107: How The Thing Event Transforms Leaders | A Conversation With Leslie Weaver

On this episode of Making Elephants Fly, Terry sits down with Leslie Weaver in his office! With more than 25 years of experience in education, non-profits, student development, camps, and organizational leadership, Leslie has dedicated her life to helping people discover the leader within them. She doesn't just teach leadership—she develops it. Her work has helped countless people who never saw themselves as leaders step into influence with confidence and purpose. Currently serving in a senior leadership role in one of the top school systems in the nation, Leslie leads a team of more than 600 people while helping create life-shaping experiences for thousands of students every day. Through her READY framework, she teaches that great leadership starts with leading yourself first through clear goals, simple systems, and consistent action. Known for her practical, engaging, and down-to-earth teaching style, Leslie equips teams and leaders with tools they can immediately apply in real life. She believes the best leaders aren't found—they're developed. As a departmental leader, she has built her work around growing leaders from the ground up, starting with those willing to step up and serve. Her passion is equipping people to lead with confidence, strengthening teams, and creating systems that don't just develop leaders—but retain and multiply their impact. Join Leslie and Terry Weaver as they talk about the ten-year journey of building "the Thing," lessons in community and leadership, and the power of showing up with intention for transformational events. This episode dives deep into how perseverance, curiosity, and authentic connections can turn a vision into a thriving community—and how the mindset you bring shapes the value you receive. Find out more at http://terryweaver.com and join Terry at the Thing at http://thething.live and use the code PODCAST for a discount.