Reinventing Rany

Long recognised as a sharp business leader and glamour queen, Rany Moran adds another feather to her cap with her quest to help people realise their best selves

- Jennifer Chen

Rany Moran has words for employees tempted to quit their jobs as part of the Great Resignation trend. “It’s not the year to resign,” she urges. “It’s the year to master sustainable resilience.”

One wonders how Moran, whose public image until last year—when she emerged as a life coach—had been that of a high society cover girl and fashion maven, qualifies to speak about perseverance. Surely, her striking beauty as well as society and business connections tip the scales of success in her favour. Moran herself is aware of the prevailing perception, but also the necessity of speaking the truth if she is to help others realise their self-worth.

“To be honest, I’ve never revealed so much of my vulnerability before,” admits Moran from Sydney, where she has been based for the past five years. “Before speaking to an audience, I think to myself, ‘Am I going to share my success stories, credentials, the superficial things?’ If so, how can I tell people to believe in themselves, to be brave in confronting their own limitations, if I only preach and not walk the talk?’ That’s why I’m ready to tell my story. It’s important for people to hear that it’s okay to not be okay.”

Though it appears like she has it all—looks, family, career and wealth—Moran reveals that she has spent her life finding ways to deal with psychological barriers, anxiety and depression. The mother of two grew up in an Indonesian business family that, while well-to-do, is devoid of warmth and affection. Her teenage years in Jakarta were marked by rebelliousness and conflicts with her parents. Though explicitly forbidden to enter modelling, she did and kept her stint a secret until her father discovered her on the cover of a magazine.