Leslie graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1968, where she was Miss Ole Miss, among other honors.

She then joined Procter & Gamble, where she created a career as Consumer Research Specialist & Marketing Strategist. In 1980, she founded her consulting firm, working with Fortune 500 companies, including the 1982 Tylenol Poisoning Crisis and eventual Comeback.

During the Tylenol Crisis period, she worked directly with McNeil Consumer Products Co.(Tylenol) President Joe Chiesa and Johnson & Johnson (Parent) CEO Jim Burke. She served as The Link to Tylenol Consumers.

In addition, Leslie worked on the development teams for Pampers, Pringles, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Dunkin’ Coffee, among other now leading global brands.

Today, Leslie co-teaches & guest-lectures in Integrated Marketing Communications at Ole Miss. She serves on the Board of the Overby Center for Southern Journalism & Politics.

Leslie and her husband Paolo Frigerio, originally from Milan, Italy, reside in Oxford, MS. They travel extensively abroad.

The LMW Endowment funds educational scholarships, food pantries, arts & cultural projects, and medical/health/children support such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Camp Kamassa for kids with disabilities. 

Internationally, her endowment supports humanitarian efforts such as a mobile clinic in Ukraine and Doctors Without Borders, Plan International for children at risk.