In this episode of the Dream Catcher Podcast, host Mark Larsen speaks with Leslie Wright, a single mom and entrepreneur from Greensboro, North Carolina. Leslie shares her journey from wanting to be a teacher to becoming a successful event planner, author, and speaker. She discusses the importance of community engagement, her philosophy on event planning, and her upcoming five-city tour aimed at reconnecting with communities post-COVID. Leslie also emphasizes the significance of empowering the next generation, as her children are also budding authors. Throughout the conversation, she encourages listeners to embrace change, stay rooted in their faith, and pursue their dreams. Bio of Leslie Marie Wright Leslie Marie Wright, 41, was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Maryland to Wenda and Leon Wright on May 8, 1984. Following her parents' divorce, she relocated to North Carolina in 1998. Though she once aspired to be a teacher, destiny positioned her to educate and empower others from her own global platform. A graduate of Southern High School in Durham, NC, Leslie delivered her class graduation speech a defining moment that launched her into leadership and public speaking. She continued her academic journey at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, earning a B.A. in Communications while achieving Dean's List honors and induction into the university's honor society. Determined to advance, she completed her Master of Science in Communications at Walden University. In 2008, she founded Partiez By Leslie, a full-service event planning company, while simultaneously serving as a Mary Kay Cosmetics beauty consultant. Her leadership extended to launching the "Ladies Night In" Empowerment Tour, which she successfully managed for six years, including international engagements in Canada. Leslie has been featured in numerous national and virtual summits and conferences across the U.S. An award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and international best-selling author, Leslie has written multiple titles alongside her two sons, Jayden (15) and Joshua (4)-both best-selling authors in their own right. Together, the family has authored 16 books, and in 2025 expanded their creative brand with coloring books and a Coloring Treat Box business. Guided by her life scripture, "To whom much is given, much is required." - Luke 12:48 Leslie's inspirational work has been featured on The CW, ABC 11, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Roku TV, and more. For booking inquiries: partiezbyleslie@gmail.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:57 Journey to Entrepreneurship 06:02 Event Planning Career 08:58 Building a Business for the People 11:58 Writing Journey and Family Involvement 17:52 Future Aspirations and Legacy 20:28 Finding Focus in Chaos 21:03 The Journey to Speaking 22:50 From Singing to Speaking 24:45 The TEDx Dream 25:08 Pitching Yourself for Opportunities 28:03 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 30:43 The Coaching Journey 33:17 Back Outside: The Tour 39:17 Embracing Change and Growth
