Leslie Lockhart
Leslie Lockhart, Ed.D., MBA, MS, is an accomplished educational leader, consultant, and coach with over 30 years of experience empowering educators through mentoring, leadership development, and career growth. Beginning her career as an elementary school teacher in East Los Angeles, Leslie advanced to serve as Superintendent of one of the nation’s most ethnically diverse school districts, where she oversaw Pre-K through adult education, managed over 850 staff members, and implemented programs that enhanced student learning and social-emotional development. Her extensive experience in education provides her with a deep understanding of organizational dynamics and effective leadership strategies.
Throughout her career, Leslie has combined her educational expertise with corporate human resources experience, driving workforce strategy, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and organizational change. She has held executive leadership roles, including Vice President of Human Resources, Talent, and Culture at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, where she advised CEOs and executives on strategy, led talent and culture initiatives, and spearheaded workforce planning and performance management. Her ability to analyze trends, identify skill gaps, and implement impactful people strategies has consistently improved employee engagement, retention, and organizational performance.
As a thought leader and coach, Leslie leverages her diverse background to guide transformational change, build inclusive workplace cultures, and empower teams to achieve their full potential. She serves as a partner in the Cosca Group, a premier educational consulting firm, and is actively involved in professional development, mentoring, and coaching initiatives. Leslie holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and an MBA, and she is committed to helping educators and organizations align ambition with purpose to achieve meaningful and sustainable success.
• ICF Member Badge
• Change Management
• Azusa Pacific University
• Pepperdine University
• Cotsen Foundation
• Diversity in Leadership Board
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the experiences that shaped my career—from the classroom to serving as a superintendent, and later in philanthropy—each preparing me to support educators and administrators as a coach and consultant. Leading a district of 7,300 students through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic taught me that leadership is about helping people adapt, grow, and thrive. Today, I work with schools across California, providing coaching, teaching aspiring administrators, and helping education leaders find clarity, confidence, and purpose in their professional journeys.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that our careers aren’t a straight line—they’re a living journey that evolves as we do. Early on, I thought success meant climbing higher and working harder, but I’ve learned that true success is about alignment—matching what you do with who you are at your core. Listening to those quiet instincts and trusting my intuition led me from education leadership into coaching, and it remains one of the best professional decisions I’ve made.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is to stay curious and keep learning—leadership isn’t about having all the answers. Trust your evolution and don’t feel pressured to have everything figured out; growth happens in motion. Lead with authenticity and humanity—your strength is in your story, your ability to listen, and the way you create spaces where others can thrive. At every stage of my journey, I’ve found that fulfillment comes from showing up authentically and helping others succeed along the way.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field are transitioning from structured education systems to entrepreneurship and addressing the decline of new educators and young professionals entering the field. At the same time, these challenges create opportunities to provide meaningful guidance, foster adaptability, and cultivate compassionate leadership that empowers the next generation of educators.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both work and life are helping others succeed, continuous learning, and aligning actions with purpose. I’m fueled by supporting people—especially educators—in finding careers that match their passions, while balancing compassion with accountability. Growth, transformation, and authentic leadership are at the heart of everything I do, and I strive to model and inspire those values every day.