by Cathy M. Rosenthal
One thing many people may not know about Shelly Moore, President & CEO of the Humane Society of Charlotte, is that she is an avid world traveler. While most of us are still adding destinations to our bucket lists, Shelly has explored places I can only dream of visiting. She loves wandering through art museums, discovering neighborhoods off the beaten path, and finding the local restaurant that doesn’t appear in the guidebooks. Ask Shelly about her favorite destinations, and you’ll hear stories of wandering Boquete, Panama (a place she returns to several times a year), exploring Medellín and Machu Picchu, marveling at Easter Island (the most remote place on Earth), and soaking up the history and culture of Amsterdam, Italy, England, Ireland, and Chile. She doesn’t just visit places; she immerses herself in them, always looking for what they can teach her.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that’s exactly how Shelly approaches leadership. Shelly doesn’t simply explore the world when she travels; she brings that same mindset to her work. Rather than following familiar routes, she’s willing to venture into new territory, challenge conventional thinking, and remain open to ideas that others might overlook. While many leaders become comfortable with the way things have always been done, Shelly never stops learning. She listens carefully, seeks out perspectives different from her own, and isn’t afraid to rethink long-held assumptions if it means finding a better way forward. It’s an approach rooted in curiosity, but strengthened by humility.
The Leader Behind the Journey
I first met Shelly more than two decades ago when she hired me to give a customer service training for her staff. Since then, we’ve crossed paths as colleagues throughout the animal welfare profession, and I’ve come to know her as someone people naturally turn to for advice and perspective. It’s not because she has all the answers or tries to be the smartest person in the room.
Quite the opposite.
Shelly has a genuine curiosity about people and ideas. She listens more than she talks, asks thoughtful questions, and isn’t afraid to challenge old assumptions if it means creating a better future for animals. Whether the conversation is about organizational culture, a new approach to animal welfare, or a difficult leadership challenge, she has a way of helping others think more deeply about the issue at hand.
It’s one of the reasons I admire Shelly — and why I immediately thought of her when inviting contributors to the book, Humane Perspectives: Leadership in Animal Welfare. It’s not just what she has accomplished, but the thoughtful, authentic way she has accomplished it. In “Creating Space for What’s Possible,” Shelly writes, “I discovered that, for some reason, I liked addressing the chaos and putting systems in place. That’s when I realized I’m a fixer.”
That certainly sounded like the Shelly I’ve come to know over the years. But what stayed with me wasn’t that she described herself as “a fixer.” It was realizing that, even after decades of leadership, she was still asking herself difficult questions about what leadership really means. That kind of self-reflection is rare, and I believe it’s one of the reasons she has continued to grow while helping others grow alongside her.
I’ve known Shelly long enough to know that this isn’t simply something she writes about; it’s who she is. Whether she’s exploring a city halfway around the world or helping an organization imagine its future, she approaches both with the same sense of curiosity and wonder.
Perhaps that’s why her chapter stayed with me. An explorer’s mindset isn’t really about discovering new places. It’s about remaining curious enough to discover new ways of seeing the world – and ourselves. Shelly’s chapter in the book is an invitation to do exactly that.
About Shelly Moore
Shelly Moore has led animal welfare organizations for more than 40 years, built shelters, inspired leaders, and transformed communities. She has also perfected the art of getting delightfully lost in unfamiliar cities—all in the name of discovering great food, great art, and even better ideas. Shelly may be an explorer at heart, but her three dogs — Sergio, Joey, and Rita — believe the only destination worth pursuing is the best spot on the couch.
