Leslie has distinguished herself as an influencer in outdoor, adventure, and travel, health and wellness, indigenous knowledge, food and culture (especially AAPI and AIAN), gear, and parenting arena.

Here’s why?

Author:
Her work has been named among the distinguished stories of the year by Best American Essays and earned North American Travel Journalist Association Awards, the Solas Award from Travelers’ Tales, Writer’s Digest Competition, 1st place in Best Environmental Reporting from Alaska Press Club.  See more

Editors hire her as a “veteran reporter” for 25 years of experience working under publication deadlines for magazines, journals, reports, newsletters, web sites, and blogs; on-time delivery of written and photographic content highly complimented by producers and editors; track record of producing and editing award-winning, innovative, respected products; reputation for being the most productive and calm personnel under pressure. See more

Editor: Appointed to redefine the genre and challenge who writes outdoor stories and what kinds of stories get told, Leslie is the Outdoor Literature Editor for Panorama: The Journal of Intelligent Travel. She worked with and published three writers of color for the debut issue, in which one was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Panorama is a literary journal magazine hybrid representing a contemporary effort to bring travel writing, art, and photography into a new age. The masthead of award-winning writers and editors from over a dozen different countries such as Columbia, Brazil, Ireland, Germany, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Canada, Mexico, the United States, Britain, Wales, Palestine, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and more.

Speaker: For two decades, Leslie has been invited as a keynote speaker at conferences, universities, federal/state or corporate sponsored events and campaigns like REI’s Force of Nature. Recent events include: REI Rooftop Party (150+ audience), NonfictioNOW: “Travel writer as Cartographer” with several Panorama Journal superstars and “Third Culture Point of View: Writing from a Multicultural Perspective” and BinderCon NY: “Closer to Home: The Beginner’s Practical Guide to Travel Writing.” See more

Teacher:
Gear Junkie: Leslie and her husband and four kids spanning the ages of 12 to 1 years of age tests gear for Backpacker Magazine, Outside Magazine, Sierra Magazine, and Travel+Leisure. Since everyone in the family snowboards, rock climbs, kayaks, swims, fishes, and does just about any adventure outdoors, Leslie has the capability of writing reviews for any age group or gender. They especially enjoy advancements in technology. Besides her extensive writing and editing experience, she also brings her expertise in health and information technology to her reviews.

“Leslie recently wrote an article that included one of my brands. I was impressed with her selection of unique pieces meant to make traveling with children easier. And she used some of her past experiences as they related to each product in a meaningful.”
~Kate Ketschek, Owner of Revolution House Media

Brands that Trust Leslie
Add logos to major outdoor brands that I test gear for like: Apple, BeatsbyDre, Big Agnes, Biolite, Black Diamond, Bogs, Chaco, GCI Outdoor, Helinox, Hoka One One, LaSportiva, Leatherman, Merrell, Metolius, Mountain Hardware, Patagonia, Petzl, The North Face, Oakley, Osprey, Rumpl, Snowpeak, Toad & Co., Under Armour, Vasque, Yeti
You can copy the logos for Big Agnes, Black Diamond, Chaco, Helinox, Hoka One One, POC, Polygiene, LaSportiva, Toad & Co., Yeti: //www.backbonemedia.net/#clientlist
Alite, Biolite, Leatherman, Mountain Hardware, Osprey, Otterbox, Pacsafe, Rumpl, Snowpeak, Yakima: //www.jamcollective.net/clients/
GCI Outdoor, Petzl, Under Armour: //www.verdepr.com/clients/
Patagonia: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/498421883746247383/?lp=true
North Face: emailed to you
Oakley: //www.pistonagency.com/about/clients

 

Health Advocate:
Leslie is the founder of the Hepatitis B Initiative, a nonprofit that has been running for twenty years. Recipient of the first Julius B. Richmond Young Leader in Public Health Award, the first National Award for Excellence in Public Health Leadership, the Sun Memorial Award for exemplifying a commitment to improving the health and well-being of people in underserved populations, and the Schweitzer Award for reverence for life. Recently, she was named a White House Champions of Change in Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling. The White House and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders selected Leslie for “using unique channels and diverse platforms to tell powerful stories, increase awareness around key AAPI issues, and encourage diversity and inclusion in all sectors of society.” She was also recognized for her “leadership and tireless work to raise the visibility of diverse AAPI experiences and create dialogue around issues the community faces.”
Listen to the panel