A ‘LIFELONG LEARNER’—that’s how Cathy Lockyer Moulton defines herself. Her career is a fusion of diplomacy, real estate management, and leadership transformation. But what truly sets her apart is her belief in collective genius. She readily admits she doesn’t have all the answers. She leads but not on the mode of hierarchy; it’s about collaboration, constant dialogue, and ensuring her Team feels recognized for the role they play in shared success.
Cathy calls her journey a very crooked road! She first set her sights on a career in diplomacy, unexpectedly found herself as a landlord, and then flipped the script—bringing diplomacy into the everyday work of her business. Now, she gets to be a diplomat in action while still coming home to her family each night. For Cathy, it’s all about shaping the business to reflect her values and ambitions.
She is the President of Thomas Wynne, L.P. Its history has its roots during a phase of her personal loss. Just ten days before her wedding and on the cusp of a dream posting at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, her grandfather passed away. Witnessing her father’s selfless decision to take charge of the family’s apartment business, Cathy recognized a burgeoning responsibility. Declining the Embassy’s offer, she began assisting her father and grandmother. By 1998, she had formally joined the family firm, a decision she has never regretted.
Reflecting on her early days, Cathy recalls a notable observation from the Controller, Alan: the business was built on contention. He highlighted the inherent tensions between landlords and tenants, employers and employees, and even within the company itself. To reimagine the system, she understood that she must first comprehend its complexities.
Gradually, Cathy introduced trust-building techniques. Unlike other landlords, they embraced a “life doesn’t happen when our lease ends” mindset, offering flexibility during hardships. This compassionate approach boosted their reputation and Resident Retention—while the industry’s turnover rate is 50%, theirs dropped to 25%, and during the pandemic, it hit just 11%.
Rather than enforcing strict compliance for profit, they proved that kindness and flexibility can sustain both resident well-being and strong margins. In a service-driven industry, Cathy believes empathy makes all the difference. “I truly believe that we are in the housing business, which is centered around people,” she asserts, “so we should make people feel as safe as possible in their homes.”
A Legacy of Living: Thomas Wynne, L.P.
Cathy describes Thomas Wynne, L.P. as the proud owner of an apartment community on The Main Line, just outside of Philadelphia. She shares that the 218-unit property, set on 10 wooded acres, was built in 1950 by her grandfather, Jack Merriam. Legend has it that Jack, a man of discerning taste, instructed the architect to add an extra foot to each dimension of the original floor plans, ensuring his community would be the largest and most spacious on the Main Line.
Strategically positioned at the Wynnewood Train Station, across from Narberth and the vibrant Wynnewood Shopping Center, the property embodies Jack’s staunch belief in the enduring power of location. “You can change a lot about a property,” he often remarked, “but you can’t change the location.”
Since stepping into her role, Cathy has focused on fostering a strong sense of community. For her, one of the most rewarding moments comes from Resident Events, where people openly share what they love most about living at Thomas Wynne Apartments. Time and again, she says, the top reason is the exceptional Team that makes the place feel like home. She calls it a deeply fulfilling experience.
Cracking the Success Code with Conviction and Curiosity
Ranked among ‘Top 10 Most Impactful Women Leaders Making a Difference, 2025,’ this tenacious trailblazer believes success rarely looks like the picture people have in their minds. For her, it’s about feeling fulfilled and bringing others along for the ride. Cathy traces this perspective to a small but meaningful childhood memory—a keychain her mother gave her. It featured a cartoon koala chasing a butterfly with the words, “Life is what you make it.” Her mother often reinforced this message, reminding her that “Attitude is everything.”
As she grew up, that little keychain took shape as the guiding mantra. It reminded her that life doesn’t always go as planned. On tough days, when fear or exhaustion made getting out of bed feel impossible, she would tell herself, “Whatever happens today, you will live to see tomorrow. Now get up, make it the best day you can make, and whatever happens, we will try again tomorrow.”
Success, for Cathy, isn’t about reaching a single goal—it’s about adapting and making the most of every twist in the road. She once dreamed of becoming a diplomat, determined to serve in the U.S. Embassy in the Soviet Union. In high school, she was laser-focused on that goal, even spending a summer semester in Leningrad as part of an intense Russian immersion program. The experience was both exhilarating and dangerous, but she loved every moment of it. While life took her in a different direction, she doesn’t see it as a deviation from success.
A Heartfelt Revolution in the Rental Market
Her path to implement a kinder, more tenant-centric approach has been an uphill battle, requiring her to maneuver resistance from every corner: skeptical elders, wary banks, demanding company leaders, and even hesitant vendors. But she challenges the prevailing “greed is good” mentality with a poignant question: “How much money is enough?” For her it was never about maximizing profits, but in fostering a harmonious balance between business and humanity. She firmly believes that displacing vulnerable tenants, like a little old lady on fixed incomes, simply inflating margins is both unnecessary and unethical. She aims to reconceptualize the landlord’s role, shifting it from one of exploitation to one of support. She is here to demonstrate that a booming business can coexist with a compassionate heart.
A Calculated Pivot: Cathy’s Unexpected Triumph
Becoming President of the company was a significant milestone for Cathy. Yet, she considers, “Since becoming President, my biggest achievement was actually turning a new opportunity down.”
A tempting opportunity presented itself: an apartment community brimming with potential, a “hidden gem,” as Cathy saw it. The sellers were captivated by her approach to property management, making the deal even more enticing. However, a cold, hard truth emerged: the upfront capital required simply wasn’t feasible.
The growth potential was undeniable, provided the numbers aligned. But instead of clinging to a lost opportunity, the Team collectively decided to pivot. They embraced a unique approach to property management fostering caring communities and higher resident retention rates.
Cathy’s Secret to Coalition Building
Cathy’s ability to truly listen has been the cornerstone of her success in building strong coalitions. Reflecting on a piece of advice from local attorney Ross Weiss, given to her 24 years ago, Cathy shares, “A great solution means that everyone loses a little bit, but everyone gains a little bit.” This wisdom has guided her throughout her career, solidifying her belief that win-win outcomes are achievable when individuals are open to finding common ground. It ultimately increases the likelihood of achieving collective success.
Finding Her Footing: A Woman in Property Management
As a young woman working in property management for Thomas Wynne, Cathy found herself standing out. In a traditionally male-dominated sector where few women held C-suite roles at the time, her attire and style stood in striking contrast. “Wearing heels and a floral print dress while doing a construction site walk was a great way to stand out in a bad way,” she recalls, highlighting the unwanted attention and skepticism she often drew.
Despite her expertise and insightful questions, gaining respect from male colleagues proved challenging. Many dismissed her understanding of complex topics like stormwater management or boiler repairs. Some even hesitated to shake her hand, assuming her attire made her delicate. However, Cathy remained undeterred. A turning point arrived when she presented a groundbreaking solution to a long-standing stormwater runoff issue, silencing her doubters.
True acceptance, however, took time. Eight years into Cathy’s career, a worker openly questioned her presence on-site due to her footwear. But a seasoned contractor, Bobby, who knew her well, intervened, declaring, “She’s alright! Let her be.” This moment marked a milestone, signifying her acceptance within the male-dominated field.
Cathy explains that her decision to maintain her personal style was deliberate. Her diverse workday, ranging from meetings with bank presidents to inspecting boiler rooms, demanded versatility. More importantly, she drew inspiration from the Sisters of Saint Joseph, and her alma mater, Chestnut Hill College. She admired how they remained authentically feminine while commanding respect. She remained true to herself yet claimed rightful professionalism from others.
Vision for the Future Thomas Wynne Apartments
Cathy envisions Thomas Wynne Apartments as a constantly evolving haven for residents, where objections are proactively addressed through continuous community enhancements. This year, she’s taking her expertise to the next level by launching a Property Management Coaching venture. She is diligently structuring this program, and the thrill of closing their first client oars her excitement. Her greatest source of pride is the Team she’s built, for whom she constantly creates new opportunities.
Cathy emphasizes that retaining happy residents is key to boosting the bottom line in the apartment industry. Her proven strategies, successfully implemented across multiple properties, have cultivated thriving community cultures and improved the overall experience for residents, landlords, and property managers. Her objective includes improving working conditions for staff too.
Four Generations Strong: A Great Feat in a Family Enterprise
This brilliant entrepreneur sees working in a family firm as a mindful balance between respecting her heritage and crafting her path. With her daughter now joining the fray, she acknowledges a profound shift in her perspective.
A newfound respect for her father’s wisdom has deepened, alongside a heightened awareness of the importance of clear and empathetic communication to minimize friction. Recognizing her daughter’s innovative spirit, Cathy empowers her by actively seeking and implementing her fresh ideas while emphasizing a thorough understanding of the existing business framework as a crucial foundation for successful change.
A Day in the Life of President
Cathy kickstarts her mornings with a dedicated “focus time” – a sacred 5 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted planning that sets the tone for her day and empowers her Team. But hold on tight! Unforeseen twists and turns are the norm. She remarks, “Working in multi-family housing is interesting because we get surprises.” Whether it’s a weather-related property damage, or tenants requiring special assistance, Cathy needs to adapt quickly. These unexpected challenges, demands adaptability, resourcefulness, and the ability to rally her Team and the community around a common goal.
Cathy doesn’t believe in a rigid “work-life balance.” But she perceives it more as a dynamic execution, a never-ending juggling act in which she keeps all the balls in the air. She prioritizes awareness, ensuring no single area of her life is neglected. Cathy employs a unique system. Her color-coded calendar – blue for work, green for personal life, red for philanthropy, and purple for celebrating loved ones – provides a visual roadmap.
She chalks out a “goals grid” each year, a habit she refined after attending the Lift Your Voice Workshop with Tracy Davidson and Jennifer Croneberger. A recent addition to this grille is a dedicated category for her own well-being. Cathy emphasizes the importance of proactive scheduling. Regular calendar reviews allow her to identify gaps and strategically block time for working out, date nights, and a class with one of her children. “If it’s not written down,” she declares, “it’s not happening!”
Beyond the Boardroom: Passion for Empowering Others
A lifelong advocate for girls and education, Cathy recalls her transformative experience as a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Initially hesitant, she answered the call, inspired when a volunteer recruiter’s posed a thought-provoking question: “If not you, then who will?” Over 15 years, she guided a group of ambitious girls. Their journey culminated in an incredible feat: raising $60,000 to fund international travel to Girl Scout World Centers in London, Switzerland, Mexico, and India.
Deeply grateful to the Sisters of Saint Joseph and Chestnut Hill College. She highlights, “I’ve been very happy to serve on the Board of Directors for the college for 24 years, 7 of which were in the role of Board Chair.” Recognizing art’s unifying and creative potential, Cathy has collaborated with local art museums, indicating a desire to pursue that work more in the future.
Silencing the Inner Critic: Advice for Aspiring Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs
Cathy stresses the importance of silencing the inner critic, that whispers doubt and undermines confidence. Recognizing that imposter syndrome affects everyone, she believes it often stems from internalized negativity.
Her advice to the aspirants is to confront self-doubt head-on. Replace negative self-talk with empowering affirmations. Sometimes, the bravest step is simply declaring, “I can do this!” and taking action.
She suggests a powerful exercise: asking oneself, “Would I speak this way to my best friend?” If the answer is no, it’s time to reframe the self-talk. Cathy firmly believes everyone deserves success, love, and happiness, but these don’t simply appear—one must actively pursue them. She reminds women, “Love and happiness won’t fall out of the sky and land in our lap.” She urges them, “We have to be intentional about what we want and seek it out.”
