Turtle Academy

A lifelong journey to find and nourish your highest self—and help others do the same.

Sign up for our 2026 cohorts and 1:1 “TRTL” coaching here.

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A smiling woman with long blonde hair, wearing large red glasses and a denim jacket, outdoors with a blurred field and sky in the background.

Hi, I am Leslie.

Like bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, to know me is to know that these are a few of my favorite things…

  • If you’re feeling stuck or looking to grow—whether it’s in your career, your income, or your sense of direction—you’ve probably noticed there’s no shortage of advice out there.

    Fueled by platforms like TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Substack, and podcasts, countless experts share their “how-to” guides, frameworks, and quick-fix perspectives. They aim to inspire action and capture attention—while carving out their own space in the hustle.

    And while some of it can spark real insight, not all ‘do it like this!’ advice truly lands. Much of it misses the deeper work of navigating the systems—both seen and unseen—that shape our lives. The Matrix isn’t just a movie; it’s the interwoven rules, laws, systems, biases, and expectations all around us.

    For some, navigating these systems is a game their ancestors wrote and from which they benefit, “winning” without much effort. For the rest of us, we must fight for every inch and reach back to lift others up once we have our footing.

    Here’s what I believe: together everyone achieves more. The game is not to hoard all the secrets and wealth, but rather share once you have figured enough out to live a sustainable life. And while I still have much to learn in this life, I will amplify what I know and who I’ve learned from until my last day on earth.

  • How I show up is shaped by so many things. Here are 9 things that I carry with me always:

    • The work ethic of a sixth generation farmer;

    • The ingenuity of someone who has preserved her childlike wonderment;

    • The uncrushabledrive to challenge norms and systems; and

    • The patience and insight of a corporate navigator;

    • The resilience of a 4x early-stage startup leader;

    • The curiosity and openness of someone who has moved, lived, and worked in 8 cities, 2 small towns, and 20+ neighborhoods;

    • The empathy of someone who seeks to understand and uplift those who most algorithms forget or try to exploit;

    • The humility of someone who has lost as much as she’s won.

    To grow older is to be given the gift of perspective. It’s to be given the gift of the narrative distance… between you on your best day, and you at your lowest. And to meet each imposter the same.

    Here’s to many more dances with dragons, mother nature, and improbable games.

  • I am of two minds when it comes to talking about my accomplishments and how others view me.

    On the one hand, when you work hard and do great work, being rewarded with industry recognition and upward mobility seems like, well, kinda the point.

    I also see these systems and social yard sticks as often:

    • opaque… inaccessible… measuring the wrong things… created to keep us all working so much we don’t have the energy to rethink the system… designed for a select few to compound extreme wealth at the expense of most others… and to generally exclude so many incredible minds and talents.

    That said, if my bona fides sound like the might be interesting… or are important to you as you entrust me with something important to you… then here they be:

Turtle Academy FAQs

  • It all started in 2007 when I was working as a writer/producer, new media director, and occasional steak cutter for the Founder and Host of The McLaughlin Group. Late one night, while re-writing a show and battling a misbehaving fax machine, I met Becca. Not every meet-cute is romantic—some are about finding your friend soulmate.

    Becca was the real deal. She problem-solved, trouble-shot, pushed back on edits that didn’t work, redirected chaos into clarity, and got it done like someone three times her age managing a team of 30. We bonded over awkward moments on the job, which we jokingly dubbed “awkward turtle” based on the internet meme. It was so awkward so often, that we were saying “turtle” every few words.

    In time, “Turtle” became more than a just a meme—it was a stand-in for how we thought of our work, our collaborations, and each other. We also like all that the Turtle is: slow, steady, measured, full of perspective, able to retreat / recharge in its shell. Even the “Turtles all the way down” idiom is one we proudly adopt.

    And so, over the the last 18 years, “Turtle” has grown into a symbol of generosity, creativity, optimism, and teaming up to navigate—and reimagine—the systems that weren’t design for or with us in mind.

  • Turtle Academy is for anyone who feels stuck, curious, or ready to take control of their career, business, or life path.

    Whether you’re just starting out, pivoting in mid-career, or stepping into leadership, Turtle Academy offers courses, coaching, and resources tailored to help you thrive on your own terms.

    Our 1:1, group, and asynchronous lessons blend practical strategies with deep reflection, helping you navigate both seen and unseen systems with clarity and confidence. From defining your goals to executing plans, Turtle Academy equips you to make meaningful progress in any season of your journey.

    In addition to having 1:1 and cohort experiences, we are also exploring video courses in 2025.

  • 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 titles, salary bands, and organizational charts. Unseen systems, by contrast, are the invisible biases, unspoken expectations, and cultural norms that often hold hidden power over outcomes.

    The term also nods to the Matrix films, where reality is shaped by systems operating behind the scenes, as well as to matrixed organizations, where overlapping departments, divisions, and hierarchies create both opportunities and challenges for progress.

    Through Turtle Academy, you’ll learn how to recognize, adapt to, and ultimately influence these systems—without losing yourself in the process.

  • This work in progress “Fieldguide” is a collection of instructive case studies, philosophic writings, engaging videos, and templates / tools / resources designed to help you navigate the seen and unseen systems shaping your life and career.

    Curated and developed by me—and featuring insights from other Turtles I’ve worked with—the Fieldguide offers practical tools, thought-provoking stories, and actionable frameworks.

    Throughout 2025, I’ll be building this resource, layering in new content as it evolves. Stay tuned for updates on its progress, sneak peeks at early chapters, and the official release timeline. This is a living, breathing project that reflects the Turtle spirit of curiosity, resilience, and continuous growth.

  • If you’ve ever felt that the traditional “rules” don’t fully fit who you are—or found yourself rewriting the playbook to better reflect your aspirations—you might be a Turtle.

    Turtles approach challenges with curiosity and resilience, balancing big dreams with the patience to move forward one meaningful step at a time.

    Turtles embrace the spirit of navigating life thoughtfully and intentionally, often moving against the current while staying true to their values. The Turtle moniker reflects a way of being: generous, optimistic, creative, and determined to re-design systems that work not just for themselves, but for others, too.

    Turtles are playing the infinite game (i.e., generative, sharing, equitable, inclusive), where non-turtles are playing the finite game (i.e., amassing wealth and resources to the detriment of others).

    Being a Turtle is about answering your highest calling and helping others do the same.