# Leslie Riley

> Leslie Riley is an Analyst at Right Side Capital Management (RSCM), a quantitative pre-VC investment firm in San Francisco that has made 2,000+ early-stage bets since 2012. She brings a rare combination: West Point grad, seven-year Army Aviation officer who flew CH-47D Chinooks over Kosovo and South Korea, then reinvented herself as a facilitator, keynote speaker, and leadership coach for Fortune 500s and federal agencies before landing in venture. She's also a published author, founder of The Penny Project (which has raised $4,800+ for charity), an ultra-marathoner, and creator of the Lead Like a Girl community for women in leadership.

- **Role:** Analyst at Right Side Capital Management
- **Organizations:** Right Side Capital Management, Full Circle Inspiration, Lead Like a Girl, Firefly Inclusion Solutions, Agile Coaching Institute, Leadership Strategies, Mortgage Bankers Association
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science, Portuguese Language and Literature, United States Military Academy at West Point, Language immersion, Study Abroad Program, Brazil
- **Known for:** West Point graduate with a degree in Portuguese Language and Literature, Seven-year U.S. Army Aviation officer flying CH-47D Chinook helicopters, Combat and peacekeeping deployments to Kosovo and South Korea

## Career timeline

- **1993-1997** — Attended U.S. Military Academy at West Point, studied Portuguese, including a summer program in Brazil
- **1997-2004** — Commissioned as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army; served 7 years as Aviation officer flying CH-47D Chinook helicopters with tours in Kosovo and South Korea
- **2004-2010** — Transitioned to civilian life; worked in sales, project management, professional organizing, and TV news production
- **2010-2020** — Founded Full Circle Inspiration; worked as internal facilitator, trainer, and inspirational speaker and coach at Agile Coaching Institute, Leadership Strategies, and Mortgage Bankers Association
- **2015** — Launched Lead Like a Girl initiative and online community for women in leadership
- **2016** — Published 'Penny Perspectives: Let Go of Happily Ever After & Invest in Happily Ever NOW!'
- **2020s** — Joined Firefly Inclusion Solutions as facilitator, keynote speaker, and communication expert
- **2023-present** — Joined Right Side Capital Management as Analyst, bringing 20+ years of training, facilitation, and team coaching experience to the pre-VC investment world

## Achievements

- West Point graduate with a degree in Portuguese Language and Literature
- Seven-year U.S. Army Aviation officer flying CH-47D Chinook helicopters
- Combat and peacekeeping deployments to Kosovo and South Korea
- Founded Full Circle Inspiration, a team dynamics and communication consulting firm
- Keynote speaker and facilitator for Fortune 500 clients including Disney, Cisco, Adobe, Procter & Gamble, and Honda
- Federal agency clients include FDA, GSA, VA, and West Point
- Created The Penny Project, raising over $4,800 for charitable causes
- Author of 'Penny Perspectives: Let Go of Happily Ever After & Invest in Happily Ever NOW!'
- Founded Lead Like a Girl, an online community for women leaders
- Completed ultra-marathons and trained on flying trapeze
- Joined Right Side Capital Management, a pre-VC firm with 2,000+ investments since 2012

## Latest updates

- **2024-01** — Listed as Analyst at Right Side Capital Management on the official team page, with focus on data analysis and venture support
- **2023-06** — Continues facilitator and speaker work through Firefly Inclusion Solutions alongside RSCM role

## Links

- Website: http://www.fullcircleinspiration.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieariley

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/leslie-riley
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-06