living with inner elegance
In August 2005, a bad riding accident proved to be a significant turning point. It led to some serious soul-searching about my life’s purpose, and I concluded things had to change. In 2007, I returned to school at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. After graduating the following year, I established my life and executive coaching practice and regularly contributed to WKZE Radio. I also obtained my certification in equine-assisted learning. I became a facilitator at The Horse Institute in Ancramdale, NY, where we create tailor-made leadership programs for executives and individuals.
In 2011, I was allowed to work with Rehabilitation Through The Arts. This non-profit organization runs innovative, creative arts workshops in various aspects of theatre for incarcerated men and women. In collaboration with Emmy Award-winning writer and director Dennis Watlington, I produced his off-Broadway play “Bullpen” in Woodbourne Men’s Correctional Facility in Upstate NY. It proved to be a profound experience, both eye-opening and humbling, to discover depths of kindness, generosity, and talent with such extraordinary men in a place of profound incarceration.
I was recently fortunate to expand my experiential facilitation work to include MIT Leadership Sailing, a very exciting collaboration with The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, where we develop innovative executive programs using sailboats.
Established in 2014, Exploring Inner Elegance was inspired by all these twists and turns in my journey. Life rarely seems to go as planned, but when we end up in difficult situations, there is so much to be learned, and miracles abound. In adversity, we often exhibit our kind, caring, and compassionate side, and there is much elegance to be found in the most unlikely places.
I hope to be able to share some of these experiences with you as you share yours with me. Together, we can make the world a more Elegant place.
Caroline
Phipps
I was an introvert with extrovert tendencies, a tomboy with a flair for fashion. These apparent contradictions meant I could hold two distinct ambitions simultaneously: To become a veterinarian and indulge my passion for animals or be a backing singer at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. As it turned out, however, my talents led me in many other directions.
I studied English literature at University College Cardiff in Wales; worked in high-end fashion retailing; spent five years in local government working in industrial relations; established “Muddy Boots,” my own country clothing business, and worked in production at the Ridley Scott Film Company making TV commercials.
In October 1993, I headed for America looking for adventure. I settled permanently in New York, although I regularly returned to England. I found a “home away from home” with the riding community in Millbrook, NY, and worked with horses and equestrian clothing for the first few years.
During this time, I met the British fashion designer Annie Walwyn-Jones. We competed our horses together and became firm friends. When she asked me to come and join the company, I jumped at the chance. We worked together for over ten years and had a fabulous time touring many places, selling her private label collection in America and major European cities.