Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Moulene
Hi Kate, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I think my story began when I quit high school. At 16 I was accepted into an experimental program admitting high schools to the UC colleges before they had graduated. I spent a semester at UC Irvine, then just took off for a year and traveled and danced. During that year I applied to Vassar and luckily was accepted. I never went back to high school but it all worked out in the long run.
After college I thought I would be a writer and ended up in Paris and writing for the International Herald Tribune. One very cold winter inspired me to return to Los Angeles where I servee as the West Coast Bureau Chief for InStyle Magazine. As a start up magazine, it was a great deal of fun and I did a lot of on air work as a reporter — monthly for the Today show and weekly on “E”. After several years I left to start a consulting business that was basically “InStyle with a Cause” that partnered corporations, celebrities and charities.
During that period, I was able to raise tens of millions of dollars and create billions of media impressions for 40+ exceptional non-profit programs. Perhaps my favorite project was when I was asked to create a private forum to support the work of the United Nations and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
In 2021 I took on the role of CEO at River LA to help build public/private partnerships that support issues around infrastructure development, water challenges and advancing more open space and parks in Los Angeles.
In 2024 Governor Newsom appointed me as a Commissioner for the California Water Commission. Work has always been a mix of great lucky, sensational clients and being surrounded by very strong teams.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think from the outside people would say there were tons of bumps and struggles. And, from a literal sense there were. But it’s rare that I spend time focusing on challenges as a hardship. When there is a problem my focus is on finding a solution.
Whenever you have a goal, or are trying to create something in your work/life, you have to look at options and figure out how to achieve that goal. It doesn’t really matter if its a “challenge” or just a positive objective you want to achieve — you just have to walk through and get on with it to get to where you want to be.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I focus on public/private partnerships. I serve as CEO of RIVER LA and as Commissioner on the California State Water Commission.
Below are some of the projects I’ve worked on or been a part of:
“100 MAKING A DIFFERENCE “– – Featured alongside First Lady Michelle Obama, George Clooney, Malala Yosafzai, Maria Shriver, Nancy O’Dell, Mark Wahlberg, Novak Djokovic, Scarlett Johansson, Serena Williams, Dwayne, “The Rock” Johnson, Jeff Bridge’s, Drew Brees, Leonardo di Caprio, Sophia Loren and others in a book about philanthropy.
Credited by lead attorney Ted Olson on bringing together the legal team that overturned Prop 8 in California and brought the case (DOMA – Defense of Marriage Act) to the U.S. Supreme Court guaranteeing the right of same sex marriage for all couples in United States.
GLOBAL CREATIVE FORUM – Built a forum supporting the critical work of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s and multiple U.N. agencies. He was joined by President Bill Clinton to discuss ways in which the entertainment arts can support and address global issues.
MANYvCANCER – Organized program celebrating the work of Nobel Laureate Jim Allison and leaders in Cancer research with a performance by Seal.
FIRST LADIES OF AFRICA DINNER – Coordinated U.N. General Assembly dinner with Special Guests including the First Ladies of Africa. Countries that the alliance included: Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
BOBBY’S BREAKFAST – Launched in 2015, with celebrity ambassador Kiefer Sutherland. Utilizing government matching grants to address youth hunger alongside the U.S. State Department, the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture.
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – Created/Executed:
BAUME et MERCIER CAMPAIGN – Time to Make a Difference (Ashton Kutcher, Meg Ryan, Kim Bassinger, etc)
CARTIER CAMPAIGN – Legacy of Hollywood (Sutherland Family, Reiner Family, Marshall Family, etc)
Esquire House Charity Program — This project ran for over six years and supported 25 unique charities. The program led to over 1 billion international media impressions and raised over $15 million dollars for the participants.
Development of Multiple United Nations “Goodwill Ambassadors” including Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.
Developed Elton John annual event for AIDS in partnership with InStyle Magazine
Built Partnership with iheart radio with PSA’s delivered from Jennifer Garner, Camila Cabello and Kristen Bell generating millions of media hits for critical non profits.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My children and Friends. At the end of the day I hope to make a positive difference in the world, but what inspires me to do that is the love I have for my family and close friends and wanting to know that they, and others, are left with a better world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.riverla.org
