Team & Mission

Our mission at Essence Planner is to uplift communities of color through our stationery products.

CEO: Cathleen Madlansacay (She/Her/Hers)

Cathleen is a first-generation Filipina who founded Essence Planner in 2020. She completed her B.A. in International Affairs at James Madison University with a minor in Spanish Business. She is passionate about social justice advocacy, equitable design, and public transportation. Aside from running Essence Planner, she is a UX designer based out of Los Angeles. She enjoys making pasta from scratch and playing with her two cat's Ube and Malai.

Director of Mental Health: Dr. Mike Norfleet (He/Him/His)

Michael completed his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology degree (Psy.D.) at Pepperdine University in 2021. He also earned his Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree (MSCJ) with a concentration in Strategic Management from Boston University in 2020. Dr. Norfleet is most passionate about trauma treatment, group therapy, executive leadership, mental health advocacy in the federal prison system, and supporting his local communities. When he is not working hard, he can be spotted on city walks with his 8-year-old Shiba Inu, Roscoe!

Creative Director: Ram Bhadra (He/Him/His) 

Ram is an immigrant from India with a passion for using his creativity and photography to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into visually appealing images. Ram strongly believes in supporting businesses that place community and mental well-being as the cornerstones of their business model. Ram is also a technology lawyer focusing his work on helping inventors and artists scale-up without sacrificing ownership of their valuable IP. 

2024 Summer Intern: Lucy Van (She/Her/Hers)

Lucy is a rising Junior at the University of Southern California pursuing a dual-degree in public relations and business administration. Van has built a strong foundation in communication and a passion for mental health awareness which she hopes to utilize in making a positive social impact. In her free time she enjoys volleyball, art and journaling!