Her Story
About Leslie
I launched my business in October 2023 because I didn't want to retire and I didn't want to work for anybody else anymore. Throughout my entire career, I've been speaking and developing my speaking skills. My clients tell me I'm really good at providing structure, strategy, and mindset shifts to help them show up, speak up, and own any room they walk into. I believe the ability to captivate an audience is a career-defining skill, so that's what I help people with. Before starting my business, I worked in the field of employee assistance, specifically in the administration and sales end - I was never a clinician. The EAP provides free confidential services to employers for their employees or their families. My work involves a mix of client service, marketing, developing programs, outreach to speaking engagements, and creating social media posts to get people interested and having conversations. It's always a mixed bag, and there's never really a typical day.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Leslie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I've always been a pretty voracious reader and learner. I attribute my success to listening, getting and looking at different points of view, and being open to exploring. The other thing my coach tells me is to view everything as an experiment, and you gotta just keep making experiments. That mindset of continuous learning and experimentation has been key to my journey.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get a coach or a mentor, somebody who's walked the road you want to walk, and learn from them. Don't try to go it alone. The ability to really captivate an audience is a career-defining skill, so take any opportunity that you have to develop your ability to speak to a group, whether that's a group of 3 people or a group of 3,000 people. Focus on how you talk about yourself and your ability to listen and be curious. Don't be the most interesting, but be the most interested - be interested in others and learning and exploring. As Maya Angelou said, people won't remember what you do, but they'll remember how you make them feel.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The ability to really captivate an audience is a career-defining skill, and that's one of the biggest opportunities. Any opportunity that young professionals have to develop their ability to speak to a group, whether that's a group of 3 people or a group of 3,000 people, is crucial. It's about how they talk about themselves and their ability to listen and be curious - not being the most interesting, but being the most interested. Be interested in others and learning and exploring. As Maya Angelou said, people won't remember what you do, but they'll remember how you make them feel.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Responsiveness and timeliness are very important to me, along with integrity and authenticity. I also value making connections and building relationships with people. These values guide both my professional work and personal life.
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