Leslie McCaddon

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LESLIE MCCADDON

The truest, most beautiful life never promises to be an easy one. We need to let go of the lie that it’s supposed to be- Glennon Doyle By the time I was thirty years old I had studied acting at one of the top theater schools in the nation, been licensed in property and casualty lines insurance, become the wife of a military officer, endured more than 30 weeks on bedrest due to complicated pregnancies, and was the mother of 3 under the age of four -one who was battling cancer. Those who hear my story often suggest that I must be very strong. I always argue it is these very experiences that made me so. The more we strengthen the muscles of living bravely, the more we have the courage to do so. When my late husband died due to a service connected (undiagnosed) traumatic brain injury, I was only 36 years old with 3 children 10 and under. Although I was tempted to cry “uncle” at facing yet another catastrophic challenge in such a short period of time, I was also already convinced that a life well lived is a life that will most definitely contain some heartbreak. Over the decade since I was suddenly widowed, I\'ve doubled down on living a life of meaning. I\'ve made it my life\'s work to advocate for veterans and their families who are struggling to get needed support, to be a voice for the underdog, and to be an example of living a life I truly love. I\'ve been published in major magazines, spoken before military Generals and mental healthcare experts, and coached new widows on their personal journey through grief and into a life of their own designing. In addition, I\'ve remarried growing from a family with 3 children to one with 7 while running a small business from home! After years of working at home, I\'m so excited to be returning to work in a team environment for a mission-based organization. There is so much work to be done, and I\'m thrilled to be stepping up into meaningful work with a heart to make a big impact- one human, one story, at a time.