Cat Polivoda

Email: cat@dendros.com

Cat Polivoda (pronounced pah-lah-VOE-duh) is a strategic consultant, capacity builder, and small business owner who brings more than a decade of values-driven leadership and a deep commitment to equity, connection, and collective liberation. She offers practical support to mission-focused people and organizations through bold ideas, systems thinking, and relationship-centered leadership.

With experience in higher education, entrepreneurship, and the nonprofit sector, Cat is most deeply shaped by her work as a small business owner. Since 2014, she has built and led Cake Plus-Size Resale, a beloved, justice-centered resale shop rooted in fat liberation, sustainable fashion, and community care. Through that work, she developed a passion for advocacy, operations, mentorship, and people management that extends beyond retail. She is also an inclusive leader, community builder, and plus-size fashion expert with a deep understanding of plus-size customer and community needs. As part of her broader commitment to equitable business ecosystems, she developed curriculum, handbook, and a training series for Minnesota’s reuse-sector entrepreneurs through Reuse Minnesota.

Cat’s consulting portfolio reflects her expertise in small business strategy, facilitation, and project management. She consults with TideTurn.Co and ThirdWay Solutions, contributing to internal strategy and capacity-building projects that support changemakers across sectors. As an Associate at Dendros Group, her current focus is Elevate Hennepin, where she provides no-cost business advising to small business owners throughout Hennepin County.

Her previous roles include leading business development at Pollen Midwest through narrative-focused projects, teaching and student support  in higher education, and co-producing the podcast Matter of Fat. She is also a national trainer for New Leaders Council. Cat holds a BA from Hamline University, an MS in Training and Development from East Texas A&M University, and certificates in Business Strategy from Cornell University and Organization Development from the University of Minnesota.

Cat is most at home turning bold ideas into action by translating complex concepts into clear steps and creating collaborative, justice-centered environments where people can do their best work.