Her Story
About Kay
Kay L. Prendergast, PhD, was a Faculty Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she taught in the business school and mentors emerging leaders.
After a distinguished career in corporate human resources, she transitioned into higher education to share her deep expertise in talent strategy, employee relations, and organizational leadership. In addition to teaching, she remains actively engaged in professional development initiatives and leadership mentorship, supporting students and early-career professionals as they prepare for roles in business and HR. Dr. Prendergast built a pioneering career in retail human resources, holding senior leadership roles with globally recognized brands.
She served as HR Director for Barnes & Noble (midwest) and previously spent nearly a decade with Gap Inc., where she became the company’s first Zone Human Resources professional—an innovative regional model overseeing hundreds of stores that later expanded nationally and internationally.
Earlier in her career, she gained international experience as HR Manager at Harrods in London. Throughout her corporate tenure, she partnered closely with executive leadership to guide hiring strategy, succession planning, employee retention, and career path development across large, distributed workforces.
She earned her undergraduate degree in business with an emphasis in human resources and a Spanish minor, from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, later completing an MBA and a PhD in Business with an international focus.
Since retiring from corporate leadership in 2019, Dr. Prendergast has remained active in the HR profession through lecturing/ consulting, involvement with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and service on leadership advisory boards. Grounded in Midwestern values and shaped by decades of executive experience, she is passionate about developing ethical, strategic, and resilient business leaders.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kay
01What do you attribute your success to?
I had incredible family support throughout my career. My parents and my boyfriend, now husband, were always supportive with my moves and career decisions.
When I had the opportunity to move to London for a unique human resources management position at Harrods Department Store, not one person said 'oh, you can't do that' or 'he'll break up with you' or 'you'll miss your family.' They said good for you!
Everyone was so encouraging, even if it meant relocation to another country. So basically, I would say my parents and my then-boyfriend, now husband, were the foundation of my success.
Friends were a very close second!
Looking back, the High School trip to Spain was eye opening, and encouraged me to study abroad with my university's program again also in Spain. This sparked my interest in all things international.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A boss once told me, 'Kay, you can do it' when I was doubting myself.
When you're thinking 'oh, I'm not ready for that' and someone you respect says 'oh, you can do it,' they're right. So don't doubt yourself!
When someone else believes in you and says you can do something, believe them, because it's true.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Make sure that you have your business hat on at all times. Understand that human resources is not a separate thing - it is a part of the business strategy, so you have to know and be aware of finance, accounting, marketing, and the overall strategy. See yourself as a business person first. I think that will go a long way. This is exactly what we talk about on the advisory calls I'm on - how do we advise the up-and-comers in our field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge, both when I started and even now, is the evolving regulation. From the Americans with Disabilities Act and making accommodations back in the 80s, to providing personal leaves, to now dealing with much more stringent compliance in terms of employment and documentation.
You have to stay very aware of what's happening in the legal world and what the rules are from a federal and state compliance standpoint, because each state has various rules on top of the overall federal rules, and they're all evolving. The other major challenge is the potential talent shortage, because people need to reskill and upskill as many things are going to AI. But this isn't the first time - it happened when we went to the internet, it happened when we automated payroll. People just have to be willing to reskill, upskill, and keep an open mind about talent availability and skill development.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Just being authentic is most important to me.
Don't embellish, just say what you mean.
Don't try to impress people or fake it.
Be positive and smile.
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