Leslie Mays

Leslie Mays has led significant culture transformation efforts for more than 30 years across industries and sectors. She established and led the creation of innovative diversity and inclusion strategies for some of the world’s largest firms including Avon Products, Kimberly Clark, Pfizer Inc., Royal Dutch Shell, and General Mills.

She currently serves as chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer and is responsible for ensuring the integration and impact of diversity, equity and inclusion across all areas of the foundation including culture, talent, grantmaking, and ultimately, program outcomes. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a partner at Mercer Consulting, based in New York City.

Leslie has been a pioneer in the practical application of advanced workforce analytics to effectively build future-focused HR and DEI strategies which deliver measurable results. A respected thought leader, she has extensive experience developing human capital plans for advancing women, managing generational differences, maximizing impact of D&I Leadership Councils and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and de-biasing HR and talent processes to achieve desired outcomes. She is regarded as a trusted advisor to Executive Leadership Teams, Corporate Boards, and management teams.

With a long history and commitment to community service, she is an active member of the Executive Leadership Council, an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow, and former board member of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. Leslie is a proud graduate of Texas Southern University where she earned a B.A. in Communications.