Meet Leslee Hill.

Leslee Hill has a corporate fashion background, has owned and operated small businesses, and is currently the Program Director for the WEOC Women’s Business Center.

YWCA Asks:  What does an ’empowering woman’ mean to you?

Leslee: An empowering woman is someone who is bold, vulnerable, and supports others as she learns what works and what doesn’t. She doesn’t make it look easy all the time, yet she doesn’t play the victim. She thinks and plays big, leaving people wondering how she is grounded.  She listens well and speaks up when it matters.

YWCA Asks:  In what ways do you feel you empower other women?

Leslee:  I unintentionally empower others to be exactly who they are at their best. My freedom of self helps to embolden others and my determination to conduct myself at 100% at all times is contagious. I may not be liked 100% of the time, and I am relatively ok with that. It encourages others to be more than they ever dreamed.

YWCA Asks:  Would you please share information or a tid-bit of knowledge that would be helpful to other women?  

Leslee: For about a decade I navigated a religious quest to determine which religion I align with most. I have ended up mashing aspects of a number of religions together. The most beneficial belief I have is in past lives. It eliminates competition toward my peers and focuses my energy on being the best me. It helps me muster patience toward others when it is difficult to do so. It also helps me welcome any human with trust and goodwill.

My suggestions to women:

• Deeply investigate your beliefs and refocus your life to align with your values. This is the only way to keep yourself from dimming the light of others in order to be seen.
• Surround yourself with others who live life in this manner but who have different life experiences than you/ live in different worlds/ speak different languages/ have different interests
• Try new things always.
• Stay uncomfortable.