Leslie Haskin will never be known as the kind of woman who kept her head down or shuffled her feet. Growing up on Chicago’s south side and the youngest girl of fifteen children, she learned early in life that her value and the importance of sharing her voice was a real thing.
After college, Leslie's ambition led her to New York City, where she began her climb up the corporate ladder. By 2000, she had an office atop the World Trade Center in New York City and lived all the privileges that her executive lifestyle afforded.
Then, at 8:43 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 everything changed when a Boeing 747 airplane slammed into The North Tower and killing thousands.
Leslie lost 22 of her friends, was diagnosed with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and lost everything that she had worked for. Unable to return to work, eventually she and her son became homeless.
Leslie admits that her life so far has been somewhat of a surprise. Having also survived a brutal sexual assault earlier in life, a cancer scare and homelessness, she never imagined the expansive plans that God had in mind for her through her overcoming. Leslie says, “I just wanted to grow up, get married and have a “Brady bunch” of children in a traditional home.
New York Times Bestselling Author & Motivational Speaker
Instead, in 2006, Leslie decided that she would not live broken. She started what is now a successful boutique project delivery consultancy and dedicated substantial time to serving victims of trauma. Leslie has written six books, including the New York Times Best Seller, Between Heaven and Ground Zero and Baker Books Best Seller, God Has Not Forgotten about You, and is now a lifestyles favorite author. Her latest book, ‘Hey Gurl, Hey” is already being called a woman’s empowerment movement!
Continuing to ignite her passion to serve others, Leslie treks throughout the U.S. speaking to thousands of women in conferences, keynotes and seminars that motivate them toward inner peace, self-care, overcoming and faith in a loving God. In fact, nothing pleases her more than sharing her own faith and life lessons through real stories of laughter, tears and evidence of God’s unwavering love—the earned wisdom that enables her to live a soft life.
“It feels like it took forever to get here, but I love me. I’m finally comfortable with who I am, all that I am and even the things that I’m not. My imperfections and mistakes make me full and real and human and beautiful."