20 under 40: Jennifer LeClair
Jennifer plays a huge part in building great futures for children in our community. She recognizes children are our future leaders and changemakers, and says she is honored to have a small part in their journey.
Jennifer spends the bulk of her time cultivating donor relationships, amplifying her organization’s board-driven annual campaign efforts, and overseeing the development of partnerships between Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka and businesses and individuals within our community.
Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys anything that involves her daughter, Vida, and her husband, Corey. Their family loves spending time outside, going to Royals games and exploring the amazing places in our community. Jennifer is a proud board member of Friends of the Topeka Zoo (FOTZ), volunteer for the American Heart Association and committee chairperson for TDC Adventures in Early Learning Center.
What characteristic should a great leader possess?
I think it’s incredibly important to be a good communicator—to know when to talk and when to listen. A leader should be able to motivate others and naturally build passion for their organization’s mission. In the presence of a good leader, the atmosphere is inherently more positive. They inspire others to dream bigger and work harder for the common good.
What’s a dream business of yours?
At the onset of the pandemic, I started taking on a few commissioned painting projects here and there. As a former painting teacher, it has been especially nice to have a creative outlet during a time of such uncertainty. If I had limitless time, I would certainly try to expand on my little art business.
What has the pandemic taught you?
I have learned how important it is to be there for others, not always in ways that make sense to us, but in ways that are meaningful to them. Feelings of isolation and the loss of all we perceived to be normal left so many of our friends, colleagues, family members, and neighbors struggling to find coping mechanisms. I’ve learned that it is deeply important to check in on the people we care about, to assess the needs of our community and jump in to help where we can, and to be there to listen to others who are feeling lost. We rise by lifting others.
Share your favorite “life hack.”
Start every “to do” list with one to two things you have already done so that you can cross them off right away. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is just getting started. It’s easier to be more productive if you already have a tangible sense of accomplishment for the things you’ve done. Something as simple as a strikethrough line on a piece of paper can really ignite a mindset shift!
