LesliesHopeLLC

Keynote speaker with a strong emphasis on Men’s Mental Health and preventing Military Suicide.

Keynote Speaker

Oaklawn Psychiatric Center

Providing Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Education throughout Elkhart and St. Joseph County.  Public Speaker and Mental Health Youth Advocate.  Partnering with The Oaklawn Foundation to implement The Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program in Public and Private Schools.

Suicide Prevention Specialist

Interra Credit Union

Designs, develops and maintains the recruitment process in the credit union space.  Responsible for actively developing recruitment strategies including talent pools and appropriate networks.  Works with the VP of Human Resources to create new resources to attract top talent for one of the fastest growing credit unions in the nation.  Specializing in upper level financial search.

Talent Acquisition Manager

OSOLO OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE INC

Marketing Manager for the former Osolo Occupational Medical Clinic in Goshen, IN.  Responsible for negotiating all Occupational Health Services for over 700 manufacturing accounts.

Marketing Manager

ThinkingAhead Executive Search

Statistical Recruiter for new drug development in the pharmaceutical industry for 6 years.  The primary focus was on PhD level Biostatisticians and SAS programmers.  Achieved President's Club level status during my first year and went from contingent to retained search assignments within 3 years.

Statistical Recruiter

After losing our only son to suicide at the age of 20 years old, I decided to share our story to prevent any other family from knowing our loss. 

Over the past few years, I've traveled from New York to California to Alaska to share our story along with a strong message of hope.  Four of my five brothers have served in the military and two were stationed in Vietnam which helps my story resonate with the Soldiers and Sailors.  It's my hope to add the Marines and Airmen soon.

I know that our story saves lives and hope to have the opportunity to speak to as many active duty military within the next five years.

I can be reached at Leslie@LesliesHope.org or send a DM through LinkedIn.

Thanksgiving will always be bittersweet for me. 

They were only 4 and 9 when their dad died. 

And I was 21 years old. 

He was my oldest brother and cancer took him from us when he was just 34.

Which started my journey with grief. 

On November 27th, 1980.

It was Thanksgiving Day that year. 

And there wasn’t any turkey at our house.

But I do remember my parents calling the funeral home. 

To begin arranging his funeral. 

Tomorrow will mark 45 years without my brother. 

And I will spend Thanksgiving with his daughters. 

Who are now 54 and 50. 

With four children of their own. 

So, I understand how fragile life can be. 

Which is why Thanksgiving is full of emotion for me. 

But also full of gratitude.

So, whatever you’re going through this Thanksgiving….

Notice what you still have rather than what you’ve lost. 

Which really are the gifts of our grief. 

https://a.co/d/gjAGcIg

#Thanksgiving2025 #TheGiftsOfGrief

Leslie Weirich

Mental Health Speaker | Hope Spreader | Author

I went to Mass at 8:00 this morning. 

And I’m not even Catholic!

This is the incredible power of LinkedIn. 

Molly Roman heard me speak during a fundraiser for our local grief center.  

Every person who attended received a copy of my book. 

There were 600 women at this luncheon. 

Did I mention they bought 600 copies of my book to give as a gift. 

As an author, you hope (and pray) something is going to resonate with some of those 600. 

And apparently it did. 

Molly read my book and reached out to me. 

She was especially touched about the chapter I wrote about my BFF of 31 years. 

Her name was Laura. 

And she died in her sleep at 54 years old. 

Her death was hard and I will never stop missing her. 

So, she asked if I would like her to dedicate a Mass in memory of Laura. 

Then she invited me to join her. 

Afterward we went for coffee and just talked. 

I feel like Laura’s spirit gifted me a new friend. 

Which is how grief works. 

If your heart is open.

Who have you been gifted after someone you love died?

Because that really is a gift of your grief. 

So, you can feel their love forever. 

https://a.co/d/07QAexy

#TheGiftsOfGrief #LoveNeverDies #NeverGrieveAlone #LesliesHope

LinkedIn

Author of *A Mother’s Way to the Cross: To Jesus through Mary*

I had lunch with a friend today.

We spent two and a half hours talking about mental health.

Talking about ways we can reach in when people are hurting.

And she invited me to be part of a large Mental Health Ministry right here in my hometown.

As we were getting ready to leave the restaurant.....

A man walked up and asked if he could hold the door open for us.

Then we were walking out, and he started talking to us.

He said he was from Long Island, NY, and had an ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend.

But there was no one else in his life.

Except his dog.

He kept talking, and we kept listening.

My friend told him that his life mattered.

Then I told him it was no mistake that we met him today.

And tomorrow, he could open the door for someone else.

Then I got in my car and whispered a prayer for him.

I asked God to hold onto him and keep him safe.

You never know when your words might be just what someone needs to hear.

And those people are all around you every day.

So, could you slow down this holiday season? 

Notice people and start conversations.

Because all the AI apps in the world will never replace human connection.

And isn't that what the holidays are all about!

#MentalHealthMatters #StartConversationsWithStrangers #LookUpAndConnect #ConnectionIsProtection #SuicidePrevention

I’m sitting here in the Atlanta airport waiting for my final flight home. 

And it’s almost 9:00 pm, when I suddenly realize it’s World Kindness Day.

Wouldn’t it be great if every day was World Kindness Day?

Or we could all just act a little kinder toward each other.

Especially when we don’t feel like it. 

That’s when kindness really matters the most. 

Because everyone you see is fighting a battle you know nothing about. 

So, slow down and remember that you might be the one voice they need to hear today. 

To give them a reason to hold onto hope. 

What’s one kind thing you’ve done for someone in the past week? 

If you’re struggling to think of something, then tomorrow’s your day to start practicing kindness.

And see what it does for your own mental health. 

#NationalKindnessDay2025 #RandomActsOfKindness

It’s been almost ten years since we’ve eaten at Rocco’s in South Bend, Indiana. 

And we’ve aged a little (or a lot) since then. 😏

But there’s no place better for old world Italian food.  Oh and their pizza is off the charts!

The last time we were in there, life was pretty good. 

Our daughter was about to turn 17 in a few days. 

So, we went to see “Wicked” at The Morris Performing Arts Center for an early birthday present. 

Then the three of us went out to dinner at Rocco’s. 

We laughed and had such a good time. 

The next night our doorbell would ring at 2:30 in the morning. 

And our life would never be the same. 

The laughter stopped. 

And we didn’t go out to eat for a long time. 

But here’s the thing I need to tell you about grief. 

It never goes away, but in time you learn how to navigate your way slowly back to living again. 

That timetable is different for everyone. 

There’s no schedule you have to put yourself on. 

You just need to move a little bit every day. 

Until you slowly start to see the light again 

Because it’s still there. 

I promise you it is. 

So, let yourself grieve and feel what you need to feel. 

Until you’re ready to get back out there again. 

And sometimes that means going back to your favorite restaurant. 

For the best Italian food in the world. 

Even if it’s almost ten years later. 

https://a.co/d/5YROUf3

#GriefIsAJourney #TheGiftsOfGrief #ItTakesAsLongAsItTakes #ConnectionHeals

The holidays are hard. 

Not everyone is feeling joyful. 

Some people are actually grieving a loss. 

Give them space and let them know they’re not alone. 

Sit with them and just listen. 

Which is the greatest gift you can ever give someone. 

Because no one should ever grieve alone. 

https://a.co/d/aFU4mYd

#TheHolidaysAreHard #NeverGrieveAlone #GriefIsALongJourney

It’s been 45 years to the day since their dad died. 

They don’t remember much about that time. 

They were so young. 

And I was only 21. 

But they’ve been an integral part of my life. 

For the past four and a half decades. 

This is where grief shapes your life. 

You take on a whole new view of the world. 

Things that once seemed important…..

Don’t matter anymore. 

And if you’re lucky, they never will again. 

Has grief impacted your life?

And how are you living differently because of it?

https://a.co/d/7F8Ko3J

#TheGiftsOfGrief #FourDecadesOfLoss #GriefChangesYou #GriefIsALifelongJourney

Austin loved Sister Shubert’s Rolls. 

He was a man with great culinary taste. 

He was also a man with a big appetite. 

Every year I would buy three pans of them. 

Two for our guests. 

And one for Austin. 

That’s right.

The boy would eat an entire pan by himself!

So, just remember not everyone is having three pans of Sister Shubert’s Rolls this year. 

Reach out to those who have lost someone they love this year. 

Let them know you see that empty chair at their table. 

Invite them out for coffee and just let them talk. 

Because the holidays are hard. 

But no one should ever grieve alone. 

https://a.co/d/4ECsXXX

#Thanksgiving2025 #EmptyChairFamilies #GriefIsAJourney #LeanInAndListen

Her mom died by suicide when she was 13.

And she’s the one who found her. 

Now she’s 31 with three kids of her own. 

But that grief is still there. 

Waiting for her to slow down and process it. 

That’s why places like Shareapy Inc. are so important. 

Because sometimes you just need a place you can show up and share your story. 

And sometimes you just need a place you can show up and listen to other people share their story.  

And sometimes you just need a place where you can show up and be. 

That’s what Shareapy Inc. provides. 

A safe, confidential space to just be. 

Hope you have a space like that. 

And if you don’t, then you are welcome to show up however you are to Shareapy Inc. 

I promise you won’t regret it. 

(Thank you to Scott Kelsey and Christine Passo for inviting me to share a bit of my grief story today.)

#Shareapy #HealingThroughOurStories #GriefJourney #ConnectionIsProtection

Shareapy Inc.

Founder & CEO at Shareapy. Loan Consultant, NMLS #61702. Former Collegiate & Professional Hockey Player. Founder-Shareapy Military.

Head of Community & Connection @Shareapy | Building New Relationships & Nurturing Trust In Communities | Connection Enthusiast | ❤️ Unapologetic Fur Baby Lover 🐶

Today is the Saturday before Thanksgiving. 

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. 

Because the holidays can be hard. 

For so many reasons. 

But I know we don’t walk this journey alone. 

So, it’s my prayer if you’ve lost someone you love to suicide…..

That you will reach out. 

Because there are so many of us who are walking this journey. 

And one thing that we’ve all learned. 

Is that you should never grieve alone. 

https://a.co/d/ag4CYXs

#InternationalSurvivorsOfSuicideLossDay
#NeverGrieveAlone #GriefIsAJourney

In 2020, when the world was shut down….

I had a colleague at work who asked me if we could read the Bible together in a year.

In chronological order. 

I agreed. 

And it was hard. 

Especially the Old Testament. 

But every morning, I would wake up and read my scripture for the day. 

Many days I didn’t understand what I was reading. 

But I kept on going. 

And my friend, Keri Gill, MBA, SHRM-CP would just encourage me to keep reading it. 

A year later we finished. 

Only because the YouVersion app was on my phone. 

And tonight we celebrate Beyond A Billion downloads of that app.  

All over the world. 

Have you ever read the complete Bible?

The YouVersion app is a great place to start. 

#TheBible #YouVersionApp #TheGraceOfJesus

Strategic HR Leader | Systems Thinker | People-Centered Problem Solver

YouVersion

I want to talk about connection on LinkedIn. 

Real, live, human connection. 

Now, I know you’re thinking, it’s the month of December and I’m already so busy….

But what if you took LinkedIn to real life this month. 

And met someone IRL.

Just to listen to their story. 

Well Lynn Townsend sent an email and asked if we could meet for lunch. 

She and I are both in Eva Rose Daniel’s Speak School. 

To be honest, I’ve missed more than I’ve attended. 

But Eva always sends the recording of the class. 

So you can still listen and learn.  

And meeting Lynn Townsend today was another gift of this school.  

She is with Workforce Chaplains and they’re doing incredible work all over this country. 

But I would have never known this had I not said yes to lunch today. 

So, make it a point to meet more people IRL in 2026. 

And see what it does for your own mental health. 

#LinkedInFriendsIRL #ConnectionIsProtection #ConversationsThatMatter #GriefStory

Customer Experience Leader | Enthusiastic People Developer | Organizational Poet

Your speech needs SPARK! l I turn big ideas into powerful speeches | Public Speaking Coach for Professional Speakers | Public Speaking Training for Teams | Speaker | Entrepreneur

She told me her neighbors recently lost their 14 year-old son to suicide. 

And she was thinking about them every time she drove by their house. 

She wondered what she could do for them?

So, she reached out to ask me for some suggestions. 

Because there are so many people who are struggling this holiday season. 

They’ve lost someone they love. 

And they just want to get through the next month. 

So, why don’t you drop off a meal for them?

Or write them a note and say the name of who they lost. 

Let them know in a tangible way that you are there for them. 

Just sit with them and listen. 

Because grief is a journey. 

That we should never go on alone. 

#GriefIsAJourney #NeverGrieveAlone #SurvivorsOfSuicideLoss #CommunityHeals

When I think back on this year.....

I try to remember this moment. 

It was up in Maine in August.

Because this moment brings me back to a place of peace.

And I know that's hard for so many of you to find peace this year.

Maybe you've lost someone you love.

Maybe you've lost your job.

Whatever it is, it feels overwhelming to you right now.

Believe me when I say that I get it.

I've spent decades of my life in grief.

But there's one thing I've learned.

We don't have to go through it alone.

So, please join us at 12:00 (EST) today on Shareapy Inc. as we show up and share our stories of grief and of hope.

See you at noon today, my friends!

Because we should never grieve alone.

https://a.co/d/chuXeFd

#GriefIsAJourney #TheGiftsOfGrief #Shareapy #NeverGrieveAlone

I had a conversation yesterday with my good friend Jill Wijangco. 

She lost her son Max to suicide three and a half years ago. 

And started a non profit called Max’s Mission. 

One of the things she does is to deliver Hope baskets to survivors of suicide loss.  

She had a hard delivery this week. 

So, she took another mom who had also lost a child to suicide with her. 

She said when they knocked on the door….

This mom fell into their arms in tears. 

She wanted to know how they could go on living after they lost a child?

I’ve heard this question for 25 years now. 

It’s a common one among those grieving the loss of a child. 

Jill and I talked about how you could answer it. 

And she’s going to be adding something to her basket. 

The top five reasons you can go on living after you lose your child. 

My answer has evolved over the years.  

Because my grief is not new. 

But I feel like one of my top reasons I could go on living after Austin’s suicide. 

Was to bring purpose out of my pain. 

To share my story to save others. 

Because the thing you’re walking through today might be someone’s recovery story tomorrow.  

And that’s exactly what Jill has done with Max’s Mission which includes her Baskets of Hope. 

#TopFiveReasonsForLivingTodayAre #MaxsMission #LesliesHope #ShareYourStory

Max's Mom/Suicide Awareness Advocate/ Suicide Loss Survivor/Co-Founder of Max's Mission

Guess who just won the Big Ten Championship. 

Go HOOSIERS!!!

HeisMendoza! 

Where’s my IU family? ♥️🤍

#BigTenChampions #IndianaUniversity #CurtCignettiForPresident #GoHoosiers

If you’ve gone through grief…..

Then you know what a journey it is. 

Please join us in Shareapy Inc. on December 3 at 12 pm ET.

As we share our stories of post traumatic growth. 

And ways that have helped us move forward. 

https://www.shareapy.com/

#Shareapy #GriefIsAJourney #PostTraumaticGrowth

A week from today is Giving Tuesday. 

And I look at it differently than I did a decade ago. 

Before I had an empty seat at my table. 

I realize it’s been a hard year on so many people. 

And I understand what hard years are like. 

Which is why Giving Tuesday hits differently now. 

If you’re able to donate to an organization then that’s a wonderful thing. 

But maybe you’re not. 

So, what can you give?

You can give your time. 

You can volunteer an hour or two each month. 

This is what life is really all about. 

So, look around your community and see who needs your help? 

There are so many organizations this time of year who could use your gifts and your talent. 

And you never know where that volunteering might lead to…..

So, on this Giving Tuesday, please consider checking out a local non profit in your area. 

Go on their website or give them a call. 

Because our legacy is left by what we give while we’re here. 

And you can start building yours today. 

#GivingTuesday2025 #BuildYourLegacy #NonProfitsMakeADifference

I am a woman of deep faith. 

There I said it on LinkedIn. 

The day before Thanksgiving. 

And one of my favorite speakers to listen to. 

Is Ryan Leak.

He’s a rockstar. 

One of the most booked speakers in the world. 

A The New York Times best selling author. 

And he has these short little podcasts which are priceless. 

They’re only 12 minutes long. 

Come on! You have 12 minutes while you’re driving somewhere to listen. 
 
This one is about gratitude. 

I know it’s that time of the year. 

But I believe every single day we get a choice. 

Which helps us define how we live. 

So, how about taking 12 minutes to listen. 

I guarantee you’ll be glad you did. 

Happy Thanksgiving my LinkedIn friends. 

Now get on with your Thanksliving! 🧡

open.spotify.com

Thanksliving

Speakerpreneur & New York Times Best-Selling Author

The New York Times

What if you were the last person someone had a chance to talk to before they ended their life?

What would you say to them to get them to stay?

I believe suicide prevention is everyone's business.

Please slow down and take the time to check on someone today.

Take a moment and watch this video.

Then, be the difference in someone's life today.

#BeTheDifferenceToday #TakeTheTimeToConnect #StopSuicideNow

taplio

Leslie Weirich's Linkedin Analytics

Leslie Weirich

Performance ScoreLeslie Weirich's LinkedIn Performance

Leslie Weirich's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

.css-6ytdur{background-image:linear-gradient(284deg, rgba(39, 43, 72, 1) 0%, rgba(33, 47, 183, 1) 100%);color:transparent;-webkit-background-clip:text;background-clip:text;}Leslie Weirich's Linkedin Analytics

Leslie Weirich

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Leslie Weirich's LinkedIn Performance

Leslie Weirich's Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Leslie Weirich's Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreLeslie Weirich's LinkedIn Performance

Leslie Weirich's Best Posts (last 30 days)