Leslie Reis
Leslie Reis is an accomplished financial services leader and workforce development strategist, currently serving as a Division Leader with Primerica. Based in the Greater Philadelphia area, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and families to build strong financial foundations through education on income protection, savings strategies, and long-term financial planning. As a small business owner, Leslie primarily connects with clients through referrals and community speaking engagements, where she educates pre-retired, retired, and middle-class Americans on how money works and how to make it work for them. She partners closely with clients to implement personalized financial strategies, including savings plans, education funding, retirement programs, 401(k) education and rollovers, and life insurance solutions, while also supporting small businesses in establishing retirement programs for their employees.
Leslie’s career spans several decades and industries, beginning in retail before transitioning into executive recruiting in the 1980s. She then spent several years in the financial services sector, followed by seven and a half years in higher education at a small college in Philadelphia, where she led an employment program and later moved into human resources. She went on to build a distinguished tenure of nearly 25 years with CVS Health, where she held multiple leadership roles across human resources and workforce initiatives. For more than 17 years, she focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, developing strategic partnerships and programs that expanded access to career opportunities for diverse and underserved populations.
A graduate of Philadelphia University with a degree in Management, Leslie is widely recognized for her ability to lead with authenticity, inspire teams, and foster meaningful connections. Her leadership philosophy centers on mentorship, collaboration, and playing the long game—creating sustainable impact for individuals, organizations, and communities alike. Through her work in both workforce development and financial services, Leslie continues to champion education, empowerment, and economic mobility, helping others build stronger, more secure futures.
• Philadelphia University - BMgt
• Supporting niece's newly established organization
What do you attribute your success to?
I've got to say, my strong family support system. I have a matriarchal family. My dad passed away when I was young, and my mom stepped in and showed her children a wonderful example of dedication, of love and support, of grit. She didn't know how she was gonna do it, but she put one foot in front of the other, and she moved the entire family forward. And now we are, mainly my sisters, my niece, we are a strong, matriarchal network. We support each other through good and bad. We share with each other, and we enjoy each other. And my mom is still in the midst of everything, still having fun.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received has come from my mother, along with the many mentors who have guided me throughout my journey. They instilled in me the importance of continuous growth, staying open to learning, and trusting the process even when the path isn’t always clear. Their guidance has reinforced the value of resilience, adaptability, and surrounding myself with people who challenge and inspire me to become better both personally and professionally.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The way it looks today is not the way it ultimately will look. There will be tough times. Just keep going. Just set a goal and keep going. And you don't have to try to get all the way to what you feel today is the end, because there is no end. This is a journey, and we're all moving towards being a better version of whoever we are. So, yeah, take your time, set a goal, take small steps. It won't be linear. You'll go up and down. But if you're diligent, and you believe and trust yourself, you'll get there.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
We have a country full of people, the vast majority don't know how to manage their financial life, because it's not something that we talk about. You know, we don't want to talk about politics for good reason. We don't want to talk about faith and religion. I don't know if that's for good reason. And we don't want to talk about money. And so, the average American does not have the financial literacy that they truly need for themselves, and for those, you know, coming behind them. And so, I see the broader opportunity is for myself and those like me to either identify someone that they can talk to that's knowledgeable about finances, or get involved themselves and take the journey to learn more.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family, consistency, perseverance, and integrity are the core values that guide both my professional and personal life. I believe in the importance of building meaningful, lasting relationships and showing up with reliability and purpose in everything I do. I am committed to supporting others in achieving stability and growth, whether through mentorship, collaboration, or service. These values shape how I lead, how I serve my clients and community, and how I continue to grow with intention and accountability.