LESLIE THURMAN
Leslie Thurman is a purpose-driven social impact expert with 20 years of cross-sector experience at the intersection of corporate purpose and philanthropy, advising global institutions on public-private-philanthropic partnerships and strategic messaging to achieve corporate social goals.
As Director of Global Programming at the Milken Institute, she leads high-level public and private convenings, engaging investors, philanthropists, government leaders, and media. Previously, Leslie held leadership roles at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and International Medical Corps, directing major gifts, events, and institutional advancement. Her earlier roles include directing corporate social responsibility at Warner Bros., aligning the studio with partners such as the U.S. Department of State, Habitat for Humanity, Conservation International and the International Rescue Committee. Leslie also co-led a $20M biomedical sciences portfolio at the W.M. Keck Foundation.
She serves on advisory boards for Fonkoze and the Global Hunger Foundation and holds a Master of Arts from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley.