Member profile: Leslie Cardinal

If you have an interest in volunteering for Impact San Antonio, you may have met or heard from Leslie Cardinal. This outgoing redhead works with Mary Massey to recruit volunteers for a variety of roles. Here’s what she has to say about Impact SA.

When did you first hear about Impact San Antonio?

I first heard about Impact San Antonio about 10 years ago when I facilitated a board retreat for the group. If I remember correctly, at that time Impact San Antonio was aiming to reach 300 members so they could make three large grants. I remember being very impressed with the mission and the focus of the leadership team in working toward their goals.

Why and when did you decide to become a member?

Earlier this year, (Impact SA member) Wiede Cutshall mentioned Impact San Antonio in a conversation. I remembered my earlier work with the board and decided to look into the group again. I attended one of the spring mixers and found the group very welcoming and filled with interesting women. They told me about membership, and I jumped in and joined. I’ve already started talking with my friends about Impact San Antonio. I look forward to inviting them to upcoming events, and hopefully they’ll join the group too!

What impresses and/or inspires you about the work of Impact SA?

I was impressed to learn more about the grant review process and how detailed it is. I also like the fact that a liaison is assigned to each grantee agency to support them as they implement their plans.

What roles have you played in the organization?

I knew that one of the ways to get started with the organization would be to volunteer. I heard that Mary Massey was working to create good systems to organize volunteers, especially now that events are being held in person again.  So much of the success of the events comes from having the right number of volunteers in the needed roles at every Impact San Antonio event. I’ve enjoyed helping Mary with that project this year.

Are there any roles you would like to take on in the future?

One of the roles I have always enjoyed is being a greeter at events. I grew up in a military family, and we moved often. I learned that if I would jump in and help to welcome people when I went to events, even if I was one of the new people myself, I could more easily relax and meet other people, too. It has become one of my favorite things to do.

What do you do for a living?

In my professional life, I love working with leaders and professionals to build their skills to advance or change their careers. I did this in the corporate world for many years and then continued this work as a self-employed leadership and career coach. At this point, I am semi-retired, working with a handful of wonderful clients. I’m always taking classes and workshops to learn new things, and I’m currently exploring opportunities to do more teaching myself. I’m active in a real estate investing group, and I volunteer with several organizations in San Antonio. I enjoy lifting weights and I grow a large, year-round container garden.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I look forward to continuing to meet other members and to helping Impact San Antonio grow into the future!