An inspiring exploration of what true influence means for women—measured not by titles or recognition, but by the lives touched, people empowered, and lasting legacy created through faith, integrity, and service.
Her Story
About Dr. Kimberly
Kimberly Colbert serves as a professional developer, career coach, mental health therapist and marriage counselor in Louisville, Kentucky. She founded KIM Counseling Center, an acronym for Keep It Moving, after completing her master's degree in marriage and family therapy in May 2022. Colbert holds a doctorate in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on education and leadership, completed May 8th of this year, as well as a bachelor's degree in business administration with a focus on management. Her path into the field was shaped by her husband's ministry work and her own experiences supporting women, which highlighted the need for mental health services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. She attributes her success to her parents, who instilled the importance of giving back to the community through volunteering. Colbert values integrity, transparency, and a servant heart in her role as a servant leader, and she advises others to love people wherever they are while believing in themselves and persevering through challenges.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dr. Kimberly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I contribute my success to my parents. I've seen how my parents struggled to raise us, and they taught us, even though they were struggling, they taught us how to give back to the community. With children, we had to volunteer every summer. We had to volunteer somewhere. Whether it was with the Red Cross, or whether it was for a hospital somewhere, we had to give back to the community. And I would say that that has shaped me into the woman that I am, because I love giving back to people. These things are my lifeline.
- Faith — trusting God’s direction, timing, and purpose.
- Perseverance — continuing even when the journey became difficult.
- Discipline — remaining committed to the work required to reach your goals.
- Family support — having a husband and family who encouraged and supported your dreams.
- Lifelong learning — being willing to continue growing, even in later seasons of life.
- Service to others — understanding that success is not only about personal achievement but also about helping others succeed.
- Resilience — learning how to overcome setbacks, disappointments, and challenges.
- Purpose — knowing that your accomplishments are connected to something greater than yourself.
- Integrity — remaining true to your values and character throughout the journey.
- Courage — refusing to allow age, fear, or other people’s expectations to determine what you can accomplish.
All these things are the vehicle that led me to my success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
“The best advice I’ve ever received is to love people more than I love my position. Titles and positions may change, but how you treat people leaves a lasting impact. Lead with love, respect, compassion, and integrity, regardless of the situation.”
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
“My advice would be to lead with integrity, humility, and compassion. Never become so focused on your position that you lose sight of the people you are called to lead. Listen before you speak, learn before you change things, and never be afraid to surround yourself with people who know more than you. Empower others, accept accountability, remain teachable, and remember: leadership is not about being served—it is about serving others while helping them become their best.”
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
“One of the greatest challenges women face in leadership is balancing the many expectations placed upon us. We are often expected to lead with strength while simultaneously nurturing everyone around us. I have learned that effective leadership requires boundaries, self-care, confidence, and the courage to use your voice. Women should never feel that they have to diminish who they are in order to lead effectively.”
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
- My value is . I would say integrity, being transparent, having a servant heart. I'm a servant leader.
- Faith — I Trust God and remain grounded in my beliefs.
- Integrity — I do what is right, even when no one is watching.
- Compassion — I care genuinely about people and their well-being.
- Service — I use my gifts and position to help others.
- Respect — I everyone with dignity regardless of title or status.
- Accountability — I take responsibility for my decisions and actions.
- Humility — I remain teachable and never allow a title to become greater than the people you serve.
- Excellence — I give my best and maintain high standards.
- Perseverance — Keeps me moving forward despite my challenges.
- Authenticity — I am gracefully confident in who I am and lead genuinely.
- Empowerment — My passion is to help others recognize and develop their potential.
- Legacy — I invest in those coming behind me.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Dr. Kimberly
What Makes An Influential Woman
Discovering True Influence: Faith, Integrity, and Legacy Beyond Position
What Makes a Woman Influential?
By Dr. Kimberly L. Colbert
Being an influential woman is not determined by age, title, position, or the number of people who know your name. True influence is measured by the lives you touch, the people you empower, and the legacy you leave behind.
As a woman of faith, wife of 38 years, grandmother, great-grandmother, leader, counselor, educator, and servant, I have learned that influence begins with knowing who you are and understanding that every season of life has purpose. I refuse to allow age to determine what I can accomplish. As long as God gives us breath, there is still an opportunity to dream, grow, serve, and become.
My faith is the foundation of my influence. I believe God has uniquely planned, prepared, positioned, and purposed each of us. Faith does not mean the journey will always be easy. It means trusting God enough to continue when the road becomes difficult and believing that challenges do not cancel our calling.
I also believe integrity is essential to influence. Character matters. How we treat people matters. One of the greatest lessons I have learned is to love people more than I love a position. Titles can change, organizations can change, and seasons can change, but the impact we make on people can remain long after we leave the room.
Influential women also understand the importance of lifting others while they climb. Success should never be limited to what we accomplish for ourselves. I believe in educating, empowering, encouraging, and creating opportunities for others. There is room for more than one woman to succeed. Another woman's light does not diminish mine, and mine does not diminish hers.
The journey of an influential woman is not without challenges. Women often balance professional responsibilities, family, relationships, ministry, community service, and the emotional demands of caring for others. We may encounter stereotypes, unequal expectations, or spaces where our voices are overlooked. These experiences require resilience, boundaries, self-care, and the courage to remain authentic.
I have learned that taking care of yourself is not inconsistent with serving others. You cannot continually pour into everyone else while ignoring yourself. Influential women recognize when it is time to rest, replenish, establish boundaries, and protect their peace so they can continue serving from a healthy place.
Perhaps one of the greatest measures of influence is legacy. Generational wealth is more than the finances we leave behind; it includes the wisdom, faith, values, opportunities, education, and resources we invest in those coming behind us. As a grandmother and great-grandmother, I want the generations following me to see more than my accomplishments. I want them to see perseverance. I want them to know that dreams do not have expiration dates.
To every woman wondering whether her opportunity has passed, I say: keep going. Do not allow your age, past, circumstances, fear, or the opinions of others to determine what is possible for your future.
Be a woman of faith.
Be a woman of integrity.
Be a woman of compassion.
Be a woman of courage.
Be a woman who serves.
Be a woman who empowers other women.
And above all, be a woman whose life leaves something meaningful behind.
Influential women do not simply occupy positions—they impact people, transform spaces, open doors, and leave footprints for the next generation to follow.
My philosophy is simple: Your age does not give your dreams an expiration date.
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