FOUNDER & CEO, ARTICULATE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS; PAST BOARD MEMBER, ANY BABY CAN; FORMER CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE CHILDREN’S SHELTER OF SAN ANTONIO & CURRENT MEMBER, CHILDREN’S SHELTER FOUNDATION BOARD; FORMER SR VP CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, HARLAND CLARKE HOLDINGS CORP; FORMER VP OF OPERATIONS, PRIME TIME PUBLISHING
By photographer
When asked to describe what she does for a living, LaRhesa Moon says she helps companies solve problems. Whether it’s because of a merger and/or acquisition; a crisis in communication, or solving strategic issues that impede corporate growth, LaRhesa Moon steps in and helps companies navigate what can often be an unclear path.
“WHEN I WAS ABOUT 35, A COUPLE OF OF OLDER WOMEN REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THE POWER AND JOY OF WOMEN FRIENDSHIPS AND MENTORING. THEY INSPIRED ME TO BE A MENTOR AND ADVOCATE FOR OTHER WOMEN.”
“I work with companies to see how we’re going to get through this,” said LaRhesa. “I work well under pressure and see patterns where other people can’t. I’m always trying to move forward and improve things; to figure out how we can be better. That kind of drive allows me to help be a change agent in those situations.”
“Some people like to cross items off a checklist every day. If I have too many days like that I get bored. I thrive when given a difficult task or challenge. Unexpected. Time-sensitive. Highly confidential. Those are the kinds of situations where I do my best work.
“I feel so blessed to be able to work with the corporations I do. Many are oil and gas companies. As an independent consultant, I have a bit more personal flexibility and yet can still be so intimately involved with an organization that I am an integral part of the team.”
Baseball fans may remember LaRhesa’s father, Wally Moon, a former Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wally Moon was an outfielder who threw right-handed but was a left-handed hitter. He was known for hitting what fans called “Moon shots.”
“For me, he was just my dad. I’m the youngest, so he’d already retired from baseball and moved us to a farm in Arkansas for a simpler life. He was very available to me. I remember him taking me to kindergarten every morning and picking me up and then we’d have lunch together.
“Because of our ages, my siblings and I each got to experience our father in a different way. Life is different when you’re the Major League Baseball star, than when you’re the Christian Athletic Director, helping to create a new university in a little town in Arkansas, or when you’re the owner of a Minor League Baseball team in a city like San Antonio. He’s been a remarkable man in every role and especially as a father. I’m very blessed to be his daughter.
“When I was younger and thought about people in their 50s and 60s, I thought, ‘Those people are so old.’ With a grandmother who is 107 it has definitely changed my perspective on ages and aging. I want to continue to explore industries and utilize my skills in different ways. I’m so excited about life and the opportunities still to come!
My favorite designers: There are those I love and those I can afford.
with LaRhesa
MOST IMPORTANT SURVIVAL SKILL
Perseverance.
VALUE MORE NOW THAN 20 YEARS AGO
My time and my health.
ASPIRE TO
More exploration. There are so many things I still want to do and places I want to go.
WHAT SCARES YOU
We all have those emotions of ‘what if this happens,’ or ‘what if that happens. I try really hard not to make decisions out of fear—they are usually not my best decisions.
Losing a loved one scares me. My grandmother is 107. My parents are 85 and 84. I’ve gone a long time without losing significant people. I know that road will end at some point. It’s inevitable. It’s just hard for me to imagine.
GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT
My children. I often worried about how to navigate work and raise my children. It’s such a blessing to see them happy and independent.
MOST TREASURED POSSESSION
A little jewelry box given to me by my namesake and great aunt, LaRhesa. She survived tuberculosis and became a nurse. One of her patients gave her the jewelry box for the loving care she’d given them.
CHARACTERISTIC YOU LIKE IN OTHER WOMEN
Intelligence, curiosity, courage, compassion, a sense of humor, and they don’t take themselves too seriously. Authenticity and uniqueness.
Mostly I’ve worked in a world that involves men, so I never saw women as competition. I have a lot of women in my life: my sisters, my aunts, my mother and grandmother. When I was about 35, a couple of women, who were older and worked for me, really opened my eyes to the power and the joy of women friendships. It’s brought a richness to my life I didn’t even know was missing.
EARLIEST MEMORY OF FASHION
My nickname from my siblings was PQ for prom queen. I was constantly changing clothes. They weren’t very fashionable because they were hand-me-downs, but I still would change clothes two or three times a day just for fun.
HOW HAS YOUR STYLE CHANGED
I was at a corporation for 10 years before I would wear jeans on Jeans Day. I was totally blue suit, white shirt, a red bowtie or red scarf. I’m still pretty classic. The last couple of years I’ve been wearing dresses. Even when I work from home, I get dressed for work, which is usually riding boots and a sweater. They’re so comfortable. I love a monochromatic look for ease of packing and traveling.
FAVORITE DESIGNERS
There are those I love and those I can afford. Carolina Herrera is one of my favorites. I love everything about her aesthetic, the quality, the cut. Some of the more affordable ones are Trina Turk. Her pants travel really well. I like Theory. My go to is Ralph Lauren. I can always find something.
MISSING FROM YOUR CLOSET
I want a Chanel Moonphase watch and some cashmere lounge wear.
GO TO OUTFIT
Monochromatic: cream pants, cream sweater.
HANDBAG OF CHOICE
From Jigsaw, London.
BEAUTY VIRTUE
I wash my face and put on moisturizer before I go to bed regardless of the time.
BEAUTY VICE
Wine. It’s probably not so great for my skin.
HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE
I work with a trainer who puts me through 20 minutes of very heavy weights, very slow and low reps. I’ve been going to her for almost two years and its been very effective. I also try to walk every day on the walking path in my neighborhood. One lap is about a mile and a quarter through the woods. It’s lovely.
1 Comment
FABULOUS !