Henry "HPatt" Patterson
Board Member & Curriculum Committee, Afghan Female Student Outreach
Henry "HPatt" Patterson is an entrepreneur, educator, mentor, and lifelong student of leadership and human development. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has built successful businesses, advised organizations ranging from start-ups to major corporations, and helped generations of entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of growth, leadership, and organizational culture.
In 1976, Henry founded Bel Canto, an award-winning restaurant group in Greater Boston. After building and selling the company, he shifted his focus from managing businesses to mentoring the people who build them. Through consulting, teaching, and hands-on advising, he has helped countless entrepreneurs develop not only successful enterprises, but also stronger teams, healthier organizations, and more sustainable approaches to leadership. His foodservice incubator in Union Square, Somerville, houses five full-service restaurants and a cocktail bar. He convenes monthly dinner salons that unite artists, scholars, journalists, entrepreneurs, activists, and community builders in a spirit of curiosity, generosity, and shared purpose, creating a rare space where meaningful relationships and new ideas flourish.
As a board member of Afghan Female Student Outreach (AFSO), Henry helps guide an organization serving approximately 1,400 Afghan women annually through university-level coursework, mentorship, and pathways to international educational opportunities. His particular interest lies in helping students develop the confidence, critical thinking skills, and leadership capacity needed to thrive in complex and rapidly changing environments.
Holding a Master's degree in Adult Development from Harvard University, Henry combines practical business experience with a deep appreciation for education and personal transformation. Friends and colleagues know him for his generosity, wisdom, and quiet ability to see potential in others before they see it themselves.