Colorful Lives, Warm Spring Kathleen Pringle

It is an honor to introduce you to Warm Spring, Kathleen Pringle. Kathleen is the founder of Kathleen Pringle Group Inc, a Career Strategy and Leadership Coaching business. She has spent decades helping her clients to empower themselves and their organizations. 

Kathleen speaks to large groups often and understands the significance of personal branding. With her vibrant personality and radiant smile, she stands out in a crowd. She exudes confidence in herself, her business and any organization she is representing, especially when wearing her colors. Around Rochester, she is a "Roc Star". 

We first met at a Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority alumni event in the early 80's but over the years have found each other at school events for our children, HR & Career Development meetings and a variety of charitable and networking events. We share a passion for working with women to advance their personal and professional growth.  

Kathleen is very active and involved in the philanthropic and networking community in Rochester, NY. She helped establish ROC Moxie, an independent peer advisory organization bringing women in diverse professions, ethnicity, age and career levels together for business conversations to further their personal and professional growth. She is the incoming President of Rochester Rotary, the largest human services organization in the world. 

What prompted you to have a color analysis?

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Kerry for over three decades dating back to our corporate careers and then as bleacher moms during our son's baseball playing days. By then, in my capacity as a business owner, career strategist, and leadership coach I was more than ready to ditch the black, gray and blue that dominated my wardrobe in favor of the colors that would make me feel and look amazing!   

For years, I have affectionally referred to Kerry as America’s “Color Queen” for her unique ability to accentuate clients’ natural color palette manifested in the skin, eyes and hair plus her brand of magic to make us feel authentic and amazing! 

How has it changed your life?

Wearing MY colors has literally changed how I experience life and business! 

A little backstory – Upon emigrating from Italy, my maternal grandmother’s talents as a seamstress we retained to design custom wardrobes for the wealthiest women in her community. I was blessed to learn about style, color and how to sew. My grandmother was such an inspiration to me. She was kind, resourceful, and incredibly talented.

In what ways has it changed the way you approach your business?

As a business owner, I’ve been described as a trailblazer, dynamic, bold, a bright light, confident, credible, unstoppable, resilient, positive, and affirming. When I’m wearing MY colors, I feel great and most importantly empowered to BE the most authentic version of me.      

Building on a nearly twenty year career as corporate leader, recruiter and search consultant, I launched my own company in 2003 to inspire and lead change with executives and their companies. Career strategy and leadership conversations with clients or groups include the importance of presence, influence and image. This leads to discussions about the power of color and my own experiences with image and color. 

As the incoming President of Rochester Rotary in July, I will have the honor and privilege to lead the 16^thlargest Club in the world at a podium each week as well as in the community. My readiness for this role also includes confidence borne out of being comfortable with myself. Of course, what I wear is the other essential ingredient!

 

What has been the biggest challenge?

Not defaulting to black and the flawed thinking that it’s the only color to achieve a slimming look.  

Any interesting things happen while you were wearing your colors?

(Better things happen when I’m in sync – colors, hair, mindset.  My favorite colors in my pallet are combos of coral and cream, and gold tones with touches of turquoise, lighter blue greens and medium royal blue.)

I was presenting at a conference and had a goldenrod yellow suit, an emerald green shell and scarf that pulled them together along with great gold jewelry accents. I felt like a Boss Lady on that stage. The feedback was that my message was filled with relevance and conviction. "To look good is to feelgood is to do good!"

What was the biggest surprise?

How profoundly color affects my mood!  I also found that warm grays, browns, taupes and other neutrals instead of black are very comforting! My colors have expanded from professional to my fitness gear! I’m a firm believer that I get a better workout when I’m wearing my colors!

Tell me about your favorite color in your palette

My favorite colors in my pallette are combos of coral and cream, gold tones with touches of turquoise, lighter blue greens and medium royal blue.

Tell me about your closet

As a Virgo, I like order so it may not surprise you that my closet is super organized by season, type, and color including shoes (hangers are all the same too!). Once I understood my colors, I parted with the items that weren’t warm spring OR didn’t give me joy (a bit of Marie Kondo inspo!) I also made an agreement with myself that for every two items I bought, I would part with one that is already in my closet. It forced me to be very intentional about what I’d buy! I haven’t been as stringent with all of my quality costume jewelry as I love to accessorize!

Kathleen is CEO & founder of The Kathleen Pringle Group, Inc. where she works with ethically driven executives, business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals to elevate their leadership performance and effectively manage their career trajectories and legacies in increasingly complex and competitive markets.

During an annual mammogram in the fall of 2017, Kathleen was blindsided with nearly Stage III breast cancer requiring a bilateral mastectomy and one-year regimen of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Kathleen attributes early detection, aggressive treatment, faith in her All-Star medical team, a tribe of family and friends, and a healthy dose of gratitude and inner strength to confront and navigate the unknown as the reasons for putting her back on the path to her very active life.