Leslie Vickrey

Leslie Vickrey doesn’t just lead a company — she leads an entire movement. With a passion for diversity and inclusion in the talent and technology industries, the ClearEdge founder and CEO has developed a powerhouse marketing agency, search firm and leadership development community all in one.

Her mission? To increase the number and influence of women across all levels of the talent and tech ecosystem. In 2023, Vickrey launched ClearEdge Rising, a groundbreaking career accelerator aimed at empowering women in the talent industry and diversifying leadership pipelines.

An industry first, this leadership development program offers cohorts for women at various career stages, from executive leaders to senior managers to rising stars, and provides one-on-one coaching and workshops to support their growth and advancement. After only a year, the results speak for themselves, with members securing new leadership roles and even launching their own businesses.

Vickrey soon focused on another gap: While the staffing industry is made up of more than 50% women, only 4% of the C-suite are women of color. So, she partnered with Women of Color in Staffing and announced a scholarship program to fund three women per year.

If you see it, you can be it. I want to do what I can to make the workplace better for the next generation.

In honor of her mother, Vickrey also promoted a scholarship fund created by fellow DE&I Influencer Megan McCan in partnership with ASA’s Women in Leadership program, raising funds to support women in leadership roles in the staffing industry. As one of 15 female industry leaders who contributed to the 2022 book Together We Rise, whose proceeds finance scholarships as part of the ASA Women in Leadership program; to date, more than eight scholarships have been awarded.

For Vickrey, her work in DE&I is deeply personal. Raised by fiercely independent women herself, she’s driven to create opportunities for marginalized communities. Her podcast for executive women aims to amplify the voices of female leaders often overlooked in the industry.

“I wanted to bring awareness of the need to change the way women are treated in the workforce, the opportunities we’re given and the confidence to use our voice,” she says. “If you see it, you can be it. I want to do what I can to make the workplace better for the next generation.”