The C-Suite: Kevin Moore
Now in its 53rd Season, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the State Theatre of Kentucky, is the flagship arts organization in the Louisville community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore, Actors Theatre serves to unlock human potential, build community, and enrich quality of life by engaging people in theatre that reflects the wonder and complexity of our time.
I. How did your childhood prepare you for your work today?
Managing Director Kevin E. Moore. Photo by Justin Philalack
I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Most of my childhood was spent trying and failing at many extracurricular activities: baseball, basketball, piano lessons. Until at the age of 14, I walked into an audition for the school musical and you could say “I found my tribe.” Even though I’m lucky enough to still be working in theatre today, I’m a firm believer that youth arts programs provide many children an outlet for excellence that may not exist for them otherwise, preparing them for careers in medicine, law, business or whatever they choose. It teaches them confidence, it teaches them the value of teamwork, it teaches them discipline, it teaches them how to take risks and it teaches them to be the best that they can be. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without these valuable skills.
II. How do you define success?
I believe you have to define success for yourself. Success to me is being surrounded by the people that you love and love you back and telling them every day, first and foremost. Success in a career? So many people work in jobs they make them unhappy that I believe success is being paid to do the thing you are most passionate about.
III. What are four criteria that you believe are essential in leadership?
Empathy, vision, trust, team-building
Meredith McDonough, Les Waters and Kevin Moore. Photo by First Light Image Photography.
IV. What is one piece of advice you would give a young person who wants to become a future business leader?
Find that thing that you really, really love to do and get to know as many people as you can that can help you advance. Don’t be afraid to ask anyone for help or advice. Most mid- or late career leaders love sharing their wisdom and helping others to advance. Filter out what’s right for you from the advice you receive and keep networking and asking for more. Choose the people who follow their heart along with their mission.
V. Someday when they write your eulogy, you hope they say . . .
He loved his people and his life with his whole heart and it was apparent every day
Diane Tobin, Ph. D. is currently the Special Assistant to the President at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. She is the former Executive Director of two non-profits, a co-owner of a for-profit business and a former Dean of the College of Business and Communication at Spalding University.
