Hi, I’m Leslie!

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a light purple dress with button details, sitting on a wooden chair in a bright room near a window. She is smiling and accessorized with jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, and a watch. There is a large green plant behind her and a round, white marble table with books and small decorative items nearby.


I’m a storyteller, entrepreneur, and champion of simple, intentional living.

I believe a beautiful life isn’t built overnight — it’s created through small, meaningful moments: A patio dinner with a friend. A good book in a hammock. A Saturday morning walk at the farmers market. It’s the same with building a business or a community…it’s not always about big wins; it's about consistent, curious, joyful effort.

I’ve built businesses from the ground up — both digital and brick-and-mortar. I also spent 15+ years as an award-winning journalist and editor — including roles as a columnist at the Indianapolis Star and lifestyle editor at Indianapolis Monthly — before co-founding Indy Maven, a media company, as well as a coworking space for women in Indianapolis.

Along the way, I was named to the inaugural Forbes Next 1000 list, recognized as one of Indiana’s 250 Most Influential Leaders, and earned a certificate in entrepreneurship from Cornell University.

Through my work now, I help small business owners find more ease, authenticity, and connection—whether they're launching a new idea, building a community, or simply looking to live a little more fully every day.

When I'm not writing, dreaming up new ideas, working with other entrepreneurs, you’ll find me wandering through consignment stores, reading, listening to my kids talk nonstop about LEGO, or trying a new restaurant with friends.

I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s build something beautiful together.

Leslie Bailey with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a purple dress, holding a microphone and speaking, standing in front of two colorful abstract paintings on a white wall.
Leslie Bailey with shoulder-length dark hair speaking into a mic while holding a paper, standing in front of a large frosted window.
A woman with dark hair reading from paper with a microphone in her hand during a panel discussion or presentation.

"Leslie has been so impactful on the development of my business and my mindset. She’s helped me get clear on goals, prioritize tasks, and develop a straightforward plan of implementation. She helped me get back time while steadily improving my business."

— Olivia Steele, Olivia Steele Photography