thriving
teams
require
thriving
leadership
Delivering smarter + healthier leadership solutions tailored for women in the non-profit and association sectors.
unique challenges + unprecedented opportunitIES
By addressing challenges unique to women leaders in the non-profit sector, Take A Breath Coaching lays the foundation for building a supportive environment where leaders can balance professional purpose with personal growth—ultimately leading to healthier organizations and more impactful outcomes.
LEAD AT YOUR BEST
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BE SEEN
Confident decision making allows you and your team to navigate challenges with clarity and assertiveness.
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BE HEARD
Impactful communication conveys ideas clearly, inspires others, and fosters seamless collaboration within and across teams.
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BE EFFECTIVE
Healthy Leadership Inspires growth, drives results, and creates inclusive environments where both people and missions can thrive.
“Behind every great woman
is another great woman”
~Kate Hodges
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Leadership Coaching equips individuals to lead with intention, resilience, and impact. It’s not just about improving skills—it’s about transforming mindsets and behaviors to bring out the best in both the leader and those they lead.
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From emerging leaders to established ones, leaders in phases of transition or those looking to reinvigorate their teams after periods of change and uncertainty, leadership coaching is valuable for anyone looking to grow their influence, navigate complex challenges, or lead with greater purpose and impact.
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Women in leadership roles face unique structural and interpersonal challenges—systemic barriers, confidence gaps, and societal expectations that can limit their leadership opportunities. Coaching empowers women to build confidence, develop leadership presence, and navigate work-life integration. It also strengthens skills like negotiation, advocacy, and inclusive leadership, enabling women to overcome these challenges, rise to senior roles, and drive positive change. By providing tailored support, Take A Breath Leadership Coaching helps women fully embrace our potential, become influential role models, and close the gender gap in leadership.
CATHY SMALLEY PALES, ED.D.
With a lifelong commitment to education and supporting women’s leadership, Cathy is passionate about helping women embrace their full potential and achieve greater leadership authority.
She holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Leadership and Organizational Change from the University of Virginia, and she is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program.
Women make up 75% of the nonprofit workforce but lead fewer than 25% of medium and large organizations.
Cathy has dedicated her career to changing that statistic by empowering women to show up as their best selves, with extraordinary leadership presence, fully seen and heard. Her work spans running a leadership coaching practice, leading group fitness classes, fostering children, mediating as a volunteer, and chairing the Business Women’s Round Table at the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce.
unlock your thriving team
Take the first step in charting a new path forward: schedule your complimentary leadership session.