Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Vander Gheynst.
Hi Leslie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a theatre degree. At my time there I performed in mainstage shows, black box and student productions and in addition, served in leadership roles in the Longhorn Marching Band (as a section leader, TBS the service sorority, as a freshman advisor, VP and finally as President). I was and have always been passionate about the arts, but didn’t really know what that looked like in the context of work.
After a few event and operations type jobs, I landed at a large franchise organization as at the front desk and quickly transitioned to an HR Coordinator role. I enjoyed the work in HR at the time and worked my way up to the VP of People at that same organization. I believed very early that hard work, solving problems, and caring for people is the foundation for any successful track. After working there for 17 years, I was ready for my next challenge. I moved to a small start up organization (you may have seen them on Shark Tank) and went back to this concept of solving problems, leading people, and getting my hands dirty. After about a year there, I felt myself hitting a bit of a wall and questioning how passionate I was for HR-type work.
I knew I needed to grow and decided to take time to focus on my own development. That lead me to hiring a coach and obtaining a few certifications in unconscious bias, neuro linguistic programming, and life coaching. It was through this deep personal work that I realized that I had a leadership gap and it was holding me back. I spent time digging into the complicated nature of leadership, the challenging work that leaders have to navigate, and the need for additional support. I started Ensō Coaching and Consulting in 2022 and we’ve been going strong ever since. We coach individuals who are hitting a wall in their growth or are looking for a more fulfilling life, we also partner with organizations that are looking to better develop their leadership team (at the executive level, director level, mid-manager, and new managers transitioning from individual contributors).
In addition to all of that, I am actively involved in the arts community in Austin and stretch my creative muscle as a performer (singer and actor). I’ve been recognized by the community with Acting awards over my 20 years as a performer in Austin. I am also partnering with a few other artists to create a new theatre collective focused on immersive musical theatre – more to come there!
I also can’t forget to mention my most important role – I’m a mother to two kids, Rian (10) and Jack (7). They are the center of the world and have caused me to grow in ways I couldn’t have predicted. The weight of raising kids, their evolving needs, the constant reflection, how different they are. It has caused deep reflection and massive evolution for me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Lots of struggles! I’ve worked with extremely difficult leaders, a lack of clarity, major executive changes (there were a few years when we had 3 CEOs in 3 years), shifting and competing priorities, market fluctuations – all from a business standpoint – so the necessity to shift and manage those changes. I’ve been told (to my face) that I was not the right leader for the organization, that my team was not capable, and had to navigate those opinions.
There were situations where I made some major mistakes, and times where I acted outside of my own integrity – and had to learn from those challenges. I also learned that organizations and leaders can teach us things and preach them as gospel – but there is no universal truth. Getting clear on what we believe in and what we value with help us more effectively navigate the right environments for us.
Another big obstacle for me was getting clear on what I was actually passionate about – I think I thought that I would be some Chief HR officer somewhere but at a critical point in my career, I realized a lot of what I was doing was programmed into me and not actually what I wanted for myself. I felt like I was just blindly following a career path that I didn’t love.
Now, I feel like my work and my environment is aligned with who I am – but the challenge is learning that running a business means that I have to function as the CEO, the head of marketing, legal, training, business development, sales etc. Balance in the business is important.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ensō Coaching and Consulting?
Ensō Coaching & Consulting exists to help individuals and organizations move from intention to impact. We help individuals close the gap.
At our core, we are a coaching-led firm that works with leaders, teams, and organizations at pivotal moments of growth and change. We partner with company-sponsored clients—from emerging leaders and mid-level managers to senior executives—as well as individuals seeking personal, professional, business, or career development. In addition to one-on-one and group coaching, we design and facilitate leadership and executive workshops and provide strategic consulting support when organizations need clarity, alignment, and forward momentum.
What we specialize in is helping people think differently so they can lead differently. Our work sits at the intersection of mindset, strategy, and execution. We are known for translating big goals into practical, sustainable action—without losing sight of the human side of leadership. Whether we’re coaching an executive, supporting a leadership team, or advising an organization, we focus on the drivers that actually move results: decision-making, accountability, communication, and the ability to stay grounded and effective in complexity.
What sets us apart is our approach. Coaching is not an add-on to our work—it is the catalyst. We don’t offer one-size-fits-all frameworks or generic leadership advice. Instead, we meet clients where they are, challenge unhelpful patterns, and help them build the awareness and skills needed to navigate real-world pressures. Our style is thoughtful, direct, and deeply practical. We balance compassion with accountability and strategy with execution.
Brand-wise, we are most proud of the trust we build with our clients and the depth of the work we do together. We are known for creating space for honest conversations, meaningful growth, and measurable progress. Clients often tell us they appreciate that we can hold both the big picture and the day-to-day realities at the same time—and help them bridge the gap between the two.
What we want readers to know is simple: We partner with people and organizations who are serious about growth, clarity, and impact. We help leaders slow down enough to think clearly, act intentionally, and lead in ways that are both effective and sustainable. Our work is grounded, human, and results-oriented—and designed to create lasting change, not quick fixes.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Leaving a very stable, six figure gig with huge bonus/incentives, amazing benefits, a community of people I adored, and some of the best friends I’ve ever made to start my own company from scratch was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. That said, I was clear that I outgrew the organization and my value could be offered exponentially in a different context.
I didn’t have a roster of clients, I was moving into a new space (executive coaching) and I had to learn how to run a business. I struggle with asking for business – sales is hard for me – so I was worried about how successful I would be. I worried about the impact it would have on my family and yet, I knew I had to give it a try and failure really wasn’t an option (though somedays I need my coach to remind me of that).
The next huge risk I took (and they took) was bringing three additional coaches and an operations person onto the team. I didn’t feel tactically ready but we all just leaned in and said yes and we’ll figure it out. It was the absolute right combination of people for the work we do and they have added so much to our value proposition. There is a pressure and a weight to knowing that they’re relying on the business to be successful – so now the risk isn’t just to me and my family – it is also to them and their families.
Pricing:
- Individual coaching starting at $100 per session (subscription model 2-4 sessions per month)
- Organization coaching – we work with your budget!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ensocc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enso_cc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ensocoachingconsulting
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enso-coaching-and-consulting/
- Twitter: https://x.com/enso_cc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AsYouArePodcast
