We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Randi Moxi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Randi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear a story from back when you were an intern or apprentice. What’s a memorable story you can share with us?
The mentorship and internship experience I’d love to describe is probably not the typical answer to your valuable leadership inquiry. It is a story of when I owned my first business, the sheer depth of fellowship, connection and learning that came from having the most phenomenal group of interns to help start my company from the ground up, led by the best of the best, Miss Natasa.
This group of youth was truly unlike any other. Still in college, they brought so much to the table in useful tools and knowledge and were like sponges and so excited to learn business and production strategy from me. We had so much fun together and it was so wonderful to watch them grow and kick them out of the “Mama Moxi” nest to see them shine and fly, build families and establish successful business and careers of their own after our time together. Natasa became a power producer for charities, film and television and then completely shifted to fulfill her dream of becoming a children’s book writer. This inspired me to stop making others’ dreams come true and to start focusing on what God made me to do. The teacher became the student and she taught me everything I know about independent authorship. Then, my long time friend, Cathy McKinnon selflessly shared her knowledge and connections to set up my new career with so much enriched education filled love. I cannot explain how grateful I am for these power women from different generations. Always have a table full of people like them to make you better.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Shifting careers at the age of 44 to bless children and rescue animals through the gift of story was the culmination of stepping out in faith to change my life and career. I have been a motivational speaker for adults for years and I am so honored to now also be a featured school enrichment assembly presenter, empowering children in pre-k, elementary, middle and high school. A portion of all book and speaking proceeds benefit animal rescue through this new entrepreneurial philanthropic endeavor. I grew up in an animal shelter in WV and have seen first hand how out of control our pet population is and the burden those that try to save them carry.
Prior to this shift, I served Chicagoland businesses and charities as a Marketing Director, Event Producer, Fundraiser and Brand Strategist for a decade. During this time, I also served as Mrs. Illinois 2014 and as the Illinois International Pageants Director from 2017- 2022. I helped lead Illinois into the Top 5 in all age divisions and bring the International crown home to Illinois 4 times in my tenure.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
There have been several pivots in my life, but the biggest leap of faith I’ve ever taken was changing careers in my 40s. I just looked at my life and though it’s been a wonderful, blessed, hard working , serving, triumph over trauma victory journey so far, I had very unhealthy tendencies. The most unhealthy was how my job/responsibilities were tied to my identity trumping faith in God and my Divine power and purpose. The previous 10 years of my life were all about a chase to prove myself to clients and “friends”. The hustle culture had taken over and I extended myself to the point that I repeatedly started falling and injuring myself tens of thousands of times between the ages of 40-43. The desperate need to prove I was worthy of surviving had taken hold of me and I needed to heal and take care of myself but I just kept going. “Honor your commitments, honor your word, serve them, give everything, leave nothing for yourself” – is no way to thrive, but that’s were I was. Though I prayed all day every day, I wasn’t treating myself as the miraculous temple every body is. I’ve seen so many women doing what I did and , trust me, if you don’t take time to rest, heal and process, you will be forced to and the timing will never be convenient. God threw me against a wall, and all I had was Him, my rescued pit bull type dogs, my wonderful husband and just a few friends. This was what was to get me through learning how to walk again and to get the confidence back to step out in faith into a whole new world of the best version of myself, finally doing what God made me to do. Speak. Write. Live.
Every phase prior has blessed me deeply as did the healing for mistakes I made and horrible things spoken over me and done to me. I’m grateful for all of it.
Never waste energy on anger, regret or trying to prove yourself. You are worthy now. Every rejection is redirection and in every pivot you can find power.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I have been diagnosed as having various autoimmune diseases with a prognosis of being in a wheelchair by the age of 35 and demised by 40. At 44 still standing, I openly share my 26-year journey of force, drive and determination, staying true to my quest to inspire as a survivor. Becoming the exception to every negative thing spoken over me, I try to be the epitome of how knowledge and mindset can overcome any obstacle. Utilizing Eastern and Western modalities to heal, I inspire through my harrowing tale of not falling prey to a label or diagnosis. By rejecting the premise of my demise, I forged another outcome, becoming immune to toxicity spoken over my health and life. Through extensive research and Dr.s dedicated to treating each patient as an individual, I live to be a powerful testimony and inspiration. Enjoy the journey, take back your life and heal your own trauma to move onward in power. This is mostly the journey I speak about at conferences that focus on survival mindset and thriving.
No matter what, never give up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://randimoxi.com/
- Instagram: https:// https://www.instagram.com/randimoxi?igsh=b2J2amdjdGF4azlr&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randi.moxi?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Twitter: NA
- Yelp: NA
Image Credits
The one in white is by
Daniel DuVerney
The others are ours