We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leslie Tankersley Arboleda. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leslie below.
Hi Leslie, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience, for me, wasn’t a choice—it was a necessity. I was initiated into it early. My parents divorced when I was two, and my father’s addiction and eventual death when I was 21 created a kind of emotional earthquake that split my world wide open. I was left to navigate life’s biggest questions—Who am I? Am I lovable? Will I ever feel safe?—without a clear map. For years, I searched for safety in people, places, and achievements. But nothing outside me could quiet the storm within.
Resilience began to take root when I stopped running and started listening—to my breath, my body, and the wisdom that lives inside stillness. It was during a two-year dark night of the soul that I realized: I couldn’t think my way to healing. I had to feel my way home.
I began integrating practices that brought me back into alignment—mindful movement, journaling, breathwork, and later, Human Design. These tools didn’t “fix” me; they revealed me. They helped me turn my pain into purpose and my fear into fuel. I’ve learned that resilience isn’t about pushing through; it’s about staying rooted when the winds of life try to carry you away. It’s about realignment, not resistance.
Today, I teach what I live. I help others discover that their power doesn’t come from perfection or performance, but from alignment with their own truth. And that truth? It’s always been inside them—just like it was always inside me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the founder of Aligned Living & Leadership. I help people create lives and businesses that feel as good on the inside as they look on the outside. Through my work as a leadership coach, speaker, and Human Design specialist, I guide individuals and organizations back into alignment—where purpose meets performance, and alignment drives success.
My brand is built on the belief that we’re not here to hustle harder, but rather we’re here to live and lead in harmony with who we truly are. That means unlearning the conditioning that tells us to chase success at the expense of ourselves, and instead learning how to listen, pivot, and build from a place of deep inner knowing.
What excites me most is watching the light come back into someone’s eyes—whether it’s a business owner finally scaling with integrity, a leader rebuilding trust on their team, or a woman rediscovering her power after years of people-pleasing. That moment when alignment clicks is electric. And it changes everything.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding Aligned Living & Leadership through keynotes, workshops, and consulting for organizations ready to lead with values and vision—not burnout. I’m also in the final stages of writing a book that blends my personal healing journey with practical tools for sustainable transformation. I also love co-hosting retreats and virtual gatherings that integrate Human Design, sound healing, and strategy to support leaders who want to create sustainable, profitable, and purpose-filled lives.
At the end of the day, I want people to know this: You don’t have to abandon yourself to succeed. With Aligned Living & Leadership, you can have it ALL, and I’m here to help you get there.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most impactful elements of my journey have been: self-awareness, emotional resilience, and strategic alignment.
Self-awareness was the game-changer. Until I truly understood how I was wired—my patterns, my triggers, my strengths—I was chasing someone else’s version of success. Learning my Human Design gave me a mirror I could finally trust. For those early in the journey, start there. Learn how you work best instead of forcing yourself into a mold that doesn’t fit. Your design isn’t a flaw—it’s a blueprint.
Emotional resilience is what helped me stay grounded when life got hard—and it did get hard. I’ve lived through grief, trauma, heartbreak, and failure, and none of it broke me. It woke me up. If you’re new to this path, know that healing isn’t linear, and growth isn’t always comfortable. But if you can learn to stay with yourself—breathe through the hard moments instead of bypassing them—you’ll build an inner strength no one can take from you.
Strategic alignment is what turned my passion into a sustainable business. I’ve got degrees in human development, counseling psychology, and marketing, but it wasn’t until I aligned all three that things really took off. My advice? Don’t just work hard—work smart and in flow with your energy. Strategy without soul leads to burnout. Soul without structure leads to chaos. You need both.
At the end of the day, this journey isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about remembering who you are—and then building a life that honors that truth.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Absolutely. I believe aligned collaboration is one of the most powerful forces for change—especially when it’s rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a desire to create something meaningful.
Right now, I’m especially open to partnering with:
Event organizers, summit hosts, and retreat facilitators who are curating spaces for conscious leadership, wellness, or personal transformation.
HR leaders and business owners looking to bring values-aligned strategy, Human Design, and culture-focused consulting into their workplace.
Wellness practitioners and educators who want to co-create transformational experiences or integrate mindset, breathwork, or energy work into their programs.
Podcasters and media hosts who are sharing conversations around healing, purpose, leadership, and sustainable success.
If you’re someone who values authenticity, empowerment, and impact—and you’re building something that helps people grow—I’d love to connect.
You can reach me at leslie@leslietarboleda.com or learn more about my work at www.alignedlivingandleadership.com. If you’re ready to explore a collaboration, I also offer free 30-minute connection calls at www.bookacallwithleslie.com. Let’s see what kind of magic we can create—together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alignedlivingandleadership.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alignedlivingandleadership/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alignedlivingandleadership
- Linkedin: kedin.com/in/executive-coaching-and-profitability/
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