Leslie Jespersen helps thought leaders become powerful speakers

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

My name is Leslie Jespersen. After years behind the scenes running a PR and talent agency, getting comedians, songwriters, and festivals booked and featured, I realized something: The world doesn’t just need more voices. It needs more embodied ones...

I took my first professional stage at nine years old and never stopped building platforms, first for entertainers, then for myself, and now for the women who are done being overlooked. I've been featured in countless publications, on TV shows, and on stages, and now I help others do the same.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I didn't "know" it, but both sets of my parents are entrepreneurs, so it was a natural option for me. I saw the good, bad, and ugly and still decided I wasn't someone who could just "clock in and out".

Are you a mamaprenista?

My kids are 14 and 19 now, and it's been 10 years since I became a full-time business owner. My best advice is to remember that they're watching, listening, and paying attention. Model for them what you'd want them to do, not what you think you need to do right now.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

It was when Facebook Live just came out, so I coined something called "Free Tip Friday", going live every single week, teaching about media strategy. I branded myself as the go-to in my area, most times with my toddler on my lap. I didn't have any extra to invest, so I used social media as a way to build my reputation and establish myself as an industry expert.

What accomplishments are you most proud of to date in your business?

I decided to close the social media management part of my media company, even though that was the main driver of recurring monthly income. However, I was burnt out, frustrated, and still not able to make ends meet. I knew I was ready to evolve, but it was terrifying. I am most proud of the fact that I made the hard decision anyway and trusted my future self. I ended up doubling my revenue the next year, focusing all of my energy on launching my Speaker School and Agency.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

Your family and friends won't understand or support you once your business isn't "new" anymore. Keep. Going.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

I ask them about their work-life balance and how they manage their time. I like to give my team time freedom, but I also require clear communication and responsiveness.

What did you do before starting your own business?

Event production, Talent Management, Acting, Modeling, Media

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I was a single mom displaced after a natural disaster, and my cubicle job couldn't pay me enough or allow me the flexibility to raise small children and get a place of my own. Plus, I seemed to care more about other people's companies than they did!

Do you have any recent wins?

I launched the Leslie Jespersen Speaker School, and we successfully certified and graduated 5 brand new professional keynote speakers!

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

My Google Calendar app! I've got my co-parenting calendar, my client calendars, my astrology for business calendars, plus my tasks and reminders. I truly can't function without it.

Who are your customers?

Thought Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Attorneys, Mental Health Professionals, and Industry Leaders

What's your top productivity tip?

Learning how to work with my menstrual cycle was life-changing. I pay attention to my energy and clarity level during each phase and plan my business accordingly! We are cyclical, seasonal beings and can't be expected to be "on" 365 days a year.

What's your favorite business tool?

The old faithful Canva. Except I have to do it on my computer. I don't like designing on my phone. They've really continued to evolve with time, and I've been using it for over 10 years now. I know it inside and out, and it's such an integral part of my business!

What's your approach to work-life balance?

I remove all the rules. If I feel like working at 10 PM because I'm inspired, I do. If my body tells me I need to take a random Tuesday off, I do it. I love my work, and I love the freedom I have created. And - it's taken me years to learn that nothing I do is an "emergency" even though the media has deadlines. My kids are teenagers now, so I will always close the laptop if they want my attention, and I make no apologies for that.

How do you avoid burnout?

I prioritize and normalize rest. I don't start calls until 10 AM. I don't do coffee chats. These are things that drain my energy and keep me from being my best self as a leader. I also learned to delegate to my team instead of saying, "I'll just do it real quick."

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Don't let the illusion on social media fool you. It is WORK. It is INVESTING. It is SACRIFICING. And. It's absolutely worth it. But you have to really want it. It can't be something you dabble in or question yourself in. You have to develop a strong sense of self and never stop improving.

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