Our Team

Leslie Becknell, CEO and Founder

After a 15-year career focused on marketing and innovation for IBM, Procter & Gamble, and The Coca-Cola Company, Leslie Becknell founded Conversation That Matters to help individuals and organizations to realize their full potential by enhancing interpersonal communication and expressing unique talents. She combines her blue chip corporate experience with a deep understanding of personal development.

Leslie has extensive experience as a speaker, workshop leader, individual coach, and facilitator. She trained at and worked with the Center for Authentic Leadership for over 7 years. Leslie is currently studying part time at Andover Newton Theological School . She has a Masters of International Affairs from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

She is trained in various creativity techniques, including Creative Problem Solving, What If!'s "Productive Creativity" and The Five Faces of Genius innovation training. She is a leader at the international annual conference, Creative Problem Solving Institute. Leslie is qualified to administer and interpret the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and also uses the Enneagram and FourSight models to aid in individual and team understanding.

Kristin Leydig Bryant, Team Building and Facilitation

Kristin Leydig Bryant holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, consistently ranked as one of the world's top business schools, and a BA in English from the University of Tennessee. She has consulted with and facilitated for companies like The Coca-Cola Company, BellSouth, Eli Lilly, and ING.

After leaving a successful corporate career with Ernst & Young Management Consulting (later Cap Gemini), Kristin became a faciliator and consultant guiding organizations to productive meetings, meaningful strategic plans, and better ideas. She is qualified to adminster and interpret the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. She brings her clients a rare combination of business training and experience, creativity, and insight about personal dynamics.

Adam Marx, Innovation and Brainstorming

Adam Marx coaches leaders to be innovative, facilitates idea generation brainstorms, and teaches creative leadership skills. A natural inventor, Adam holds five patents and has contributed to the development of new products ranging from infant products to soft drinks to telecommunications systems. He also founded Virtual Iron, a company that creates design software for customizing Harley-Davidsons.

Adam combines a technology background with a deep understanding of personal potential. He has a Masters degree in Computer Science and Cognitive Psycholgy, experience in programming and user interface design, and a love of new gadgets. He has extensive skills and a natural ability to guide people into their full potential. He has completed New Ventures West coaching training and the Center for Authentic Leadership's Leadership Intensive, achieved Master Practitioner certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and is attending The Robbat Center's Healing School.