Leslie Farrell: Three Decades of Practicing Communications and Promoting DE&I
Posted on Mar. 22, 2024 / Diversity & Inclusion, Member News / Subscribe 0
Written by Kiran Malik-Khan
As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8) – a time when the sisterhood of women comes together as changemakers and for camaraderie, we are highlighting one of our inspiring former members and advocates of diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I), Leslie Farrell. Leslie has volunteered on the chapter’s DE&I committee and is an independent practitioner, owner, and president of Farrell Communications.
Leslie has been an amazing communications support for well-known businesses across Tampa, with a special focus on supporting and amplifying the voices of diverse community groups, especially the women of Tampa Bay. She is an award-winning publicist with clients like the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, University Area Community Development Corporation, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Michael Murphy Gallery and Pasco Kids First, to name a few.
Like the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day – #InspireInclusion – Leslie has advice to inspire women in communications and public relations to ensure they are included, valued, and sought out in shaping the future:
“Getting together with others who do the same kind of work and sharing experiences can go a long way. When we come together and work together, we create an unstoppable force. I have several female friends in the field, and we check in with each other and share advice from time to time. Especially as a solo practitioner, it's heartening to have friends who are also communicators,” notes Leslie.
A journalism major from the University of New Mexico, Leslie has served as a reporter, editor, freelance writer, and media relations specialist. She was inspired by her father, who was a journalist and a writer. Early on, she worked as a reporter for WTLC-FM News in Indianapolis, covering sports and local news. Following that, she wrote for the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico’s largest newspaper, and served as news editor for The Daily Lobo newspaper.
A diligent community advocate, Leslie co-founded the Environmental Improvement Force with the goal of making Hillsborough public schools greener. The group received a commendation from the city and was credited with singlehandedly starting recycling at Hillsborough County Public Schools.
Leslie also serves on the WFTS-TV ABC Action News Equity Diversity Inclusion Advisory Committee and Straz Center for the Performing Arts’ Inclusion Diversity Equity and Access Committee, and she has served on the Tampa Local Spiritual Assembly for more than two decades.
There’s more: Leslie co-founded the charity BOOST, with the goal of bringing equity to public schools. She served as chair of the board of OASIS - Opportunities (Outreach Assisting Students in Need), an organization with similar goals, for more than 10 years and continues to serve on the charity’s advisory board.
Her top advice to those pondering this field:
In addition, she encourages all new communicators to “join groups like the PRSA and build a network with others in the field.” This is especially important when we think of ways to actively build an inclusive industry – building a diverse network of peers, which is both important to your career and the integrity of the PR and Communications fields.
Here’s to building bridges and strengthening sisterhood.
About the Author: Kiran Malik-Khan is the senior communications director for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, and a member of PRSA Tampa Bay's DE&I Committee. She is a freelance journalist; and sits on the boards of World Hijab Day and the Pakistani American Association of Tampa Bay.
0 Comments