From hospitality manager to leadership coach, Leslie Wade shares her extraordinary journey of transforming lessons from the classroom into a people-centered framework that redefines how leaders grow, communicate, and connect.
Leslie Wade’s story begins in Brooklyn’s "Bed-Stuy" neighborhood, where an early love of learning and a fearless curiosity set her on a path of self-discovery. From being the student who always raised her hand to attending Brooklyn Tech, one of New York’s most prestigious specialized high schools, she found both challenge and belonging among equally driven peers. Her experiences there, and her mother’s fierce intellectual curiosity, sparked a lifelong belief in the transformative power of education.
After studying food service administration at the University of Maryland and working in high-end hospitality and event production in Los Angeles, Leslie found herself unfulfilled by work that dazzled but left no lasting impact. The aftermath of 9/11 became a turning point, prompting her to seek purpose-driven work. Her next chapter in nonprofit and educational leadership, including a pivotal tenure with KIPP New Jersey, immersed her in environments where she could see, firsthand, the profound difference caring adults make in young lives.
Leslie’s evolution into a leadership coach emerged from those classroom observations and her years guiding school leaders. She developed the “What Would A Teacher Do?” framework, revealing that great educational leaders already possess the empathy, structure, and feedback systems needed to manage adults effectively—they simply need to reconnect with their teacher instincts. Her approach challenges conventional leadership training by bridging head and heart, theory and practice.
In this inspiring conversation, Leslie and Ron explore authenticity, curiosity, and the art of leading with humanity. Listeners will walk away seeing leadership through a new lens—one where teaching and management share the same foundation: empathy, structure, and belief in human potential. Tune in to discover how Leslie Wade is helping leaders unlock their inner teacher and transform organizational culture from the inside out.
Chapters
🎙️ 00:49 Meet Leslie Wade and Her Journey from Food Service to Education
📚 01:14 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com/
💬 02:09 Ron and Leslie Share Personal Stories
🎓 03:36 Leslie’s Educational Journey and Early Challenges
🏫 07:32 Transition into Charter Schools and Leadership
🌐 29:50 If you are a leader or a changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org
🧭 32:29 Steps Toward Effective Leadership
🪞 33:18 The Power and Value of Coaching
🏅 33:57 Building Multi-Sport Leaders
🧩 36:14 Discovering the “What Would A Teacher Do?” Framework
✍️ 42:47 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org
💡 57:50 Embracing Human-Centered Leadership
🎧 01:02:10 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.org
Links
Website: https://lesliedianewade.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliedianewade/
Check out Leslie Wade’s website and connect with her on LinkedIn to explore her coaching work, leadership resources, and practical tools for building stronger, more human-centered organizations.
Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.com
Leverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.com
Books That Matter: http://booksthatmatter.org
Genius Discovery: http://geniusdiscovery.org
Podcasts Matter: http://podcastsmatter.org
Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo
Ron’s book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473