OpenSpace

The Who

Cathy is a leader in leadership. She is the president of Powerful Purpose Leadership—a leadership coaching and consulting practice that partners with individuals and organizations to develop better quality working relationships in order to expand leadership capacity.

“At the core of leadership is relationship. Quality results begin with quality relationships. I partner with others to develop better connections with whom they work in order to produce the most effective leadership and achieve maximum results.”

PPL offers individual leadership coaching, education sessions and team transformation services, which includes team building, team in conflict facilitation and a team of excellence process.

Cathy has over 18 years experience in leadership development. She has designed programs for college and university students and created professional development opportunities for higher education administrators and business professionals. She has delivered presentations for the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Non Profit Excellence (Charlottesville), and the Virginia Network of Non Profit Organizations. Just to name a few.

“My passion is working with the education and nonprofit communities as well as small businesses. And because I feel so strongly about collaborating with these groups, who may have smaller budgets, I have created a fee structure that is very accessible. These are areas where coaching is just starting to get noticed. There is a lot of need to learn how to be more satisfied, more effective.”

Cathy is successful in her work because she creates a trustworthy environment for her clients to uncover and examine their personal and professional assessments in order to discover new possibilities.

“I’m the person who makes it safe to have the conversation. Leaders seek me out to help them understand themselves and their role as a leader better. I provide them the opportunity to realize that they have strengths and successes to build upon; to assist them in finding a path to achieve their personal and professional visions.”

So, if you or your organization want to build on your strengths, develop new skills, become more effective leaders, add more creativity and innovation—look no further. Dr. Cathy Pales will energetically and professionally dedicate herself to being of service to you and your organization.

The Why OpenSpace

“Working at OpenSpace completely reenergized me to successfully build my practice. I tell everybody…and, if I needed to, I’d stand on the side of the road with a sign that said Join OpenSpace.”

“As a new startup, I spent the first year working out of my house. But I found myself hungering to network, to meet people. I am such a strong extrovert. I love the flexibility, the meeting space, and the cost is fantastic. I couldn’t find an office space for this price. And I travel for work sometimes and so not having to sign a lease is great. I find the communal workspace very energizing and motivating. In the few months I have worked at OpenSpace, I have formed several significant personal and professional relationships.”

The What You Might Not Know

Cathy is related, through her great grandmother, to ambassador Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first ambassador to Mexico, appointed by President Madison. Ambassador Poinsett introduced the flowering plant called the poinsettia (named after him) into the United States.

(Photograph by Billy Hunt)