What Legacy Will You Leave Behind? Defining Impact Through Strategic Communications
- Meredith Moore
- Jun 1
- 5 min read
Note: This post was originally shared with our inner circle on May 28, 2026. We are republishing it here for our broader community to engage with these vital questions on leadership and legacy.
What will they say about you when you aren’t in the room? Better yet, what will they say about you fifty years from now?
Most leaders spend their days fighting fires. We focus on the immediate: the quarterly report, the brewing PR crisis, the fluctuating stock price, or the next board meeting. We mistake activity for impact. But real impact: the kind that outlasts your tenure: isn't found in the frantic rush of the present. It’s found in the quiet, deliberate choices you make today that set the stage for a century of change.
At Leverette Weekes, we’ve been obsessed with this question of legacy for over five decades. This month marks 53 years since my parents, Cornell Leverette Moore and Wenda Weekes Moore, founded this firm in 1973. When I stepped into the leadership role in 2016, I didn’t just inherit a business; I inherited a blueprint for how communication can move mountains.
The Art of the Long View
Growing up, my parents didn’t just take me to museums; they took me to see the tangible results of "choices made long ago." I remember standing in front of a massive canvas, and my mother leaning down to whisper:
“Someone decided 60 years ago that a little girl like you should be able to see this art. And then they made the choices to make that happen.”
That is the essence of legacy. It is the bridge between a vision and a reality that someone else will inhabit.
In the world of strategic communications, we often talk about "reputation management." But if you are only managing your reputation for the next news cycle, you are playing a small game. True reputation management is about aligning your daily actions with the long-term values you want to be remembered for. It is the process of building a "Trust Architecture" that can withstand the storms of time.
Why Strategic Communications is the Engine of Legacy
Legacy is not an accident. It is a designed outcome. Whether you are leading a major philanthropic organization or a growing corporation, your legacy is built on three pillars of communication:
Visionary Visibility: Are you speaking to the problems of today, or the possibilities of tomorrow?
Amplifying Underrepresented Voices: In 1973, my parents founded this firm to increase access to opportunity. Today, we continue that work by ensuring that leaders who are changing the world, especially those from marginalized communities, have the platform they deserve.
Consistent Narrative: Your story shouldn’t change based on who is in the room. A strong legacy requires a narrative that is as consistent as it is compelling.
When we work with our clients, from national foundations to educational institutions, we start by asking: What is the "endowed chair" of your career? What is the one thing that, if it disappeared, would leave a hole in the fabric of your industry? That is where your strategic communication efforts should live.
Moving from History to Strategy
Legacy is often viewed as something that happens to us once we retire. But for the high-level executives we serve through our executive coaching, we frame it differently. Legacy is a tool for the present.
When you know what you want your legacy to be, every communication choice becomes easier.
Should you take that interview? Does it serve the legacy?
How should you frame this organizational shift? How does it protect the long-term narrative?
What should your social media presence look like? Is it reflecting the authority you want to be known for?
By shifting from "history" (what we did) to "strategy" (what we are building), you regain control over your impact. You stop being a passenger in your own career and start becoming the architect of your own history.
Leverette Weekes Updates: Impact in Action
We don't just talk about legacy; we celebrate it in the incredible work of our team and our clients. Here is how we’ve been moving the needle lately:
Forbes Feature: As a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, our CEO Meredith Moore was recently featured in Forbes discussing the evolving landscape of employee tenure and cultural leadership.
Ink to Impact: Our Client Relations Lead, Danielle Butler, recently took the stage at the Spring 2026 Publishing in Color Conference. Her session, "Ink to Impact: Writing for Social Change," empowered writers to use their words to challenge systems and spark meaningful cultural shifts.
Momentum Summit 2026: We are in the thick of planning for this year's summit. If you want to join a community of leaders dedicated to sustained impact, follow us on Instagram or check out our new summit website.
Celebrating Our Client Wins
Our clients are the true embodiment of legacy-driven leadership. We are so proud to highlight these recent milestones:
A Historic Milestone for Duchess Harris: A massive congratulations to our client, Duchess Harris, who was recently named the DeWitt Wallace Professor of American Studies at Macalester College. In the institution's 152-year history, Duchess is the first Black woman to ever be awarded an endowed professorship. This is legacy in action.
TIME100 Trailblazer: Tonya Allen, President and CEO of the McKnight Foundation, was recognized as a Trailblazer in the 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy list. Her work in narrative change and community investment is a masterclass in corporate communications and strategic vision.
New Leadership at Pritzker Traubert Foundation: We celebrate Cindy Moelis as she steps into a Director role after 15 years of incredible impact as President. We also congratulate Andy Beideman as he takes the helm as the new President to continue the foundation’s vital mission.
Advocating for Democracy: Lulete Mola and the Black Collective Foundation continue to lead the charge in preserving voting rights. We encourage you to read their latest message on supporting Black-led organizing and defending representation.
Your Words Create Your Wins
At the end of the day, your legacy is written in the words you choose and the stories you tell. Whether you are seeking media relations to increase your visibility or seeking executive coaching to refine your leadership voice, the goal is the same: clarity of purpose and lasting impact.
Leverette Weekes has been providing wise counsel for over 50 years. We invite you to join us as we write the next chapter of your story.
How do you approach your professional legacy? I welcome your insights and look forward to hearing how you are planning for the long-term.
If your organization is ready to define its impact through strategic communications, click here to schedule an informational call with me.
Let’s build something that lasts.
Meredith Moore CEO, Leverette Weekes
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