Embodying Feminine Leadership: Carole Keefer on Authentic Women’s Leadership through Free Spirited Wanderer

Great strides have been taken to close the gender pay gap, where women now earn an average of 82 cents on the dollar as compared to men. However, there still remains a divide within leadership positions— women only occupy 31% of leadership positions. Yoga teacher, feminine empowerment coach, and founder of retreat company Free Spirited Wanderer, Carole Keefer offers her unique insight into closing the leadership gap through her experiences, blending the wisdom of yoga with the demands of running a business.

While experiencing the same precarity and uncertainty everyone else was facing during the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, Carole was also able to slow down the rapid pace of her life and search for clarity. In 2019, she was working as a yoga teacher at four different studios, running local retreats with Free Spirited Wanderer, and serving tables and bartending at the same time. Although her life was full, Carole had bigger dreams.

So, she embarked on a journey of personal transformation by investing in a women’s empowerment coaching program. This pivotal moment both deepened her understanding of leadership and laid the foundation for her annual Authentic Feminine Women’s Retreat in Tulum, Mexico. “What started as group coaching sessions evolved into an in-person experience in a perfectly badass place,” she shares. Now running for the fifth year in a row, the Tulum Authentic Feminine Women’s Retreat is a place for women to gather and explore feminine leadership through empowerment and self-discovery.

Carole’s entrepreneurial philosophy is deeply informed by her yoga practice, which she credits as pivotal to her success. Free Spirited Wanderer was the product of so much more than ‘finding a gap in a market’ and occupying it, as many individuals with the start-up bug have been advised to follow. Rather, yogic teachings on the Purusharthas (the four goals of life that encourage us to balance Pleasure, Purpose, Prosperity, and Freedom) serve as the guiding framework for Carole’s business decisions. “Yoga reminds us that true happiness and fulfillment come from within,” she explains. This belief has helped her navigate the complexities of running a business while staying aligned with her values.

For Carole, feminine leadership is not merely stepping into the roles available to her. “I’ve always had a clear sense of what I wanted, from a young age. But to reach it, I had to embody the qualities of authenticity, purpose, and connection,” she says. This embodiment begins with the knowledge that success is not just an individual process, but a collective one. As Carole adds, “When we thrive, we inspire others to do the same.” Her success has become a representation of the potential for other women to follow, teaching that through connection with oneself and the world, the possibilities before women become reachable.

Her approach to leadership rejects the notion of chasing profits. Instead, she emphasizes the necessity of leading with integrity. “I’ve learned that when you build from a place of purpose, sustainability follows.” Free Spirited Wanderer’s retreats and coaching programs are designed to help women connect with their inner strength, empowering them to make decisions that serve both their personal growth and the greater good— the essence of the yogic teachings of Dharma.

Carole strives to change the narrative about the lack of women in leadership roles. Through her work, she encourages participants to take ownership of their lives, finances, and decisions. Moreover, when women— and other leaders, as it happens— center integrity and purpose over titles and balance sheets, they allow for more space towards a diversity of opinion and innovation, flexibility toward larger ends, and clarity to lead with.

She advises that aspiring leaders begin with a commitment to personal practices that ground and center the self. “I believe sacred mornings are essential. Starting the day with yoga, meditation, pranayama [breathing exercises], and other calming activities allows creativity to emerge.” Second, she advises learning from mentors, coaches, or teachers that align with one’s vision. “Finding people that have walked the path that we want to walk is essential.” Finally, Carole asks readers to never give up on their goals. “There were many times I thought about quitting, but each challenge made me stronger to walk my path,” she reflects.

Free Spirited Wanderer is not just a business; it strives to make a positive impact by empowering women to embrace their full potential. Whether it be coaching, yoga classes, or transformative retreats around the world, Carole Keefer hopes to help women lead with purpose, joy, and authenticity. With the Tulum Authentic Feminine Women’s Retreat to return on February 14-19, 2025, Carole’s journey demonstrates the power of leading from within and creating a world where everyone prospers.