Meredith C. Moore
Written by Katrina Daniel
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In 2006, Moore was diagnosed with brain cancer, just six weeks after giving birth to her son. She not only survived, but she has also gone on to share her inspirational story and to compete in more than a dozen triathlons. Moore’s community involvement includes volunteering with Junior Achievement and serving on the board of Kate’s Club, a nonprofit organization empowering children and teens after the loss of a parent or sibling.
A Georgia Tech alumna, Moore currently resides in Roswell with her partner and son, Erik.
By all accounts, Meredith Moore is a remarkable woman. A busy mom, life partner, businesswoman, competitive athlete, and perhaps most impressive of all, a survivor of a virulent brain cancer that has claimed many other victims.
Moore is the founder and managing partner of Moore and Associates Wealth Management. Professionally, she shines. Moore is a top producer for New York Life, ranking among just 2 percent of the company’s female agents to achieve the Chairman’s Council Level in 2011.
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Moore also plays an active role in her community as an alum of Leadership North Fulton, working with Junior Achievement, and a board member of Kate’s Club, a nonprofit organization empowering children and teens after the loss of a loved one. Meredith Moore has been recognized by the greater Atlanta community, naming her one of Atlanta’s Top 40 Under 40, and The National Association for Insurance and Financial Advisors named her among the top 4 Under 40 advisors in 2010.
Moore has also launched her own business talk radio show, Family Business Radio, which focuses on and highlights family-owned businesses, with the goal being to build a community that educates, informs and supports smaller businesses.
Meredith Moore has an intimate acquaintance with challenges of all types. She was diagnosed with brain cancer only weeks after giving birth to her son. She fought through and survived brain cancer similar to that which felled Ted Kennedy. She endured two craniotomies, 33 radiation treatments, another brain surgery and more than a year of chemotherapy. During that time her mother passed away, and her marriage crumbled.
As you might expect, but still be impressed by, Moore has successfully transcended all those not inconsequential setbacks to emerge triumphant, successful and happier than ever before.
All this, and Meredith Moore is not even 40 years old yet!
Womenetics: What is it that has always driven you to succeed?
Meredith Moore: That innate "thing" that can't be defined and is only found in some people. I don't know how to quit or give up. I've been competitive since I was a kid. Even in P.E. as a kid, they made me do P.E. with the boys. I think it began with my mom's expectation of performance in the classroom, in the pool. This later translated to an engineering degree from Georgia Tech and swimming NCAA Division I at Rice University.
Womenetics: Going through the brain cancer, which is surely one of the most traumatic experiences anyone faces, what kept your fighting spirit at full throttle?
Moore: I believe that I have this innate competitive edge, which drives all aspects of my life. This challenge was no different than others I’ve had. The consequences were just stronger. Candidly, my divorce was much tougher. Also, watching my mom die slowly of breast cancer, I used to always ask her, ‘Why do you continue to do this?’ – referring to chemotherapy every two weeks for over five years. She always said, “What other choice do I have?
This has always stuck with me. We just have to keep putting the next foot forward and see what this life has in store for us next. In 2005 I never would have believed that I’d be filling out questions like this for an award such as this. After all, the doctor had said I’d be dead within a year.
Womenetics: What makes you get up out of bed with a smile on your face?
Moore: The thought of my high maintenance drink at Starbucks, having really cool connections with my clients/prospects that I get to "hang out" with during meetings during my day, going for a run with my son and discussing the merits of the 1st grade.
Womenetics: What would you say is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Moore: There were actually several pieces. 1. Position myself so that I would not ever have to depend on someone else financially. 2. Compete in areas where you have no competition, so you will always win. And 3. A winner quits, and a quitter never wins.
Womenetics: What do you think your greatest achievement is?
Moore: Coming out of my divorce and buying my first home on my own and being the top advisor at New York Life for Atlanta and North Georgia, after having gone through my illness, my mom’s death and my divorce.
Womenetics: If you had a “ do-over” what would you do over differently?
Moore: I would have come to the realization sooner and accepted the fact that you can’t change people, no matter how much you might want to.
Womenetics: What’s your world view, your mantra?
Moore: Open-mindedness to every opinion. Everyone has a different life perspective as to why they feel a certain way.
Womenetics: How important is goal-setting to you?
Moore: They are imperative. Without a road map, you don't know where to go. I begin my goal-setting every year (personally and in my office) in mid-December. Goal-setting constitutes growth... and if we aren't growing, we are dying.
Womenetics: What do you think you have left to achieve?
Moore: I need to create a strong legacy to leave to my son. I'm working on creating a body of work of many of my personal life experiences, so that if I wasn't here he would know what I would think/feel in virtually any situation. While my mom didn't do this for me, I had enough time with her before she passed away so that I now know what she would likely think when events occur.
When she was a little girl, Moore says her dream was to become a movie star. “In fact I wrote an essay about having a crush on Christopher Reeve in 4th grade. My mom was called due to content,” she smiles in remembrance.
Meredith Moore may not be your traditional movie star, but she is definitely a star in her own right.
Learn more about these 2012 POW! Award Winners:
Chief talent officer at Edelman, 10-year breast cancer survivor and dynamic innovator - Claudia Patton is constantly asking, "What's next?"
Deborah J. Richardson translated her civic passions into an impressive career that garnered her national recognition as an advocate for victims of sex trafficking.
As if being a partner at her law firm and president of the Atlanta Bar Association didn't keep her busy enough, Rita Sheffey dedicates much of her time to pro bono cases.
Katrina Daniel is an award-winning journalist and broadcast reporter/anchor. She has worked in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, and as a national correspondent for several networks. She commutes between Miami and the Carolinas, writing for magazines and news organizations. She lives with one horse, four dogs, and a cat.
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