Alumni Spotlight: Kimberley Bowers Schafer ‘92

Tracing Kimberley Schafer’s path from liberal arts student at Colgate to franchise CEO and dedicated alumni mentor.

Kimberley Schafer '92's journey from Colgate to successful business owner is one that is intentional, impact-driven, and entrepreneurial. A 1992 graduate with a degree in English, Schafer built her career in marketing and consulting roles in Fortune 100 companies before more recently becoming her own boss through a franchise opportunity in Northeast Florida.

As a native of Central New York, the daughter of a Colgate alum, and the granddaughter of former owners of the Old Stone Jug, choosing Colgate felt like something of a homecoming. Still, the decision wasn’t automatic. Schafer describes herself as “a person who wants to see the world and have new experiences,” and admits that those deep family ties “weren’t necessarily a pro” when she was deciding where to attend college. Despite these considerations, Schafer readily chose Colgate in 1988 and never looked back. 

At Colgate, she embraced the full liberal arts experience. She was a member of the Swinging ‘Gates and the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and served as a Senator in the Student Association, where she said she could “innovate and shape the decisions that were made on campus.” She also took classes across disciplines, with art history standing out as a particular favorite. For Schafer, the breadth of opportunities at Colgate pushed her to step out of her comfort zone and allowed her to tap into interests she hadn’t even known she had.

After graduation, Schafer climbed the corporate ladder in senior roles for Chase, IBM, and Microsoft. At times, Schafer recalls feeling like a cog in a very big wheel and started looking for opportunities to branch out. During her search, she discovered Right At Home, an in-home senior care company that franchises offices nationwide to independent CEOs. The opportunity to become her own boss within an established and successful company while making a real difference resonated with Schafer. After completing extensive due diligence, Schafer opened the only Right At Home office in Northeast Florida. In its first six years, the business achieved 114% average annual growth, employed over 700 professionals, and provided expert care to hundreds of clients. When reflecting on her experience as a CEO in an industry that requires round-the-clock services and high-stakes decision-making, Schafer emphasized the importance of leaning on others for guidance. As an alumni mentor for Colgate’s Thought Into Action (TIA) program, she brings that same lesson back to Colgate, helping students turn their ideas into reality while encouraging them to think carefully about how a consumer will view their product idea.

Kimberley Schafer is a true example of the strength of Colgate’s alumni network. Mentored by fellow Colgate alumni throughout her career, she now pays it forward by passing along Colgate resumes, hiring Colgate students, and now mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs in the TIA program. When reflecting on her role as a TIA mentor, Schafer said, "It's one thing to have an idea, it's another thing to start to bring it to life.” As a shining example of the spirit that is Colgate, Schafer continues to do just that.