her gift for community-building to WLEC—creating spaces where collaboration thrives and women of all backgrounds feel supported and inspired.

Jamie Kincade

Executive Director of Finance & Strategic Resources

Jamie Kincaid serves as the Executive Director of Finance and Strategic Resources. She is a lifestyle branding photographer and retreat host based in Washington State. Jamie is the founder and creative force behind JK Photos branding photography and women’s retreats. She created her business out of a love for storytelling and art, and has since grown it into a movement toward lifting others up, creating community, and helping women thrive. She is a catalyst for women’s empowerment and a champion for community over competition.


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Chief Executive Director

J. Kanani Patricio-Young

(kanani@thewlec.org)

Exec. Director of Community Engagement

Zdenka Barisic

(zdenka@thewlec.org)