Core Team
We are a diverse team of educators, parents, innovators, and mentors, we each bring a unique perspective shaped by personal journeys, professional experience, and a deep belief in the limitless potential of young people.
Dear Members,
As parents, we walk the exhilarating yet challenging path of raising teenagers, a stage filled with fundamental moments that shape who they are and who they will become. As we sought to guide our children, we realized a critical gap in accessible, meaningful pathways and resources to help young people navigate their journeys. This realization became the impetus for a purpose that extended beyond our families.
Our mission was to bridge this gap by equipping young minds with the tools, resources, and toolkits they needed to explore, grow, and thrive. We rooted our vision in purpose. YOUthConnect is the embodiment of that vision. A one-stop hub designed to Inspire, Enrich and Impact young people positively. Together, we aim to create a community where every young person who engages with this platform feels equipped and motivated to make a difference in their own lives and the world around them.
YOUthConnect Team
Rachel
Co Founder
As co-founder of YOUthConnect HUB, I bring clinical and leadership experience, with expertise in healthcare, clinical data analysis, and quality improvement. My career has been dedicated to leveraging data-driven insights and evidence-based frameworks to create meaningful impact.
Throughout my work professional journey at University of Maryland, Cleveland Clinic and Duke University Medical Center, I have created initiatives that enhance clinical workflows, develop performance metrics, and improve outcomes. These experiences enable me to bridge practice, research, and education which i am happy to share with youth people at YOUthConnect.
Sharon
Co Founder
As co-founder of YOUthConnect HUB, I bring extensive experience as a certified career coach, further education and careers counselor, and training facilitator across North America and Asia. With deep knowledge of global university systems including Asia, Australia, Europe, Canada, and the US, I guide students through applications, course planning, and personalized pathways to success.
Beyond academics, I design and deliver life skills programs that equip young people for real-world challenges. My background also includes roles as a university lecturer, corporate learning leader, and executive coach for fortune 100 companies and creative industries.
Vivek
Founding Member
As an experienced healthcare leader and strategist, I have always been passionate about initiatives that create meaningful impact in the society. My journey from critical care expertise to shaping healthcare systems, has reinforced the importance of proactive learning and skill-building, a philosophy that has helped me tremendously in my own professional journey spanning over 25 years and across three different countries.
I joined YOUthConnectHUB to help empower senior school students with opportunities that enhance their personal and professional growth. By fostering a platform that equips them with life skills and strengthens their college applications, I hope to contribute to shaping confident, capable future leaders.
Cathy Pearse
Founding Member
Cathy has over 25 years of leadership experience in healthcare and is an internationally accredited coach and mentor. She is the founder of OakTree Mentoring, an award-winning global programme for nurses and midwives accredited by the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC). Her work has empowered healthcare systems, schools, and individuals worldwide, driving high performance and impactful change.
She was selected from 50,000 applicants as the UAE representative at the Aster Healthcare Global Awards in London (2025). Cathy’s expertise spans healthcare start-ups, coaching, and mentoring, with a focus on fostering innovation and sustainable transformation. Cathy is also a Crucial Conversations practitioner and carries multiple coaching accreditations: EMCC Senior Practitioner, ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), CTI Co-Active Coach, ORSC Coach, and EQ Coach.