Leslie McKay

Leslie's deep faith, combined with decades of leadership in mission-driven organizations, makes her a thoughtful and inspiring voice for encouraging Christians to actively live out their faith in both personal and professional life.

For Leslie, living out her faith at work means leading with integrity, compassion, and humility. Leslie describes that in her experiences, trust is sacred. Whether leading a team, or evaluating performances every action should reflect integrity and fairness as an act of a faithful God. 

Proverbs 11:1 resonates with Leslie as she has made transparency a cornerstone of every team she has led. When people clearly see the impact of their involvement, it builds credibility.

 If you want to be encouraged and equipped to live your life of faith more effectively in the workplace, the Skillful at Work Podcast is for you. 

Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:02

Welcome to the Skillful at Work Podcast, where we explore living out our faith in the workplace. I am your host, Dr. Kurt Beck, a professor of management and a leadership coach. Join me in my next conversation as I talk with Christians skillfully living out their faith at work for examples, resources, and practical tips that will encourage and equip us to honor God at work. Today we are talking with Leslie McKay. Leslie has an extensive career in fundraising, marketing, and community engagement. Her deep faith, combined with her leadership in mission-driven organizations, makes her a thoughtful and inspiring voice for encouraging Christians to actively live out their faith in both personal and professional life. Leslie, could you please share a brief overview of your background and experiences?

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Sure. Thank you, Kurt. I'm delighted to be here. I've really spent my career leading fundraising and community engagement efforts for hospitals, for schools, for cultural nonprofits, just really intentionally diversifying for community impact. But the work really centers on connecting people's generosity with meaningful impact and really helping people see how their gifts can change lives. And I'd like to say that what I do by day is really engage people in the joy of giving back through philanthropy.

SPEAKER_01 1:33

Excellent. One of the goals of the Skillful at Work podcast is to encourage and equip Christians to live skillfully in the workplace, sharing their experiences and practical tips. Leslie, as a Christian out in the marketplace, tell us about some of your experiences of living out your faith.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Yeah. So for me, living out my faith at work means leading with integrity, with compassion and humility, especially in high-stakes environments. In fundraising, there's often pressure to meet goals, to hit certain financial um, you know, posts. Um, but I really try to remember that every conversation with a donor is also a mission-aligned moment. So it's the opportunity if you're working at a children's hospital where you can show empathy to a family who is wanting to really show uh uh compassion and care by giving back and even encouraging team members, fellow team members. I think it's just an opportunity where if you're leading with integrity, compassion, and humility, um, that that really um serves as a great guide to align with uh mission and values of organizations. So I really have seen in the past my role as an opportunity to reflect Christ's love in everyday interactions.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

And you've worked in uh, I see several faith-based type organizations and also some that that are not. So has there been a difference in your approach uh in dealing with those, the different sides of that of those organizations?

SPEAKER_00 3:21

Mm-hmm. Well, I think that my um my values are a touchstone for me, regardless of where I am working. But, you know, I would describe that there's a common challenge in working in diverse environments where faith isn't always part of the conversation, um, that you really do need to look at your faith as a touchstone for how you conduct yourself and how you interact with others. Um, and it's interesting, one of the one of the greatest lessons that um I ever received was from in a faith-based setting, in a faith-based hospital, and it really came from the spiritual care chaplains um at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. Um, those chaplains represented several different faith team members, including ministers and rabbis and pastors and priests. And when they would go and enter a patient's room, they were there to meet the patient where the patient was in relation to their faith. So they were really trained to minister to the whole person, including the spiritual dimensions of healing, and if and only if it was wanted. Um, and so I took that really as a lesson to meet people where they are, but always to have that common thread of um the your faith as a touchstone, your faith as a north star in the work that you're doing. And, you know, I also learned that I need to live my faith through actions. So once again, the consistency and kindness and honesty, um, rather than just words alone. It's really about earning trust through how you show up.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

I love how you talk about uh faith being a touchstone, like the the North Star. I think that's that's a very powerful description. Could you talk more specifically about how that has worked out over your career that you have used that as your North Star?

SPEAKER_00 5:34

Right. Um, well, I've been fortunate um to be able to discern um where I go to work, right? And um I've been able to look at organizations' missions and values and really as a discernment point of going through, you know, recruitment and interview and job placement, always wanting to make sure that those missions and values of an organization align with the touchstones that um really are about who I am and the difference that I want to make.

SPEAKER_01 6:12

You mentioned honesty before, and and um I I will talk with my students about Proverbs 11:1, which basically says that God is disgusted by dishonest business practices. So could you talk about how you've had you've demonstrated honesty and either in your own setting and or when you've encouraged others to be honest?

SPEAKER_00 6:31

Absolutely. So in philanthropy, trust is sacred, whether managing donor funds, donor dollars, evaluating performances, or even leading a team. Every action really should reflect integrity and fairness as an act of faithfulness to God. So that verse always has resonated with me because people give, people are philanthropic, people are generous based on integrity. They want to know that their gift is used wisely. I've made transparency a cornerstone of every team I've led. Clear reporting, open communication, and always honoring donor intent. So when people clearly see the impact of their gift, of their investment, it really builds credibility that lasts far beyond making a single gift.

SPEAKER_01 7:35

When you're dealing with with other individuals, have you had those, have you been challenged about your faith in a sense of uh people not wanting to you to express your faith in the way that you work with them or their organization?

SPEAKER_00 7:49

Um I certainly have. Um and I've certainly, you know, I've had, I've even had a a boss who um when explaining my motivations, um, went ahead and and explained, you know, well, she's you know, she's a Christian. So her, you know, her her strategy involves her faith. And I went ahead and sat with that, prayed about it overnight. And Kurt, the next day, I did have an interaction with my boss to just explain to her, this is an integral part of who I am and what I do. And so I don't see it as a part of an explanation, it's just a part of who I am.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

Sure. If a if a young professional came up to you and asked, uh uh and just said, hey, I'm getting into the field of community involvement, I'm gonna be working, or I'm gonna be working in a business, and uh, how how would you encourage them to live out their faith in the workplace?

SPEAKER_00 8:54

Of course. Well, I think that you start with gratitude, um, and I think it really changes how I lead and interact. I believe that expressions of gratitude um to start your day and end your day, um, and even throughout is something that I would advise someone getting into um, especially uh a community-based um organization or business. Um, I think that you know, silent prayer before meetings um helps to center your mindset. It really centers on service and not ego. I think that you have to remind yourself that um you need to walk the walk and talk the talk. So leading by example, um, because a lot of people are watching how you handle, you know, handle situations that might be challenging, you know, more than you would recognize. And I think that really finding quiet moments to be able to refocus during the day, um, just to really be able to have a very brief pause to reset your spirit. Um, and I don't think it's a bad thing to always remember the bigger picture. You know, I think that your work really can be an adjunct to your faith, whether it's done with excellence and love. Um, so regardless of what the position and role is, I think that just understanding um that mindfulness um and that faith as a touchstone is an important thing to carry, whether you're dealing with the minutiae or working in the bigger picture.

SPEAKER_01 10:41

You made an excellent point about uh refocusing. Can you talk about how you uh reset your spirit? Maybe talk us through an example if someone said, Well, can tell tell me more about that.

SPEAKER_00 10:52

Well, I think um, you know, I think that just that um that prayer-based activity throughout your day. Um, I mean, you think about when you stop and eat a meal and how you say a prayer before that meal, it really, it really gets you centered and focused on the gratitude that you have for what's in front of you. Um, and I really think that the same thing can hold true with, you know, if you're a student and you're studying or you're at work and you're about to start your day or you're about to start another project. I think that that patient pause is just a great way to center yourself and remind yourself of your touchstone.

SPEAKER_01 11:40

Very interesting. If you could talk to us a little bit more, you had a very you have a very impressive uh resume, and uh I was wondering about if you could talk about which projects you've been a part of that you feel have had from your own uh personal perspective a meaningful impact.

SPEAKER_00 11:57

Well, I think one of my favorite things that I've been responsible for in my career is a program um that took place at Children's Hospital, and it was um identifying about um several um different patients from Children's Hospital and their family members to serve as ambassadors in the community, really representing the goodwill and the positive impact that their experiences at Children's Hospital had. And just being one-on-one with those um patients and being able to really understand the resilience that they had as children was remarkable. Um, and I really feel like I learned so much from them. I felt like I received much more than what they, you know, um, than the than the job description, you know, listed, right? Um, and I really carry them, I carry them with me um in the work I continue to do. So you never know where you're gonna get that um inspiration from. Um, and in that example, it really was learning about resilience and faith and um guidance um in you know some challenging circumstances that children's and families were in. And then I think that concept of always remembering um to give back in your community. And so that ambassador program was all about grateful patient families being able to almost return the gift that they received from their care. Um, so that's really one of my very favorite things. Um, I was blessed to have a reunion with all of them when we opened the new children's hospital, and I had over 200 present um for that reunion. Um, so it was um it was really a blessing to be able to work with um those families and those those very special children.

SPEAKER_01 14:09

That's amazing. You talk about this very uh powerful concept of resilience. How would you encourage young people going, you know, going out into the workforce? What would you say to them about how they can develop and and develop and live out resilience?

SPEAKER_00 14:26

I think that you um always need to remember that you're not alone. Um, I think you need to surround yourself with people that um have similar similar values to you that can be a resource. I think that it you there will come a time when you'll be able to pay it forward and serve as a mentor and a leader to others. Um and I think that you know, those are the people that you want to surround yourself around when things are challenging or discouraging. Um, I think that's how you develop resilience is um by asking for assistance, praying for guidance, um, and really being able to be kind and gentle to yourself as you're working through life's challenges.

SPEAKER_01 15:22

Now, do you have a regular group of people that you work with, or when you take on a new project, is it oftentimes working with a brand new set of people that you have to build relationships with?

SPEAKER_00 15:34

Um, with um in philanthropy, you are developing new relationships real time. Um, and so those relationships are with um people that are like-minded. Um, and so I've been fortunate to be in a career that really represents interacting with peoples whose hearts are in the right place. And I do not take that for granted. It's really a special situation to be um interacting with people who have gratitude, um, who know that um what they've been given, um, it's only it's only worthwhile if they're able to share it with others. And so um I've been able to really expand a network of individuals that are like-minded, and um that just continues to grow with every professional opportunity that I have. Um, personally, I've been fortunate to join a group called the International Women's Forum. And locally, there's a group of 200 women who are the leaders in our community who are incredible, really lights in this community who have made remarkable advancements and change, powerful change in this community. So I feel like I have a resource of women who I almost am able to draft off of, right? You just want to be a sponge when you're around them. Um, they've made such a difference and they're very mindful about turning around and helping to lead and mentor um other women who are part of the group as well.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

I'm sure that's been a very powerful resource for you. Talk about you said the like-minded. So, what does that mean to you when you say the term like-minded?

SPEAKER_00 17:32

Uh, I think that when I say their hearts are in the right place, um, that they really are wanting to make a difference in the community um and almost leave their community better than when they arrived. Um, and that really um is at the heart of who I'm working with. So it's not about a quid pro quo. It's really about how can I work, how can we work together um to align the mission and your values with the impact that you want to have.

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Wow. Uh that's very, very impressive. Uh talk to me about maybe some things that you're reading. What what have you what have you uh read recently that was uh impactful for you?

SPEAKER_00 18:21

Oh, well, I've been listening. Um I've um I'm fortunate to have a a dear friend, uh childhood friend, school friend, whose daughter has um established a podcast. It's called Ponder and Magnify. And really the mission of that podcast is to seek an encounter with Christ um through prayer and really relying on the grace of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary. And so I've been um following um that podcast. Um and I'm part of a book club that um really works on focusing on um empowering messages through um reading as well. Um, and so um there's been a couple of books that have come up lately who that have certainly done that. Um I think a contemporary book that I read um was um actually from uh an a an actor, um, Matthew McConaughey. And the book is called Green Light. And you know, it's a bit of a rough and tumble story of his life. And the green light really is a gesture about going to the core of who he is and really seeking out where that green, that next green light in his life is. Um, and um, and I think there's something to that, um, really to be able to say, you know, um, to go with what is guiding you inside um and to look for those green lights in your life.

SPEAKER_01 20:09

Do you have a favorite uh Bible verse or section of scripture or a book of the Bible?

SPEAKER_00 20:15

Well, I I mean you brought me to Proverbs, and that certainly is uh, you know, one that I would um I would definitely call out. Um, you know, through my sort of through my teachings, because I've I've been educated from kindergarten through college in faith-based um schools um and education. And I think really um the messages of service to others is something that really resonates with me. Um and you know, those can be found throughout um throughout scripture.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

You mentioned under uh just to wrap it up, we talked about practical tips, and you mentioned uh starting with gratitude, praying before meetings, uh lead by example, finding those quiet moments to refocus, and then remembering the big picture. Does that pretty well summarize your thoughts, or did you want to add anything or explain any part of that?

SPEAKER_00 21:18

I think um I just want to say that, you know, in your life, I've been I've been very fortunate to really almost surround myself with people who you know have similar faiths and beliefs, and that in life you're likely to encounter um, you know, opportunities for people to um not have the same alignment that you do. And I think that that's really a moment that um you can sit back and listen. Um, you can ask questions, um, but I think you can also really reaffirm um the strength of your faith and and and pride too, um, in in that your faith is is a touchstone that helps carry you through um everything that you encounter in your life. Um so I think it's something that for some, you know, I mean, even for professional opportunities, I've been turned away from jobs um based on my faith. And, you know, I think that's an opportunity to take a step back and say, you know what, I think that that does not align with what my values are. Um, I certainly have been raised to be accepting of other, you know, other opinions and faith, um, faiths. So I think it just gives you an opportunity to reaffirm and to have a sense of pride of your faith um and not to shy away. You know, if you encounter resistance or even rejection, I think you need to say to yourself, it just wasn't the right opportunity for me. Or, you know, this conversation wasn't really meant to be a two-way conversation. Um, but don't let that really shirk um the the sense that you have of alignment with your faith.

SPEAKER_01 23:27

That's very powerful. I appreciate you you uh talking about that because oftentimes when we have that rejection or things don't go well, then we often have to process that and to hear you talk about that from a faith perspective is is very powerful.

SPEAKER_00 23:44

Thank you, Kurt.

SPEAKER_01 23:45

Uh I appreciate your time today, Leslie. Is there any other things you had on your list that you wanted to comment on today as you were preparing for our conversation?

SPEAKER_00 23:54

No, I would just uh make myself available if um any students or any of your listeners would like to talk more, uh, I'm more than happy to do that.

SPEAKER_01 24:05

Well, I appreciate that very much. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Thank you, Kurt. Be well.

SPEAKER_01 24:10

Join us next time on the Skillful at Work Podcast as we interview Christians about living wisely in the workplace and serving as the salt and light at work. If you want to be encouraged and equipped to live your life of faith more effectively in the workplace, the Skillful at Work Podcast is for you.