Leah is the only child of an only child from Mississippi and the oldest boy of twelve from Georgia. She grew up in Jacksonville, FL and graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School in 1998. She graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002, obtaining a Bachelors of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business with a concentration in Accounting and a minor in Hispanic Studies. While at Penn, she was a part of the gospel choir and The Inspiration, an a cappella group. As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Leah served as Vice President and acted as the only undergraduate on the Sorority’s Regional Standards committee. During her summers, Leah held internships with First Union National Bank and J.P. Morgan as a part of INROADS and Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO).

After graduating from Penn, she moved to London to work for J.P. Morgan Chase as an Analyst in its Investment Bank. By the end of her three years in London, Leah had traveled to over 20 countries. Her most treasured accomplishment is the Millennium Volunteer “Award for Excellence”, given by the UK’s Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in recognition of over 200 hours in weekly visits with an elderly British woman through the Dorcas Befriending Scheme in Islington. After being promoted to Associate in 2005, Leah chose to pursue her MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and was named a Charles P. Bonini Fellow, a full-tuition award. She spent one year in Global and U.S. marketing with Eli Lilly in Indianapolis in order to fulfill the fellowship. From 2005 to 2007 Leah served as President of the Ron Brown Alumni Association and Chair for the Council on African American Affairs.

After graduating from business school in June 2008 Leah moved to Chicago, IL to join Erickson Retirement Communities as Associate Executive Director.