As we celebrate Karen Sprigle’s incredible career and contributions, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on her professional journey. Before she embarks on this exciting new chapter, we gathered some insights and memories from our loved and wise colleague.
What have been some of the most rewarding moments of your career and how did they shape your perspective on your work?
“Some of my very best friends are people I worked with early in my career. I’m really lucky to have worked for such a great company in my first real job at San Diego Federal where I met wonderful people who have remained lifelong friends. I learned a lot about how to treat people in those early years – both employees and customers – and that shaped my work philosophy for the rest of my career.
I went through four bank mergers during my time in banking. While these were stressful times, I was fortunate to work with dedicated professionals who came together as a team. I learned a lot about teamwork during those times. I also learned how to do many different jobs at the 4 banks, and stay in San Diego – this was a big goal of mine. Why would you want to live anywhere else?
When I was asked to join United Way of SD in 2005, the turnover was high, and employee morale was low. It took a couple of years, but I’m really proud of the impact I was able to make to improve things. It’s difficult changing/improving a culture, but we did it. We ended up being recognized as a best place to work, with low turnover and high employee morale.”
What are you most excited about for this next phase of life, and how do you plan to stay engaged with causes or issues that have been important to you?
“I’m trying to take the advice that I’m getting from those who have preceded me and not sign up for everything before I have time to decompress and figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life! Having said that, I am going to volunteer as a docent at the Flower Fields this spring. We have a trip to Maui scheduled in May and after that, I want to plan more trips. Other than that, I’m going to wait a bit to see what inspires me.
I know some of my time will be spent volunteering because one of the greatest lessons that the last 20 years in the nonprofit sector has taught me is the importance of volunteering. I just renewed by Senior Professional HR certificate so I will be able to add value in the HR space. Not sure where, yet. I’m just waiting a few months to figure out where I can add the most value.”
As you reflect on your time in nonprofit work, what words of wisdom would you give to others in the workforce/field?
“Be flexible and keep learning. The sector has changed and continues to change. The most successful people will be those that continue to adapt and learn. I also think it’s important to stay positive. This can be hard work and often takes many years to see change. Finding ways to celebrate the little successes is key to staying motivated.”
From your RSF Foundation Team:
“Karen, your dedication, wisdom, and kindness have made a lasting impact on all of us. You’ve been more than a colleague—you’ve been a mentor and a friend. While we’ll miss you, we’re excited for the new adventures that await you. Wishing you all the best in this next chapter!”
