Like you, I’ve navigated a lot of systems—some visible, some hidden. I’ve played countless games (sometimes I didn’t even realize a game was playing me until years later).

I’ve wandered through the labyrinths of corporate systems and late stage capitalism, where I thrashed in waters I thought were too deep, only to realize I could in fact stand up, log off, and not buy in. (psssst: they only have power if you give them all your time and money; the less of both you surrender, the stronger you stand).

I’ve moved back in with my parents four times since college—letting the nutrients return to my soil after overworking myself or because of heartbreak (and because my parents are so wonderful and make me a better version of myself by simply being. Love you mom and dad).

I’ve chosen the jungle gym over the ladder, built the dreams of others, chased a few of my own… I’ve lost myself, and found myself again. And I’m still only 42 and a half. Oh the places I will go!

But before I go forward, I reflect on the jobs I’ve held since the late ’90s—each teaching me as much about myself as they did about the systems I worked within. I’ve…

• sold farm stand produce for someone who threatened to cut off the hands of anyone who stole from her

• inventoried keys for Sony’s Springfield 300,000 square feet manufacturing plant

• sleuthed MySpace pages and message boards for crisis comms clients now facing wealth-ending litigation

• navigated the fax-machine powered chaos of an OG political TV show (with the OG Turtle, Becca)

• mail-merged my way through internet law

• blogged and tweeted, then taught corporations how to blog and tweet

• won the internet over a few times over with an amazing team

• with that same team, pioneered data visualization for… wait for it… marketing (your welcome/I’m sorry)

• been brought in to COO ideas that others need to professionalize and monetize

• realized after my last COO role that I am actually a #1 in disguise as a #2 (thanks to the single greatest annual review I ever received by S.E.)… and am genuinely happy to play either role, or even just be a contributor

• … and spent a lot of time practicing the art of corporate innovation

These experiences brought me into rooms with brands I grew up admiring (like Nike, Intel, MTV) and brands I admire more and more the older I get (shout out to the likes of C-SPAN, P&G, Eloqua). They looked to me, my Turtle team, and our way of thinking as novel and necessary for their survival. Oh the stories we could tell…

These experiences didn’t just shape what I did; they made me ask deeper questions about the why and the who.

• Why do certain structures exist, and who benefits from them?

• How do you push forward without becoming consumed by the game?

• Is this all even worth it? (the time, the effort, the stress, etc.)

• How and when do you show up fully? especially when navigating spaces that aren’t designed with or for you?

(I have more questions than answers… and I have some great answers to these questions, too)

Before all that, I attended the University of Chicago as part of its effort to recruit rural, lower-income, and inner-city students. I then graduated Phi Beta Kappa and earned highest honors for my Gender Studies thesis, “That We Should All Turn [Out] Healthy?”

My studies spanned economics, anthropology, sociology, religious studies, philosophy, statistics, and Latin. (I miss being able to go so deep on a topic without having a paying client).

And before that, I lost my bid for sophomore class president, didn’t get into what I thought was my first-choice college, and sprained my ankle three times in two years. Despite these setbacks, I graduated co-valedictorian of my high school, where I lettered in softball and volleyball, served as ASB president, and co-edited the 1999 Yearbook. (My favorite part of all of this was being a part of a high performing team taking on all of these crazy high school challenges).

And, yet, some of lessons that shaped me most weren’t learned in classrooms. Between ages 11 and 18 (and again after college), I’ve worked on my family’s farm and vineyard, absorbing the kind of grit and resilience that only comes from long days of doing hard work with an amazing team. This still grounds me to this day.

In the event that you are still reading and want more About Leslie…

I was born in Northern Nevada and raised in Lake Tahoe, moved to Oregon as a middle schooler (very Inside Out of my parents), and have lived in a lot of big and small places since.

As for now, like right right now? Life is everything I had hoped it would be, but nothing like I had imagined.

I’m a proud mom to Maria, a partner to Jesus, and a frequent traveler / dweller between New York’s East Village, the Dominican Republic, and the Pacific Northwest. We are rich with family, adventures, and perspective.

Turtle Academy is a space for those navigating a world that wasn’t always designed with or for them—a sanctuary for reimagining the systems that shape our lives and forging paths that feel uniquely ours. It’s where you collaborate with the best parts of your younger self, connect with those who truly see you, and thrive alongside the people who bring out your best.

This isn’t just another hustle. It’s a break from the grind of Zoom fatigue, late-stage capitalism, and soulless transactions. Think of it as forest bathing for your career—oxygen-rich and growth-filled, like a lush greenhouse where every leaf unfurls with purpose. It’s a space where the air is thick with possibility, and where resilience, creativity, and mutual support form the soil we grow from.

At Turtle Academy, we embrace the reality that not every system works for everyone. Together, we uncover opportunities to rewrite the rules, build wealth and impact on your terms, and create a future where success feels as good as it looks. Through A Fieldguide for Turtles Navigating the Matrix, courses, and coaching, we equip you to thrive in unseen systems, challenge outdated norms, and flourish in a world that’s constantly changing.

Here, no one’s journey is expendable. Wealth-building isn’t for the few, and the spirit of collective support feels like a standing ovation for what’s possible.

Together, we achieve more.

Navigating the “Matrix” means understanding and navigating the systems—both seen and unseen—that shape your life and work.

Seen systems are the visible rules, processes, and structures, such as laws, educational rubrics, and organizational charts.

Unseen systems, by contrast, are the invisible biases, unspoken expectations, and cultural norms that often hold hidden power over outcomes. There not what we say, but what we do.

The term also nods to the Matrix films, where reality is shaped by systems operating behind the scenes.

Through Turtle Academy, you’ll learn how to recognize, adapt to, and influence these systems—without losing yourself in the process. It’s about playing the game strategically, navigating complexity with confidence, and rewriting the rules where you can to align with your values and goals.