OUR TEAM
NICOLE MINOR
Founder and Executive Director
As Founder and Executive Director of The Pangea Network, Nicole believes women and motivated individuals can be a powerful force for change through entire families and communities. After working in consulting for companies around the world, Nicole returned to the United States and renewed her commitment to service. In 2005, Nicole began to design programs that are now the foundation of The Pangea Network. She enlisted a board of directors, filed for non-profit status and initiated the efforts which today benefit hundreds of women and youth in disadvantaged areas. Nicole resides in The Woodlands, Texas, where she established The Pangea Network’s headquarters.
Ivana Situm
U.S. Programs Director
Ivana Situm serves as The Pangea Network’s U.S. Programs Director, overseeing the organization’s U.S.-based programs, which includes the Young Women’s Leadership Challenge (YWLC) program and its growth through a Training of Trainers (TOT) program to expand in Texas and beyond.
Before joining Pangea, Situm served as the international education director for the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston for seven years. Situm uses her vast experiences to connect locally and globally and help others face their challenges through her nonprofit work. She obtained her master’s degree in International Affairs from Sciences Po in Paris, France, a B.A. from the University of Houston and earned an international baccalaureate diploma from the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore.
Kate Colston
U.S. Programs Manager
Kate was first introduced to the Pangea Network in 2017 as a YWLC Participant. Throughout the year-long program, she continuously discovered a passion for empowerment through education. After completing her TAC, she attended UT Austin for Astronomy and earned a certificate in NGO Ethics and International Development. She also became a published astrophysicist after working with a research team on dark matter! Kate spent a few years in the booming tech industry in Austin, interning and volunteering for YWLC as much as possible for 7 years, before joining the Pangea team to fulfill her long-term goal of empowering other young women with invaluable skills and resources.
ELYSSA BUNTZEL
YWLC Austin Leader
Elyssa humbly brags about attending the first iteration of YWLC in 2013, and interning and volunteering with The Pangea Network for several years since! Elyssa’s first Take Action Challenge was to bring YWLC to her school. Now, she’s working to bring YWLC all the way to Austin! After graduating with a business degree from Texas A&M, she served an Americorps VISTA year of service in Houston. Combining what she loves from project management, technology and innovation, and a passion for community impact developed with YWLC, Elyssa is an experienced fundraiser and advocate in the nonprofit sector. As a part of several community organizations in Austin, she looks forward to local partnerships that inspire global change.
YWLC Alumni Advisory Board
ALEXANDRA GRACIA
Alexandra Garcia is an accountant working in audit, based in Houston, TX. She
attended the University of Houston Downtown, where she earned both a BA in
Accounting and a Masters in Accounting. Alexandra is deeply proud of her Hispanic
heritage and is passionate about supporting and empowering young women in her community. She began her career in accounting with a strong desire to learn and grow, helping businesses maintain accurate financial records and compliance. Alexandra is dedicated to making a positive impact, both in her professional role and by mentoring young women who aspire to enter the business field. She values hard work, integrity, and the opportunity to help others succeed.
Simone Munajj
Simone Munajj is a Strategy Director in the healthcare marketing industry with experience across both large organizations like the BBC, Havas, and WPP, and early-stage agency environments. Originally from Houston and now based in New York City, she earned her degree in Public Relations with a minor in Technology Commercialization from the University of Southern California. Mentorship has been a constant in her life, from interning with YWLC, to being a guiding voice for her younger sisters, to now coaching middle school volleyball. As a current member of the YWLC advisory board, Simone is excited to continue helping create meaningful opportunities for young women to find their voice and lead with confidence.
Anna Lee
Anna Lee is an analytics developer at Baylor Scott and White Health. She received her bachelors in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University in 2020 and her masters in Epidemiology from UTHealth in 2023. When she’s not coding, she’s traveling or spending time with her niece, nephew, and dog.
Samyu Hari
Samyuktha Hari is a dedicated advocate for gender equity, youth empowerment, and sustainability. A 2017 alumna of YWLC, she took on an active role in fundraising for nonprofit organizations throughout high school and college, rallying student communities to support education, disaster recovery, and healthcare initiatives. While earning a triple-degree in the World Bachelor in Business program—studying across the U.S., Hong Kong, and Italy—she also held leadership roles in women-focused business organizations, advancing opportunities for young women in business. Samyuktha now works as a Product Financial Analyst at ServiceNow in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she continues to champion inclusive values and seeks opportunities to foster mentorship and community among women in the workplace. Outside of work, she enjoys music production, dance, travel, and teaching hot yoga.
Angel Puder
Angel Puder is a passionate advocate for social impact, community development, and public policy. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Cornell University’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, where she focuses on issues related to education, housing, and food security. Her commitment to leadership and service began with The Pangea Network’s Young Women’s Leadership Challenge (YWLC), where she was a participant in 2018. Inspired by the program’s mission, she returned as an intern from 2019 to 2020, supporting young women in developing their leadership skills and creating community-based initiatives.
With experience in nonprofit work, public engagement, and policy research, she has worked on initiatives ranging from affordable housing projects to community-based economic development programs. Now serving on the YWLC Alumni Advisory Board, she is excited to give back to the program that helped shape her leadership journey. She looks forward to mentoring and empowering young women as they develop the skills and confidence to create meaningful change in their communities.
Yasmeen Khan
Yasmeen Khan is a student at Harvard College, where she pursues a dual major in History and Literature and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She was a YWLC participant in 2019, and she interned at the YWLC Houston conference in 2020 and 2024. YWLC means a lot to her, and she’s excited to give back to the program as a member of the Alumni Advisory Board!
Mandy Dang
Mandy began her journey with YWLC in her senior year of high school, and is now a student majoring in Allied Health at Texas A&M University, with the hopes of working in the healthcare field. Her TAC was centered around spreading happiness throughout her community through small acts of kindness. Falling in love with The Pangea Network and its mission to empower communities through knowledge, education, and a supportive network, Mandy would continue her involvement with YWLC as an intern, mentor, and now alumni board member. She hopes to continue supporting young women as they grow into their best confident selves, and can’t wait to see what new ideas future cohorts will develop to create an impact in their communities!
Tara Patanjali
Tara Patanjali is currently studying business at UT Austin (Hook ’em!). Her hobbies include collecting different types of tea, spending time with her dog, and attending UT football games. She attended YWLC in the summer of 2022, where her TAC focused on raising mental health awareness among teens. Tara loved YWLC because of the genuine connections she made and the confidence it helped her build as a leader. She now serves on the board to help other young women gain confidence just as she did, and she is excited to continue being part of YWLC through the Alum Advisory Board.
Aarushi Pandey
Aarushi was first introduced to The Pangea Network through the 2023 Young Women’s Leadership Challenge (YWLC), where she found a powerful sense of purpose in empowering others through education and community. Inspired by the mission, she launched Maisha, a campaign to raise funds for Pangea’s initiatives supporting women and children in Kenya. Aarushi is now a student at Johns Hopkins University, studying Molecular and Cellular Biology with interests in global health and environmental science. She has taught English in rural India, where she designed creative lesson plans to bridge language barriers; conducted virology research on coral reefs; mentored students through science outreach programs; and published original research, driven by a deep love for discovery and a belief that science is a tool for both understanding and uplifting communities. Aarushi is thrilled to continue giving back to the Pangea community that first sparked her passion for leadership and change.
Lasya Sangana
Lasya Sangana first joined YWLC in 2023. Then, as a rising sophomore, she gained valuable skills such as being a leader, career insight, as well as learning to empower herself and the people around her. The following year, she worked as an intern for the conference and loved discussing ideas on how to outreach to her fellow peers. As she continues her education, she hopes to continue to give back to her community through the Pangea Network, continue doing non-profit work, and encourage her peers to gain valuable skills the YWLC program will offers.
Layla Lee
Layla Lee is a current high school junior based in Houston, TX. She was part of the Young Women’s Leadership Challenge (YWLC) 2023 Cohort as an incoming sophomore and was inspired by the talented and driven community she met. Currently, she is part of the Pangea Network’s Alumni Advisory Board where she hopes to grow the organization and empower and uplift more women worldwide. With plans to study abroad and pursue a career in business, Layla is always looking for ways to grow and connect. In her free time, Layla enjoys shopping, reading, and baking.
Jennifer Nguyen
As an alumna of the 2024 Summer Cohort, Jennifer proudly reflects on how her time at YWLC empowered her to become a more conscientious and well-rounded individual. She was initially drawn to the program for its volunteer opportunities and skill-building workshops, and ultimately stayed for the enriching network of peers and mentors she built along the way. In the near future, she will be studying Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and plans to pursue additional passions, including joining recreational badminton and her local Rotaract chapter, while continuing to maintain her connections with The Pangea Network.
T’Shai Christopher
T’shai Christopher is a 2018 YWLC alumna. She previously interned with The Pangea Network to help provide girls with the same transformative experiences she gained through YWLC. Now, she continues to support Pangea’s mission as a member of the board, working to strengthen its impact and marketing opportunities. A UH graduate with a degree in marketing, T’shai is now a Digital Marketing Specialist at a branding agency, where she helps businesses grow through strategic storytelling.