Meet Leslie Castro-Kolta

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leslie Castro-Kolta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leslie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk is an interesting concept, especially when it comes to life and career. When I think of risk I reference one of my favorite quotes “discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life” (Susan David, PhD). Risk is stepping away from your comfort zone, stepping into the unknown, and exploring your consciousness to what’s uncomfortable. In many ways, risk is about weighing the potential rewards against the possible downsides and making decisions with those variables in mind. It involves a bit of trust in your instincts, learning from failures, and pushing past fear.

Life itself is risky and full of constant change. If you do not allow yourself to push past the fear of taking a risk, life will still make moves for you, why not risk in shaping your life and career by taking the risk yourself? Taking risks opens up new opportunities, like trying something new, starting a business, or making bold career moves. It can be scary, but without it, it can be difficult to grow or achieve significant breakthroughs. Even small risks, like speaking up in a meeting (for introverts like myself) or sharing a new idea, can lead to big changes.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a growing HR Professional, currently an HR Business Partner to be exact. There are thousands of HR professionals out there so it does not make me unique as a professional but what makes me unique is how I got here. My professional pursuit was not to become an HR professional, I don’t think anyone growing up says “ I want to be in HR.” However, like most, life circumstances brought me to where I am today and fortunately that is to serve people. I see HR as a place to help others find their greatest potential. One of my strengths is problem-solving and I keep engaged by finding solutions for others.

My intended career path began by believing and dreaming of becoming an archaeologist/anthropologist. Funny enough, I would tell people I was going to be the female version of Indiana Jones. So, after high school I went onto study Anthropology, which is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, cultures, societies, past and present. Oddly enough, I would say HR is highly connected to Anthropology. However, my path to HR was not that linear, it involved a human element that shook me to my core that allowed me to dive deeper in the psychology of people. The real climatic moment in my life that drove my interest in pursuing a career that involved human psychology, was my own experience with trauma and domestic violence. Although this is my first time talking about my experience in a public domain, it has been my goal to share my experience for the sake of helping others in similar situations. Talk about risk taking right? Therefore, HR has become such a passion for me in helping others become their best self through work. Although I would not welcome physical and mental abuse on anyone, that negative experience provided me with a mental grit that has provided me with the empathy and desire to serve others in such a capacity. Thus, my journey was not easy. I used to think I was behind the curve career-wise because my stint with abuse was not short but rather a 9 year ordeal in my early 20s (19-28). Society builds that concept that you need to hit milestones by a certain age i.e. be successful by a certain age and be married by a certain age and have kids by a certain age. Yet, humanity and its circumstances is not ‘one size fits all’. When people are typically at the peak of making career moves, I was working full-time trying to pay off debt and whilst keeping my violent relationship(s) a secret from the world. I do not like highlighting that part of my life in order to avoid giving such persons any form of recognition or narcissistic supply, but rather for the sake of telling a story and filling in the timeline and helping others in similar situations. I am now extremely proud that I overcame, had grit to keep pushing and that I never ended up fitting the “mold.” Even now, as a new mom I do not fit the mold but rather am considered “geriatric” as a new mom…go figure. I hope that this inspires others to resist society telling them this is “the right time.” That’s another topic I have a lot to talk about but more for another day.

So, I would say that yes, I have overcome many of life’s challenges. On the cusp of turning 40, I feel like my career is taking flight in the direction I’ve wanted it to go for so long. I may be hitting that pinnacle now, a bit later but I give myself grace because of what I have overcome. Remembering and learning from my past allows me to overcome negative voices in my head and that intruder syndrome that I am not good enough.

A few lessons learned.

Take responsibility. Being open to finding the psychology to your choices.
Keep learning.
Be grateful. Have gratitude in all things
Take Risks!

What do I want people to know?
You’re smarter than you think, but be humble, there’s always a lesson to be learned from your current situation, so be grateful for the storms of life, they always bring a bloom.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a fan of art, architecture (art deco) music and the outdoors. I would take them to The new Fairmont Breakers in Long Beach rooftop bar Halo for all 3 elements. The Fairmont Breakers has been under renovation for many years a recently reopened completely renovated to bring back its 1920s jazz era glory.

We’d go hiking in Burbank in Wildwood Canyon and have breakfast at Basecamp Dinette.

Dinner in Eagle Rock/Highland Park: Casa Bianca, Little Beast, Viet Tapas, Malbec, Dunsmoor.
Highland Park Bowl – LA’s oldest bowling alley from 1927 restored, fully functional with live music.

Hit up the beach of course, to stay casual and get wild at night, I like Hermosa Beach, grab a sandwich at Mickey’s Italian Delicatessen & Liquor Store and hit up the pier for happy hour.

For a more refined beach experience, Dana Point. Hit up The Ritz Carlton for brunch, valet your car and walk the premises or access the beach via their private road –kind of a beach hack to Salt Creek Beach and to Young’s Beach Shack for afternoon cocktails.

Maybe a concert at the Greek Theater.

If accessible, the Getty Villa for some greek art and Tony’s Taverna for some greek food!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Azusa Pacific University, who has catapulted my career in ways I pleasantly never expected. Of course my family, who make my life absurdly wild and magical.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecastrokolta/