About Me
Hello! I’m Leslie Quander Wooldridge, an award-winning journalist, ghostwriter, brand strategist, and speaker based in Washington, DC—and founder of LQ Media LLC. My staff and freelance work on topics like personal finance (including general investing, saving, and cryptocurrency), wellness and mindset, relationships, and entertainment has reached tens of millions of readers and appeared everywhere from Business Insider, The Washington Post, and AARP The Magazine to Eventbrite and Men’s Health.
I worked as a magazine and website editor for years, and I’ve been a featured panelist at conferences by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, host and facilitator for virtual events for Sisters From AARP, and even appeared on other podcasts as well as local and national news. I also formerly produced and hosted a podcast with Gokhshtein Media on the mindset of investing, called “Market Mindset With Leslie Quander.” What can I say? I love sharing info and reaching out to people.
How I Can Serve Your Audience
Through my work with LQ Media LLC, I help audiences understand that mindset matters, and that we can become aware of it—and adjust it—to have peace and abundance in our lives, including in our relationships and careers.
I also can provide practical information on mindset and communication best practices to help writers and other professionals successfully work with media gatekeepers, share their stories, and break into media outlets.
What Drives Me
In general, my goals are to provide audiences with actionable insights that can help them unlock new levels of professional success and personal peace. I seek to inspire people to realize that it’s never too late to pivot and pursue their goals, even if they’re afraid.
Grounded in my commitment to provide accurate and helpful information, I offer speaking services and workshops to connect with people authentically and help them build real authority—and find real satisfaction—in their work and in their lives.
About My Talks
Please learn more about my prepared talks given through LQ Media LLC below. I’m also happy to work with you to develop a tailored talk or workshop for your organization or event.
For Corporate Teams and Enterprises
The Plain-Language Matrix: Translating Complexity Into High-Impact Brand Authority
This high-impact, interactive workshop solves one of corporate leadership’s problematic bottlenecks: brilliant ideas getting lost in bureaucratic gridlock or dense jargon.
Designed for cross-functional corporate professionals and teams—including those focused on marketing, communications, legal, and product—this masterclass teaches your staff my strategic framework for demystifying highly technical, scientific, and regulated subjects—and presenting them in accessible and interesting ways to help your trusted audiences.
Participants walk away knowing how to:
- interview specialized SMEs more effectively (or how to give better interviews themselves);
- better navigate corporate pipelines without missing deadlines;
- and translate complex concepts into accessible, human-centric brand stories that drive audience trust, engagement, and clear market authority.
For Individuals and Entrepreneurs
Master Your Mindset: Shed Fear and Find Peace
In this talk that can be tailored for working women and entrepreneurs, audience members gain an understanding of how to embrace their full potential. They learn about principles for developing inner peace and a growth mindset, including how to successfully and strategically move on from situations that no longer serve them, while learning how to manage their fears and mental roadblocks, how to deal with imposter syndrome, and how to beat burnout and feel energized to move forward with their goals. Note: This talk is not wellness advice.
Media Mindset: How to Break Into the Media and Find Success
Think you need to be famous to get media coverage—or be a full-time journalist to become a paid writer? Think again. In this session ideal for entrepreneurs, would-be writers, and other creatives and professionals, attendees learn five key principles to breaking into top-tier platforms and getting press coverage or getting paid to write. They also learn how mindset can figure into their media goals, and how to adjust their thoughts and action steps to successfully work with gatekeepers.
Contact Me
Interested in a consult, or in scheduling a speaking or workshop session? Please email me and put “Speaking query” in the subject line. Or feel free to fill out the form below. I look forward to being in touch!
