LaShawanda Moore, MBA, CPC, DTM, CEO and Founder on Influential Women

Influential Woman · Coaching and consulting, Engineering, Leadership development

LaShawanda Moore, MBA, CPC, DTM

CEO and Founder, Elevate Success & She Lives Out Loud Nonprofit

Houston, TX

14Years experience

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Master's in Business Administration (MBA Degree Received approximately 2001) Degree Currently studying for doctorate Cert Certified Professional Coach Cert Distiguished Toastmaster Member Society of Women Engineers Member National Society of Black Engineers Member Association for Supply Chain Management Professionals Member One Church at Harvest Point Member Black Chamber of Brazoria County Member The Pinnacle Consortium Investment Group

Her Story

About LaShawanda

I am an engineer by education and a global leader by experience, with nearly 30 years of leadership across corporate America. Growing up in Louisiana in a low income, predominantly single parent household, I learned early that success would require more than hard work. It would require discovering who I was, finding my voice, and creating opportunities where none seemed to exist.

My career began with a Fortune 500 company that placed me in a rotational leadership program, exposing me to diverse roles, industries, teams, and geographies. Those experiences became my greatest classroom. Through successes, setbacks, failures both fast and slow, and countless moments of growth, I learned resilience, adaptability, and the importance of leading with authenticity. Along the way, I not only built a successful career, I reclaimed and strengthened my sense of identity and purpose.

While advancing in corporate leadership, I also pursued entrepreneurship. In 2012, I founded Elevate Success, a coaching, leadership development, and consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. Like me, the business has evolved over time, growing from a passion project into a mission driven enterprise focused on transformation and impact.

This month marks a significant milestone as I transition from corporate America into full time entrepreneurship. My focus is on two organizations that reflect my life’s work and calling: Elevate Success and She Lives Out Loud, the nonprofit I founded in 2021 to empower women navigating life, career, and personal transitions.

Over the next five years, I envision becoming a global impact leader who transforms organizations by transforming the people within them. My mission is to bring nearly three decades of corporate rigor, operational excellence, leadership expertise, and strategic thinking into churches and faith based organizations, from growing congregations to mega churches, helping them become healthier, stronger, and more effective communities for those seeking hope, healing, and purpose.

I also envision speaking on some of the world’s largest stages, inspiring thousands at a time. Whether in arenas, stadiums, churches, or leadership conferences, my goal is to equip people to live boldly, lead courageously, and fully embrace the purpose for which they were created. I believe my greatest impact is still ahead, and I am committed to using every gift, lesson, and experience from the first 30 years of my career to serve others in the next chapter of my life.


Her Interview

Ten minutes with LaShawanda

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to curiosity, courage, and a commitment to continuous growth.

Throughout my career, I have intentionally sought opportunities that stretched me beyond what was comfortable or familiar. Whether leading complex global transformations, entering new industries, or launching new ventures, I have learned that growth happens when we are willing to embrace uncertainty and keep learning.

I also believe success is rooted in self awareness. Understanding my strengths, recognizing my blind spots, and being willing to receive feedback have been critical to my development as a leader. Some of my most significant breakthroughs came not from what I achieved, but from what I learned about myself along the way.

Finally, I attribute my success to a genuine desire to serve others. The most meaningful accomplishments in my career have not been tied to titles or recognition, but to helping people grow, overcome challenges, and realize their potential. That commitment continues to shape how I lead and the impact I hope to make in the world.


02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I ever received was, “Never let someone else define your potential.”

Too often, people allow job titles, organizational structures, or the opinions of others to determine what they believe is possible. I learned early that growth requires advocating for yourself, raising your hand for opportunities, and sometimes pursuing a path that others cannot yet see.

That advice gave me permission to think bigger, take calculated risks, and trust my ability to learn my way through new challenges. It reminded me that leadership is not something that is granted by a position. Leadership is demonstrated through initiative, influence, and the willingness to create value wherever you are.

It is a lesson that continues to guide me today as I step into new opportunities and encourage others to do the same.


03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Master your craft, but do not neglect your confidence.

Many women spend years building technical expertise yet hesitate to use their voice, advocate for themselves, or pursue opportunities before they feel fully ready. The reality is that leadership is not just about competence. It is about influence, visibility, relationships, and the ability to inspire others.

Seek mentors who will challenge you, sponsors who will advocate for you, and experiences that stretch you beyond your comfort zone. Be willing to take calculated risks and view mistakes as part of the learning process rather than evidence that you do not belong.

Most importantly, do not shrink yourself to fit someone else’s expectations. Your unique perspective, experiences, and strengths are often the very things that make you an effective leader. Own them. The world does not need a smaller version of you. It needs the fullest expression of who you were created to be.


04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

One of the greatest challenges facing organizations today is that the pace of change is accelerating faster than people’s ability to adapt. Technology, artificial intelligence, workforce expectations, and economic uncertainty are transforming how we work, communicate, and lead.

At the same time, this creates a tremendous opportunity. Organizations that invest in leadership development, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and healthy workplace cultures will have a significant competitive advantage. Technical expertise alone is no longer enough. The leaders who will thrive are those who can build trust, navigate complexity, and inspire people through change.

I am particularly excited about the opportunity to bring these leadership principles into churches, nonprofits, and mission driven organizations. As these organizations grow and expand their impact, they need the same strategic leadership, operational excellence, and people development practices that drive success in the corporate world. When purpose and strong leadership come together, transformational impact becomes possible.


05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

The values that guide both my work and personal life are faith, integrity, growth, service, and courage.


Faith is my foundation. It shapes how I lead, how I make decisions, and how I navigate both success and adversity. It reminds me that my purpose is greater than any title, achievement, or circumstance.


Integrity is equally important. I believe trust is built when our actions align with our words, and I strive to lead with authenticity, transparency, and accountability in every area of my life.


I am also deeply committed to growth. I believe we are lifelong learners, and some of our greatest opportunities emerge when we remain curious, open minded, and willing to evolve.


Service is at the heart of my leadership philosophy. Whether coaching individuals, leading teams, or supporting communities, I believe true leadership is about helping others reach their highest potential.


Finally, courage has been a defining value throughout my journey. Courage to take risks. Courage to embrace change. Courage to speak up, stand firm in my convictions, and pursue the calling God has placed on my life.


These values serve as my compass and influence how I show up as a leader, entrepreneur, wife, mother, mentor, and advocate for others.

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