Leslie had dedicated her life's work to advocating for systems change through professional development and diversity training. She completed an undergraduate degree in English from Shenandoah University, and then earned a Master of Education in Special Education from George Mason University and a Post Masters Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration from The George Washington University. Leslie earned a certificate in  Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace from The University of South Florida, Muma College of Business. Leslie founded MECS in 2021 with a mission to help teams of all sizes create a more inclusive and strengths driven environment.