OUR TEAM

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Brigitte O'Michaels MPA, LMC

President & Founder 

Brigitte O'Michaels is a transformational executive leadership coach, trainer, speaker, and the author of Gurl, Fix Your Crown. With over two decades of experience across three continents, Brigitte has dedicated her career to empowering aspiring leaders and women globally. As the founder of Open Gates International and the driving force behind the Gurl Fix Your Crown Retreat, she is committed to creating transformative experiences that promote growth, resilience, and community among women leaders. Her work aims to inspire women to step into their power, embrace their unique strengths, and forge paths of leadership and success.

Favorite Quote: One broken dream is never the end of dreaming. If your dreams are broken, go to sleep, for tomorrow you will dream again.

- Cecilia Josephine, Brigitte's late mother

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Idowu Akinleye

Board of Directors, Secretary

Idowu Akinleye, our esteemed Secretary, is the
strategic mastermind behind Open Gates
International's operational excellence. With decades of
experience in planning and execution, he is the unsung
hero who ensures our programs run like a well-oiled
machine. Blending his analytical prowess with a
passion for empowering communities, Idowu is the
lynchpin that holds our Board of Directors together,
guiding us towards realizing our ambitious goals.

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Kimberly Chinomso

Vice President

Board of Directors, Treasurer

Serving as Both Vice President and Board Treasurer, Kimberly is a trailblazer who embodies the spirit of our organization. As Miss Africa Washington State, she dedicates her boundless energy to leading our non-profit focused on empowering girls through education. Her unwavering commitment to community empowerment makes her an invaluable asset to the Open Gates team.

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Michelle Bethel-Gibson

Communities/Strategic Planning

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Regina Keaton McKenzie

Director of Programs