Phaedra M. Leslie is the Director of Business Relations and Economic Development at the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, where she leads the development and implementation of workforce-focused business development programs throughout the Chicagoland region. 

Phaedra is a founding Board Member of Completion Tutoring and Mentoring, a member of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR), Board Secretary for the Washington Park Consortium, a member of the South East Chicago Commission (SECC), and on the Denison Alumni Recruiting Team (DART). She also served as Co-Chair and member of Bronzeville's Teen Living Programs Auxiliary (TLPA) Board. She holds a BA from Denison University in English Literature and Mass Media Communications and an MA in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. Phaedra is a Washington Park resident.