Leslie Goodman
Encyclopedia
Leslie Goodman is the current Senior Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, Walt Disney Company. She is in charge of the company's community outreach, education programs, environmental affairs, volunteer efforts, philanthropy, as well as The Walt Disney Foundation.
Before assuming her current position, she was the chief spokesperson and lobbyist for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
. She had a noteworthy career in journalism, politics and public affairs working for such notables as Ronald Reagan
and Lee Atwater
, among others.
. She grew up in New York City and graduated from Stanford University
in 1981 with a degree in broadcast communications.
Returning to New York after college, she went to work as a news-writer and segment producer for WCBS-TV for a couple of years before freelancing for a bit as a television producer.
In 1986, Leslie headed to Washington DC to work as associate commissioner for public affairs at the Social Security Administration
. She also worked as a press advance representative for the White House.
In 1988, she hit the campaign trail again as director of media outreach for the Bush/Quayle campaign. After the successful election, she was appointed press secretary of the Republican National Committee
by Chairman Lee Atwater
. She served in that position until Chairman Atwater's death in 1991.
She was director of communications for the United States Information Agency
from 1991-1992 and deputy communications director for the Bush/Quayle reelection campaign in 1992. After Bush and Quayle failed to win reelection, Leslie went to work as vice president of media relations for the United States Chamber of Commerce
for less than a year.
In December of 1993, she headed back to California when then Governor Pete Wilson hired her as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications.
She took a brief leave of absence in 1996 when she was chosen for a fellowship at Harvard University's School of Politics. As part of the fellowship, she conducted a study group on political communications. Nothing was published as a result of her work.
After Wilson left office in January 1999, Leslie became an independent public affairs consultant, as well as a political analyst for various California media. Her most noteworthy assignment came in 2000, when she was appointed director of communications for the Republican National Convention. She was also a spokesman and strategist on the Bush for President 2000 campaign.
to serve as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications for the business unit. Her purview includes crisis communications, global events planning, executive & internal communications.
Under Leslie's leadership, the first ever Report on Safety was produced, as a direct result of a fatal accident
accident on Big Thunder Mountain, which Disney later admitted being due to poor maintenance.
In 2005, after an executive shuffle, her title changed to Executive Vice President, Worldwide Public Affairs, Parks and Resorts. In addition to her original duties, she also added government, industry, and community relations.
In April 2010, she was promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, the Walt Disney Company.
Before assuming her current position, she was the chief spokesperson and lobbyist for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the segment of The Walt Disney Company that conceives, builds, and manages the company's theme parks and holiday resorts, as well as a variety of additional family-oriented leisure enterprises...
. She had a noteworthy career in journalism, politics and public affairs working for such notables as Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Lee Atwater
Lee Atwater
Harvey LeRoy "Lee" Atwater was an American political consultant and strategist to the Republican Party. He was an advisor of U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and Chairman of the Republican National Committee.-Childhood and early life:...
, among others.
Early life and career
Leslie was born in 1959 to New York State Senator Roy GoodmanRoy Goodman
Roy Goodman is a conductor and violinist, specialising in the performance and direction of early music...
. She grew up in New York City and graduated from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1981 with a degree in broadcast communications.
Returning to New York after college, she went to work as a news-writer and segment producer for WCBS-TV for a couple of years before freelancing for a bit as a television producer.
Political career
She got her professional start in politics as a press coordinator for Reagan-Bush 84 campaign. From there, she became Special Assistant for Public Affairs to the Regional Administrator of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.In 1986, Leslie headed to Washington DC to work as associate commissioner for public affairs at the Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...
. She also worked as a press advance representative for the White House.
In 1988, she hit the campaign trail again as director of media outreach for the Bush/Quayle campaign. After the successful election, she was appointed press secretary of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
by Chairman Lee Atwater
Lee Atwater
Harvey LeRoy "Lee" Atwater was an American political consultant and strategist to the Republican Party. He was an advisor of U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and Chairman of the Republican National Committee.-Childhood and early life:...
. She served in that position until Chairman Atwater's death in 1991.
She was director of communications for the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
from 1991-1992 and deputy communications director for the Bush/Quayle reelection campaign in 1992. After Bush and Quayle failed to win reelection, Leslie went to work as vice president of media relations for the United States Chamber of Commerce
United States Chamber of Commerce
The United States Chamber of Commerce is an American lobbying group representing the interests of many businesses and trade associations. It is not an agency of the United States government....
for less than a year.
In December of 1993, she headed back to California when then Governor Pete Wilson hired her as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications.
She took a brief leave of absence in 1996 when she was chosen for a fellowship at Harvard University's School of Politics. As part of the fellowship, she conducted a study group on political communications. Nothing was published as a result of her work.
After Wilson left office in January 1999, Leslie became an independent public affairs consultant, as well as a political analyst for various California media. Her most noteworthy assignment came in 2000, when she was appointed director of communications for the Republican National Convention. She was also a spokesman and strategist on the Bush for President 2000 campaign.
Disney
In 2001, Leslie was hired by then-Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Paul PresslerPaul Pressler
Paul Pressler is an advisor of the New York- and London-based private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Formerly president and CEO of Gap, Inc...
to serve as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications for the business unit. Her purview includes crisis communications, global events planning, executive & internal communications.
Under Leslie's leadership, the first ever Report on Safety was produced, as a direct result of a fatal accident
Incidents at Disneyland Resort
This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.While the California Department of Safety and Health has ruled that some guest-related incidents are Disney's fault, the majority of incidents were due to negligence on the guests' part.The...
accident on Big Thunder Mountain, which Disney later admitted being due to poor maintenance.
In 2005, after an executive shuffle, her title changed to Executive Vice President, Worldwide Public Affairs, Parks and Resorts. In addition to her original duties, she also added government, industry, and community relations.
In April 2010, she was promoted to Senior Vice President, Corporate Citizenship, the Walt Disney Company.