Before launching Givful, Pat worked for eleven years as President &CEO for the YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee. Under her guidance, the 100+-year-old organization was stabilized as Shea grew net assets to $10M and increased the number of people served. She retired debt and renovated the organization's Weaver Domestic Violence Center

Shea changed the conversation around domestic violence and founded MEND, an initiative that recognizes men's responsibility in reducing gender violence. She established the YWCA Advocacy Committee and worked with legislators to strengthen domestic violence laws in Tennessee. She launched Girls Inc. and re-opened Dress for Success - Nashville.

Continually looking for ways to empower women, Shea founded the Nashville Chapter of Women Presidents' Organization, an international organization of women business owners who have guided their businesses to success. She has remained its chapter’s Nashville Chair since 2010.

Before becoming a nonprofit leader, Shea was a thriving private-sector entrepreneur, creating and leading consulting organizations within HCA/Quorum and co-founding Echelon Health, a start-up focused on women's health services.

Shea holds a degree in business from the University of Dayton and is a graduate of Leadership Nashville and Leadership Tennessee. She is a board member for Go West Creative, a founding director of Studio Bank and Brain Trust, a board member for the Center for Nonprofit Management, an advisory board member for Advancing Women In Nashville (AWIN);and a member of International Women's Forum – Tennessee Chapter.

Shea has been named one of the Most Admired CEOs by the Nashville Business Journal and was recognized in 2017 as a Women of Influence/Trailblazer. She has twice been named a finalist for Tennessean of the Year. Other awards include Cable's Promote Women Award, the Jean Crowe Visionary Award, the 2017 Human Relations Award, and the 2017 ATHENA Leadership Award.