Kay Ledvina Prendergast, PhD
Kay L. Prendergast, PhD, is a Faculty Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she teaches 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 Regional HR Director for Barnes & Noble 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 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 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.
• PhD
• University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
• Warren National(Kennedy Western) University
• Society for Human Resources Management
• University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Women's Leadership Board
• Historical societies
• Botanical garden
• Church
What do you attribute your success to?
I had incredible family support throughout my career. My parents and my boyfriend, now husband, were always okay 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, no one said 'oh, you can't do that' or 'he's gonna break up with you' or 'you're gonna miss the family.' They said go. Everyone was so encouraging, even if it meant relocation to another country. So basically, I would say definitely my parents and my then-boyfriend, now husband, were the foundation of my success.
What’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, basically. When someone else believes in you and says you can do something, believe them, because it's true.
What 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.
What 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.
What 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 - I would just say smile, be positive, and say what you mean. Just be real. Don't try to be something you're not.