For Immediate Release: Tatiana Hlinka Tapped to Serve as Executive Director

Effective immediately as of October 3rd, Tatiana Hlinka, former Finance Director, will take on the role of Executive Director at Youth Climate Action Team Inc (YCAT).

Hlinka has been with YCAT since February 2023, initially as a member of the Finance Department and later transitioning to lead the fundraiser for the YCAT Initiative Team in March 2023. In January 2024, she became the Finance Director after establishing the department’s first finance fellowship program, which has seen over 30 fellows graduate since the beginning of 2024. Notably, the fellowship program has dedicated over 975 hours to the department, conducting research, preparing proposals for 50+ corporate sponsors, submitting over ten grant applications, and focusing on effective advertising communication and multimedia design implementation.

Additionally, the fellows gained industry insight through the first Green Finance Speaker Event, hosting partners from the World Bank Group International Finance Corporation and Business Climate Finance organization in a panel and Q&A session. This event covered topics related to the climate and sustainable finance industry, future career paths, and advancements in economic development, particularly in developing countries and those affected by climatic impacts.

As a result of her successes, former Executive Director Catherine Jeon has chosen Hlinka to resume duties as Executive Director as Jeon continues on to her next chapter at Harvard University. Hlinka, who has been a key part of our team, will now oversee various responsibilities, including managing nine Directors, seven subteams, the global and regional branches, and over 2,000 youth organizers, ensuring a stable transition and continuity in operations.

Hlinka is enthusiastic about bringing her expertise in global partnerships to her new role, gained through her work with the Vaclav Havel Center, the Unesco x Dior initiative: Etoile Foundation, and her research on the Maasai Tribe with community partners in Tanzania for the World Food Prize Foundation and Global Youth Institute. Her vision for the organization involves:

• Expanding the diversity of global branches and volunteer outreach to every habitable continent
• Extension of the leadership board and roles to more members of the organization
• Fostering partnerships in diverse industries and maintaining previous ones
• Creating the framework for another teen-lead global research study
• Further aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal Agenda

She also aims to promote dynamic team growth and effective departmental initiatives through strategic organizational restructuring.

YCAT’s Finance Department, formerly led by Hlinka, will now be directed by Sheetal Singh, former Grant Team Executive and Specialist. Singh will continue to expand the department’s initiatives, including the Green Finance Speaker Event and the Fellowship Program. Singh will focus on bringing efficiency and collaboration to the table, particularly in the Fundraise for YCAT (FYI), Grant Application Program (GAP), and financial research.