Kendra Moten: Leading with Grace, Advocating with Purpose

Kendra Moten’s story is one of hard-earned self-knowledge, a deepening spiritual journey, and unwavering advocacy for others. Raised in Gary, Indiana, Kendra faced early challenges—including being overlooked in a family grappling with trauma and becoming a teenage mother. These experiences shaped her drive, but did not define her. Instead, they sparked what she calls her “performance training”—a determination to succeed not in spite of her circumstances, but because of them.

With four degrees—including a business degree, a master’s in public health, and a master’s in divinity—Kendra is first-generation educated and deeply experienced in healthcare. Yet beyond her credentials, her life’s work centers on calling in kindness, advocating for equity, and reclaiming her voice. “I used to feel like a forever spectator of everybody else’s wonderfulness,” she said. “Now I know I am enough.”

That sense of purpose took form through a grant-funded program she created to support single mothers once labeled “unemployable.” Kendra personally negotiated employment for them with hospitals and physician offices, drawing on her professional network and healthcare experience. She advocated for fair wages and accountability. “Could you live off of that?” she asked employers directly. Some responded with empathy, offering employment and higher wages. Others did not. Her leadership was rooted in compassion, but also in standing firm for dignity.

She was interested in divinity school, but had previously been turned away for being divorced, a moment that discouraged her. But eventually attended Oral Roberts University, launching a new chapter of study and reflection. Kendra’s view of kindness expanded further through a global interfaith study program in Toronto, where she immersed herself in Hindu, Rastafarian, and other spiritual traditions. “People are beautiful in their individuality,” she said. Having been taught to avoid such experiences, she now sees them as transformative.

Today, Kendra is professionally in transition, but certain of her worth. Before, she looked to others for validation. Now, she chooses based on alignment. “I’ve taken back the keys. I’ll drive it myself now,” she said. Her voice—once hidden—is now clear. She wants to speak up, move the needle on inequality, and support the human condition with intention and care.

“Sometimes we fail to understand in this world there's enough space for all of us.”

Kendra Moten is a healthcare executive and advocate for social equity whose story affirms that kindness, when practiced intentionally, can shape a life—and change the world. Keep an eye out for more Investing in Kindness interviews.