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Bring a folding chair—and make room for others 

Sawyer is committed to expanding opportunity for women like her. That commitment is deeply rooted in both personal experience and family legacy.  

Sawyer comes from generations of successful entrepreneurs and barrier-breakers. Long before it was common, Sawyer’s great-great-grandmother, Laura B. Pride (pictured to the left), sent all of her 13 children to college in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Sawyer’s great-grandfather was a Buffalo Solider who taught fellow troop members how to read and write. He was also included as one of the first African Americans to attend Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.   

Sawyer shares it was always expected for her to go to college. “Lake Forest gave me the self-awareness and greater confidence to be okay with who I am,” Sawyer said. “Because I’ve been privileged and had an education, I want that for everyone.” 

Both Sawyer’s maternal and paternal grandparents owned thriving local businesses in Ohio, instilling her passion for entrepreneurship, along with a strong sense of drive and determination.

When asked how women secure a seat at the table in male-dominated fields, Sawyer speaks candidly about the ongoing challenge. She draws strength from former US Representative Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress, who famously said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” 

“That is what I so very often have had to do,” Sawyer explained. “I need to assert my own voice and not wait to be included or welcomed into a space or decision-making process.”

Her message is equally clear: once you bring your chair, make space for others.  

Left: Leslie J. Sawyer '75  at her desk; Right: The EDI team celebrating their 35th anniversary

“There are still too few women, and definitely too few women of color, in this field,” she said. “I want young girls to know that they too can do this. I make it a point to encourage young women to know their value, be empowered, and to assert themselves in pursuing their dreams.”

That personal mission fuels Sawyer’s dedication to mentorship and sponsorship. While she did not always have someone to open doors for her, she now works intentionally to be that advocate through her leadership on the Lake Forest College Alumni Council and as a Corporate Trustee for the Associated Colleges of Illinois. She hosts student visits, welcomes interns, makes introductions, and takes the time to meet with young women exploring careers in STEM.

“I’m always flattered when a young woman reaches out to connect and network,” she shared. “I love that.”

Her advice is both practical and empowering: seek out accomplished women in your field, build authentic relationships, join professional associations, attend networking events, and support one another.

“Women are doing a better job supporting one another now,” Sawyer reflected. “I didn’t always have that support, so I’m trying to pay it forward. Leaders should inspire and motivate the people they are leading and serve as a role model for them.”