Lesle Griessel
Founder:
LongView Leadership
Honor Your Ambition Mastermind
One of the most rewarding benefits of launching the B Words is the opportunity to connect with women in all different industries who are on a path to self-defined success. I was fortunate to be introduced to Lesle Griessel, founder and principal of LongView Leadership and the Honor Your Ambition Mastermind.
Lesle is a trailblazer and teacher of leadership and growth strategies. As an intern, she pioneered a path including innovating roles en route to becoming the first female Associate Managing Partner appointed within a Fortune 200 company.
Lesle strives to joyfully inspire and empower people to achieve results on purpose. She is passionate about leading others to succeed in their careers. Lesle exemplifies the B-Word Bad Ass by becoming a leader in her field. She launched the Women Advisor Group and Diversity and Inclusion Council for her organization, a founder and Executive Committee Board member of the Women’s Field Association, and has spoken to multiple conferences nationally and internationally.
Lesle was recognized as one of Kansas City’s 40 under Forty by Ingram’s business magazine. She also serves on the University of Kansas Business School’s Finance Advisory Board, where she is an alumna of and graduated top 10% of her class.
When Lesle isn’t training for a marathon or practicing yoga, you can find her cheering on her daughters in soccer, volunteering with Girl Scout troops, or enjoying the outdoors with her family.
Here is Lesle’s story.
TK: Tell me a little about yourself. How long have you been in your industry? What do you find rewarding about your work?
LG: Nineteen years ago, I started an internship with a financial services company. I was unaware at the time of the opportunity in front of me. I took every opportunity the internship afforded me to make connections along the way. My hard work and strategic thinking paid off. The internship grew into a full-time position, and ultimately I became the first female associate managing partner. Now I am committed to creating space and opportunity for other women to earn a seat at the table.
TK: You rose through the ranks in the financial planning industry. The B Words Chapter “Budget” focuses on the importance of women learning the language of money at home and work. What are your thoughts on women, money, and financial planning?
LG: Becoming financially savvy is powerful. Whether we realize it or not, women hold most of the buying power and decision-making at home. Regardless of partnership status, women decide many household spending decisions, including buying consumer goods, school supplies, clothing, food, and appliances. They influence and choose where to live and what schools, daycares, and camps their children attend. Each of these choices is a financial decision.
Women often are responsible for generational transfer decisions as well. The degree to which women can be confident in making these financial decisions requires education. Speaking the language of money is one of the most important things that lead to security and stability. By becoming educated, women become proactive and intentional, which creates empowerment.
Our society will go to a lawyer for legal advice, a mechanic to fix their car, a doctor for medical care. Yet when it comes to financial planning, it is often overlooked or attempted to go it alone. Financial decisions require knowledge and expertise to create security. We work hard every day to earn that stability, so it is essential to protect it by making sound financial decisions. Some women may be intimidated by money decisions, and they reach a crossroad where a financial expert partnership can provide the education needed to protect one’s future.
TK: Tell me about the Honor Your Ambition Mastermind.
Lesle, Nicole and Kristin
LG: Nicole Kalil, Kristin Burke, and I have paved our way in male-dominated industries and noticed that it could be a lonely place as the only woman. We each share the same passion for empowering women to thrive personally and professionally. We all have experienced the unsustainable expectation of “Balance,” and we created Honor Your Ambition Mastermind.
Our Mantra is:
““When the world tells you you shouldn’t but your heart tells you you should, Honor your Ambition.“”
The 12-week intentional mastermind provides ambitious women to connect, develop networks, learn how to grow their business, avoid burnout while increasing their business acumen. You can sign up Here.
TK: If you were to do it all over again, would you? What would you do differently?
LG: I would not do anything differently, except I may have started certain things earlier. I hesitated out of fear for a moment or two along the way. I believe we all need to lean in, rise above the noise, and believe in ourselves.
TK: What is your favorite quote?
LG:
“Have confidence in who you are, conviction in what you do, and Honor your Ambition. ”
TK: Who is your role model, and why?
LG: Jan Torrisi-Mokwa is my role model. She was a leadership consultant working for High Performing candidates in service-based organizations. One of her bodies of work was the concept of Career Equity. Career Equity refers to taking personal, intentional responsibility for your career. Jan’s work became an integral part of my success. Our team explores the concept in our 12 week Honor your Ambition Mastermind.
Unfortunately, Jan suddenly passed away in an unexpected accident. My goal is to ensure her legacy lives on through sharing her work and techniques with other women. The first cohort begins in August. Sign up Here.
