Lesley Robinson, PhD
About Lesley Robinson, PhD
2023 & 2024 LINKEDIN COMMUNITY TOP VOICE - Entrepreneurship + Higher Education + Educational Leadership I operate at the intersection of my passion x mission x strengths = Entrepreneurial Leadership My passion is nurturing a growth mindset by gaining new perspectives. My mission is empowering students, especially women, to find the best path to their own destination. My top strengths of significance, connectedness, and achievement drive me to make meaningful contributions. I embrace the thrill of trying new things by pushing my boundaries to be comfortable being uncomfortable. I excel at curating transformative experiences that inspire individuals to unlock their full potential. I offer unwavering encouragement through my contagious enthusiasm. I translate ideas into action that create a lasting legacy with impact embedded. // Lesley is the Founder of Embolden Consulting, dedicated to empowering founders and educators. She is the Co-Founder & Director of Education at ayana, a 501(c)(3) foundation to bridge the gap for women founders, fostering diversity and inclusion in the global startup ecosystem. As the Founding Director of the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin, she dispersed $115,000+ in seed grants, supported 66+ startups, and amplified 95+ FoundHERs. Under her leadership, KS WELI was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center by GCEC. Lesley lectures on entrepreneurial leadership and social entrepreneurship. Her EntreLeaderHER course guides students in discovering their values and authentic leadership through a gender-smart lens. The course was a 2024 USABE Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education Finalist. Recognized in 2023 as a United Nations Global Purpose Award Winner at World Logic Day, Lesley is a global citizen visiting 35+ countries. She is a U.S. State Department Professional Fellow and serves on the U.S. Global Leadership Consortium Texas State Advisory Committee. Lesley holds a PhD in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University. Her research focuses on gender and entrepreneurship education. She holds a master’s from Drexel University and a bachelor’s from The University of Tulsa. She serves on the SXSW Pitch Advisory Board and is a Young Women’s Alliance and CHIEF member. She is a 2024 Austin Woman Magazine inaugural Change Maker, Austin Business Journal Women in Business Finalist, and Austin Under 40 Finalist. She is the proud mother of a wild-cat-loving 6-year-old girl.