Leslie Leonard, Walmart

Leslie Leonard describes herself as “a merchant at heart.”

As senior vice president of merchandise enablement for Walmart U.S., she leads teams that translate merchandising strategy into execution at scale. Through inventory optimization, demand planning, automation and enablement, Leonard and her teams strengthen the business’s ability to execute with greater speed and precision. 

They’re also delivering a reimagined store of the future, pairing localized assortments with inspiring environments to create an elevated shopping experience.

Leonard is known for setting clear strategic direction, building strong teams and delivering sustained growth through disciplined execution. She is passionate about developing leaders and creating an environment where people feel trusted, empowered to challenge ideas and given space to grow.

“I’m most energized by understanding where the customer is going and setting a strategy that anticipates their needs and shapes the future of the business,” Leonard says. “I love creating the execution road map and collaborating with the team to deliver. That means bringing talented people together around a shared ambition, creating space for their ideas and equipping them with the tools and support to succeed. For me, success means delivering a stronger business, developing the people who will lead it forward. And having a lot of fun together along the way.”

Leonard joined Walmart in 2000, bringing an enterprisewide perspective in merchandising, planning, operations, digital and product development, gained through leadership positions at retailers including at Kohl’s, Target, Bloomingdale’s and Ethan Allen. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and serves on the boards of the Jones Center and the American Heart Association in northwest Arkansas.