Scaling Empathy to Make Wishes Come True
Leslie Motter on the strengths and strategies she brings to leading a globally recognized nonprofit
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About the Leader
Leslie Motter
President and CEO of Make-A-Wish America
- Empathy®
- Connectedness®
- Strategic®
- Relator®
- Developer®
Leslie Motter serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish America. Motter is an agile, results-driven C-suite executive with over 30 years of experience in strategy, finance, operations and human resources.
"When you reach out to someone, they want to help. They want to figure out a way to make it happen — a way to spread more hope and joy through the world."
Motter reflects on the power of collaboration as a catalyst for impact. In her view, meaningful connections are crucial to making even the biggest wishes come true. Strong partnerships built on trust and shared purpose have empowered Make-A-Wish to scale its mission in profound ways.
"That’s what courageous leadership is. It’s doing the right things even if they’re hard."
Motter sees courage and vulnerability not as opposing forces, but as complementary essentials in leadership. The willingness to engage in difficult conversations is, she believes, a measure of how deeply a leader is invested and how much they care.
"We’re part of a community. We’re part of something bigger than each of us individually."
Leaders set the tone for the emotional economy of an organization. At Make-A-Wish, Motter creates a culture of appreciation, comradery and belonging. For employees and volunteers alike, feeling genuinely valued contributes to a sense of purpose, an often overlooked force that drives engagement.