Heather Leonard
About Heather Leonard
Heather Leonard is the Chief of Staff to the CMO at Fannie Mae, with a strong background in marketing strategy, brand positioning, and consumer insights.
Current Role at Fannie Mae
Heather Leonard currently serves as the Chief of Staff to the Chief Marketing Officer at Fannie Mae in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. In this role, she focuses on driving innovation within marketing strategies to stay ahead of industry trends. Her responsibilities include supporting the CMO in various strategic initiatives, program management, and ensuring alignment across different marketing functions.
Previous Experience at Fannie Mae
Heather Leonard previously worked at Fannie Mae as Chief of Staff for the Single-Family Strategy, Insights & Marketing Team from 2016 to 2019. Over her three-year tenure in this position, she was instrumental in positioning strategies and defining how the brand was perceived in the market. Her focus was on consumer insight, creative strategy, and direction to support the company's marketing efforts.
Roles at TIAA and Capital One
Heather Leonard's marketing career includes a short tenure as Senior Director of Marketing Strategy at TIAA in 2016 in Fairfax, VA. Before that, she had an extensive career at Capital One, holding several key roles in the Washington D.C. Metro Area. These roles included Brand Strategy Consultant (2013-2016), Director of Brand Strategy (2009-2011), Sr. Brand Manager (2004-2009), and Sr. Product Manager (1999-2004). Her efforts at Capital One included brand conversion and developing creative strategies.
Early Career and Educational Background
Heather Leonard started her career as an Operations Analyst at Scott & Stringfellow in Richmond, Virginia, from 1998 to 1999. She also worked as an Event Coordinator at the National Postal Forum in Washington D.C. in 1997. Heather studied at Universidad de Salamanca, focusing on Spanish and Political Economy for one month in 1997. She earned a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from William & Mary, where she studied from 1994 to 1998.
Expertise and Professional Interests
Heather Leonard has a deep expertise in brand conversion and consumer insights, focusing on understanding consumer behavior and preferences. She is skilled in creative strategy and direction, leading product development teams to bring new products from concept to market. Heather is also passionate about talent development, mentoring team members and nurturing their growth. Her experience in program management has allowed her to oversee multiple projects and ensure their successful completion.