First earning a Bachelor of Arts in international relations, cum laude, at the University of Pennsylvania in 1977, Lesley Mallow Wendell began her career as an assistant account executive with Benton & Bowles. Following a year in that role, she joined the University of Vermont, where she spent the next four years as the director of the student jobs program and working with the cooperative education program. In 1982, she became the director of career services with Widener University, a role she held until 1993. During this time, Ms. Wendell continued her studies at Widener University, achieving a Master of Science in business with a focus on human resources and career development, summa cum laude, in 1987.
Ms. Wendell joined OPTIONS, Inc., a career development and organizational consulting company, as the director of client services and chief executive officer in 1993. Stepping back from the role of director of client services in 1996, she stayed on as the chief executive officer until 2001. In 2001, she established the Rosewood Consulting Group, where she continues to serve as owner and president. In these roles, she provides executive and team coaching as well as consulting services for organization and leadership development, including board governance and succession planning. Ms. Wendell has also been the owner of TransitionWorks since 2008.
Continuing to learn throughout her career, Ms. Wendell has sought out various certifications from the Myers-Briggs Company. She has been certified in the Myers-Briggs type indicator; the California psychological inventory; the Thomas-Kilmann conflict mode instrument; fundamental interpersonal relations orientation; emotional and social competency inventory; and dominance, influence, steadiness and compliance. Having accomplished much over the course of her career, Ms. Wendell attributes much of her success to her early work as an account executive, citing that this experience became the bedrock from which her expertise in client management has grown.
Furthermore, Ms. Wendell is incredibly grateful to the women who have inspired her throughout her career, and she hopes that she can be that inspiration for others. She considers the most gratifying aspect of her career to be seeing the people she has coached over the years rise through the ranks and flourish in their respective careers. Looking toward the future, she hopes to be able to devote more time to her writing. In addition to contributing articles to various publications, she wrote the chapter “Transform Your Leadership to Grow Your Business” in Jean Oursier’s 2015 book, “Results! Impactful Solutions to Drive Business,” and co-authored “When Leaders Leave: A New Perspective on Leadership Change” in 2013.
In order to remain up to date with new developments in her field, Ms. Wendell participates in the World Business & Executive Coach Summit, an annual event that allows for international networking and discussion. Active in her community as well, she is closely involved with Women’s Way, a leading nonprofit group dedicated to the advancement of women. As vice chair of the organization’s board, her leadership has led to a new strategic planning process that has improved the group’s fundraising abilities. Other community endeavors of hers include volunteer work with Career Wardrobe and service as an advisory board member of Power for Women. Both organizations have presented Ms. Wendell with awards for her service.
When she is not working, Ms. Wendell donates her time to Congregation Ohev Shalom, where she has been a member since 2013 and has served on the board of directors and as chair of the human resources committee, the outreach grants committee and the netzach committee. Furthermore, she is the proud mother of two children and a doting grandmother to two grandchildren. In her free time, Ms. Wendell enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, going to her local farmers’ market, and cooking.
