Meet Leslie Tankersley Arboleda | Leadership Strategist & Executive Alignment Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leslie Tankersley Arboleda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leslie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My decision to start my own business wasn’t the result of a single moment. It was the culmination of years of witnessing capable, caring, and intelligent people struggle because they were disconnected from themselves, their strengths, or their next right step.

Throughout my career in counseling, coaching, leadership development, and business consulting, I noticed a common pattern. People often knew what they wanted, but they lacked the clarity, confidence, accountability, or support to move forward. Organizations faced similar challenges. Teams were working hard, but not always working in alignment.

I started Aligned Living & Leadership because I wanted to create a space where individuals and leaders could bridge the gap between awareness and action. My work is built on a simple belief: sustainable success happens when who you are, what you value, and how you lead are all moving in the same direction.

The journey hasn’t always been easy. Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve navigated uncertainty, setbacks, and moments that forced me to re-evaluate my path. But those experiences reinforced something I now teach my clients every day: disruption is often the doorway to growth.

What continues to inspire me is watching people step into a more aligned version of themselves. Whether I’m coaching an executive, facilitating a leadership workshop, guiding someone through a major life transition, or supporting a client through a VIBES session, I get to witness what becomes possible when people stop living by default and start choosing intentionally.

Building this business has never been just about creating a company. It’s about creating meaningful change, helping people realize their potential, and proving that success and fulfillment do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Aligned Living & Leadership, exists to help individuals, leaders, and organizations move from awareness to action. Whether I’m working with an executive team, an entrepreneur navigating growth, or an individual facing a major life transition, my focus is helping people create alignment between who they are, what they value, and how they show up in the world.

What sets my work apart is that I don’t believe lasting transformation comes from strategy alone. Most people already know more than enough. The challenge is not a lack of information. It’s the gap between knowing and doing. My approach integrates leadership development, coaching, behavioral science, Human Design, accountability, and practical action so clients can create meaningful change that actually lasts.

I’m especially proud of the way my work bridges personal and professional growth. Too often, people treat them as separate conversations. In my experience, the same patterns that show up in our businesses, leadership, relationships, and health are often connected. When we become more aware of those patterns, we gain the ability to choose differently.

The path to building this business was anything but easy.

Like many entrepreneurs, I started with a vision and a willingness to learn as I went. There were moments of uncertainty, financial pressure, self-doubt, and unexpected challenges that forced me to rethink my plans. There were times when I questioned whether I was on the right path at all.

What helped me move through those challenges was the very work I now teach others. I learned to pause before reacting, seek clarity before making major decisions, and trust that setbacks often contain valuable information. Some of the most difficult seasons of my life became the catalyst for the greatest growth, both personally and professionally.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that disruption is not always something to avoid. Often, disruption is an invitation. It asks us to re-evaluate what is no longer working, release what no longer fits, and create space for something better aligned with who we are becoming.

Today, I am excited not only about the growth of Aligned Living & Leadership, but also about the broader community we are creating through the Embody Wellness Collective. Together, we are bringing coaching, wellness, leadership development, movement, healing, and connection into one collaborative space where people can access support in multiple ways.

What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is simple: You do not have to stay stuck.

No matter where you are today, you have the ability to become more aware, take responsibility for your choices, and move toward a future that feels more aligned and authentic. My own journey has taught me that growth is rarely linear, and success is rarely about perfection. It is about continuing to choose courage over comfort, learning over certainty, and aligned action over inaction.

That belief is at the heart of everything I do. I help people tell a story they want to live so they can live a story they want to tell. And there is nothing more rewarding than watching someone realize they are far more capable than they ever imagined.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the things I love most about living in Colorado is that it feels like home in a way I struggle to fully explain. Long before I ever lived here, something about Colorado was calling me west.

Right after high school, I wanted to move to Colorado for college. I was 17, and my mother thought Colorado was “too far away,” insisting that I stay in the same time zone. As it turns out, you can get pretty far from Miami, Florida, and still stay in the same time zone if you move to Vermont.

After spending two years at the University of Vermont, I secretly applied to colleges in Colorado. At 19 years old, I packed up my life and headed west.

The moment I arrived, I felt something I had never experienced before. The best way I can describe it is a magnetic resonance. It was indescribable, yet unmistakable. There was a sense of belonging, alignment, and familiarity that I couldn’t explain logically, but I felt it deeply. More than thirty years later, Colorado still feels that way to me.

That’s why, if my best friend were visiting, I wouldn’t just want to show them the sights. I’d want them to experience the feeling of Colorado.

Day 1: Denver Exploration
We’d start by exploring downtown Denver, wandering through the murals and local shops in the RiNo Arts District and grabbing a meal at Linger or Root Down. In the evening, we’d catch live music at Red Rocks Amphitheatre if there happened to be a show. There is truly nothing like watching the sunset over the mountains while listening to live music at Red Rocks.

Day 2: Golden & the Foothills
Since I live near the foothills, we’d spend a day exploring Golden. We’d hike at North Table Mountain or Lookout Mountain, grab coffee downtown, and enjoy the slower pace. Golden perfectly captures Colorado’s blend of outdoor adventure and small-town charm.

Day 3: Rocky Mountain National Park
No Colorado itinerary would be complete without a day in Rocky Mountain National Park. Whether spotting elk, driving Trail Ridge Road, or simply sitting quietly beside an alpine lake, it’s one of those places that reminds you how vast and beautiful the world really is.

Day 4: Wellness & Restoration
Because so much of my life revolves around helping people reconnect with themselves, I’d build in a day focused on wellness. We’d start with yoga, enjoy a relaxing massage, and spend the evening immersed in a crystal bowl sound experience at the Embody Wellness Collective. Colorado is known for adventure, but some of its greatest treasures are the communities creating spaces for healing and personal growth.

Day 5: Boulder
We’d spend the day in Boulder walking along Pearl Street, exploring local bookstores, enjoying great food, and taking in the views of the Flatirons. Boulder has a unique energy that blends entrepreneurship, innovation, wellness, and outdoor living.

Day 6: Mountain Day Trip
Depending on the season, we’d head to Breckenridge, Estes Park, or Nederland. Colorado’s mountain towns each have their own personality, and part of the fun is discovering which one resonates most with you.

Day 7: Slow Down & Connect
The final day would be less about sightseeing and more about connection. We’d share a great meal, reflect on the week, and spend time talking about life, purpose, and what’s next. The older I get, the more I realize that the most memorable experiences aren’t always the attractions. They’re the conversations and moments of presence we share with the people we care about.

If I had to summarize Colorado in one sentence, I’d say this:

Colorado invites you to expand. Whether through the mountains, the people, the entrepreneurial spirit, or the opportunities for personal growth, it has a way of helping you see life from a broader perspective and reminding you what’s possible.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely.

No one builds a meaningful life or business alone, and I am deeply grateful for the people who have challenged me, supported me, believed in me, and sometimes even disrupted me along the way.

First, I would dedicate a shoutout to my husband, Andres, and our children. Entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth all require tremendous time, energy, and courage. Their love, patience, and willingness to grow alongside me have shaped who I am far more than any credential or accomplishment ever could.

I would also recognize the mentors, coaches, teachers, and clients who have trusted me throughout my journey. Every person I have coached, every team I have facilitated, and every leader I have partnered with has taught me something valuable. Many of the frameworks and insights I share today were refined through real conversations with real people navigating real challenges.

Professionally, I owe a great deal to the fields of counseling, leadership development, neuroscience, and Human Design. The combination of evidence-based practices and deeper self-awareness tools has profoundly influenced how I help people create meaningful and sustainable change.

If I had to name one book that continues to influence my thinking, it would be The Four Agreements. Its simple yet powerful principles have served as a compass through both personal and professional challenges.

Most importantly, I want to acknowledge the people who entered my life during seasons of disruption. It’s easy to celebrate those who stand beside us when things are going well. The people who deserve recognition are often the ones who helped us find our footing when life became uncertain. Some offered encouragement. Some offered hard truths. Some simply held space. All of them contributed to the person and leader I have become.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that growth is rarely a solo journey. We rise through relationships. Every success I’ve experienced carries the fingerprints of countless people who shared their wisdom, support, perspective, and belief along the way. For that, I am profoundly grateful.

Website: https://www.alignedlivingandleadership.com

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-coaching-and-profitability/

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlignedLivingandLeadership

Image Credits
Cherie Sutton