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Politicking with kick. Leslie's private counsel is frequently sought by Fortune 100 firms while her public analysis has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, UPI and U.S. News & World Report, as well as the Fox News Channel, NBC, ABC, Univision, Telemundo and leading PBS programs, including News Hour with Jim Lehrer, Tavis Smiley and To the Contrary. Leslie also appears as a candidate in the inaugural year of The Apprentice - Martha Stewart on NBC.
Her expertise carries over into the political arena as well. Leslie tackled some of the most difficult issues before Congress as an aide to Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas - where she worked on high-profile immigration and border security legislation. She was often assigned to work with the staff of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. and is credited with helping House Republicans "put the foundation together" for their Hispanic outreach efforts.
A veteran of political and grassroots campaigns at all levels, in 2000 Leslie's portfolio included developing and executing the Republican Party's first-ever multi-million dollar advertising campaign aimed directly at Hispanic voters.
Leveling playing fields.
In 2001, Leslie was named executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. In this role, she served as the President's point-person on education issues impacting the Hispanic community. Under her direction, the task force she led built a grassroots network of 20,000 parents, educators and students. She monitored and evaluated Hispanic participation in education programs for 29 federal departments and agencies totaling over $110 million. Leslie also negotiated strategic partnerships between 30 Fortune 500 companies, grant-making foundations, government agencies and trade associations.
In addition, Leslie has been featured at Harvard University's ARCO Forum of Public Affairs at the Kennedy School of Government, and served as an ex-officio member of the President's Task Force on the Status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico .
A graduate of The George Washington University (which she paid for by selling the aforementioned encyclopedias), Leslie also holds an M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and serves on the Boards of Providence Health Foundation and the Greater Washington Ibero Chamber of Commerce.
Entrepreneur & Marketing Expert
Leslie is the chief executive officer of Impacto Group LLC, a Washington, DC-based strategic communications and market research firm she founded to explore trends and measure opinions among Hispanics and women - segments of the U.S. population that have shown rapid gains in their influence and purchasing power.
Her unique understanding of these diverse markets makes her highly sought after by Fortune 500, non-profit and political clients who recognize in her those same qualities that led Hispanic Business magazine to select her as one of the nation's "100 Most Influential Hispanics."
Impacto Group's strongest research verticals include the health care, financial and high tech sectors.
Strategist & Speaker
From the Texas grassroots to the halls of Congress and into the Bush administration, Leslie has built a reputation as a problem solver, a master strategist and someone who knows how to get the job done. She is known for her in-depth understanding of the political and cultural landscape inside - and outside - Washington, DC, which help her spot potential solutions to problems most others have yet to identify.
As the executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, Leslie was President George W. Bush's point person on education issues pertaining to the Hispanic community. The grassroots network of 20,000 parents, educators and students Leslie built led to real change in U.S. education policy while she worked to build strategic partnerships between 30 Fortune 500 companies, foundations, government agencies, and associations. Before that, she led the first multi-million-dollar Hispanic advertising campaign undertaken by the Republican Party and oversaw its 2000 Hispanic vote strategy, from public opinion research to paid and earned media campaigns for the 2000 elections.
Community and Education Advocate
Leslie believes giving requires a constant commitment to and hope for a better future. In and out of the office, she is a tireless advocate for those who need a leg up rather than a handout. As part of the Bush administration, she launched the President's unprecedented Yes I Can! / Yo Si Puedo public education campaign, the first bilingual interactive effort serving as a one-stop education shop for families. With over 600 pages of pre-K-through-12 educational toolkits and the creation of a mascot, Pablo the Eagle, Yes I Can! was credited with an historic 400-plus percent increase in Hispanic customers to the U.S. Department of Education.
On a personal level, Leslie and her Golden Retriever Jalapeña ("Jalee"), a trained therapy dog, regularly visit with children and the confined elderly throughout their community, where Jalee brightens the lives of the people she meets. Leslie is currently working to further her commitment to literacy by establishing local efforts similar to the national "Paws to Read" program.
Her commitment to the community also includes support for numerous local and national charities as well as serving on the boards of Providence Health Foundation, which supports Providence Hospital, a 143-year-old healthcare center with a congressional charter signed by President Lincoln.
Pundit, Television Commentator and Author
Leslie lectures frequently on marketing strategies, trends in public opinion and on issues of importance to women and the Hispanic community. A featured speaker at the Harvard University ARCO Forum of Public Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Leslie has been a guest columnist for United Press International and appears regularly throughout the English- and-Spanish-language media. She is a frequent guest on PBS's "To the Contrary" and "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," and appears regularly on all three major broadcast networks as well as Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Telemundo and Univision. Her analyses are frequently cited in a variety of publications including The New York Times , The Washington Post and US News & World Report.
Programs With Brief Descriptions
An American Entrepreneurial Success Story
If your sales force needs a better understanding of trends in emerging U.S. consumer markets, if your members want to know what women really think about public policy, if you want to hone your competitive edge, Leslie has the expertise and experience to educate, inspire and challenge your audience. Her personal story of how she went from selling encyclopedias door-to-door to advising the President of the United States on education issues to starting her own business in the field of market research, is only the beginning of a compelling presentation that captivates any audience.
Leslie believes the most effective presentations are the ones that are tailored to the needs of the client - and will work with you to deliver exactly what you are looking for, whether the subject is education, politics & the media, marketing or diversity.
- Opportunities and Challenges in Hispanic Education
Most people look at education first as a problem; Leslie believes that education is the only solution . Quite simply, an educated population is a secure and prosperous one. Leslie has designed this program to leave audiences inspired and motivated to help all children receive a quality education.
- Dream Big!
Poignant, and often funny, Leslie tells her personal tale of determination, luck and a pursuit of a higher education which brought her to where she is today is a roadmap for others. Her success can be anyone's success, she says. It's all a matter of attitude.
- Hispanic Entrepreneurship
Hispanics are the largest single minority group in the United States, and their numbers are expected to increase exponentially in this century alone. Leslie teaches her audience how to reach this fast-growing segment of the U.S. market, both what to do and what not to do to build a loyal customer base.
- Discover America's True Swing Voters, Women and Hispanics
The electorate is not just voter blocs and special interests; it's people exercising their right to be heard and trying to inject a measure of control over their lives. In legislative and electoral politics, working with women and Hispanics, Leslie has developed a game plan for moving people to action.
- Reaching America's Latinos
The diversity of the marketplace makes the challenge of networking effectively more difficult. Leslie, drawing from her real life experience on both sides of the desk, gives guidance on how to make and keep meaningful cross-cultural contacts instead of increasing tensions through misunderstanding
Client Testimonials:
"She should have her own TV show.we loved her presentation! Anyone looking to build connections with diverse audiences needs to call her now!"
-- W. Winborne Vice President, Business Diversity Outreach, Prudential Financial
"You are fantastic. Thanks again for a GREAT presentation. I look forward to meeting you again in D.C. The store directors really liked the content and want to share the stats etc. I guess we needed you about 10-15 years ago when you were selling encyclopedias!!!!! Thanks again."
-- R. Mitchell, V.P. Education & Government Affairs, Hy-Vee, Inc
"It has consistently been said that 'one person makes a difference'. As a result of personal and professional insights shared by Leslie, participants gained understanding for a more proactive response to diversity at their respective institutions. Thanks, Leslie, for being the one person who made a difference for us!"
-- Cheryl Kisunzu, Human Resources Associate VP for Diversity and Organizational Development, William Rainey Harper College
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