Lesley Stiles Scearce is president and CEO of United Way of Greater Chattanooga, where she leads a nonprofit team committed to addressing social service issues to build a stronger and healthier community.
Before coming to United Way in 2015, Scearce served as president and CEO at On Point: Direction for Life, where she led the organization to reach 240,000 local youths with skills and support necessary to avoid risky behavior and be prepared for life.
She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a bachelor’s degree in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond.
What books have you read and recommended to others that influence your leadership style?
The books that have influenced my leadership style the most are undoubtedly the ones I read over and over again as a young leader early in my career, and still return to regularly today. One of those books is “Visioneering” by Andy Stanley. My leadership roles have been charged with casting a new vision and crafting a plan to get there. Not just reading, but really working through the story of Nehemiah tackling an epic calling helped me stay practical and realistic, while also leaning on my faith for the road ahead.