Leslie J. Anderson

Leslie J. Anderson is currently Global Head of Enterprise Technology, Employee Experience for BMO Financial Group. In this role, Leslie is responsible for leading the strategic alignment and enablement of key technology tools for the bank’s workforce, while also partnering with engineering and corporate real estate to ensure that we are delivering a differentiated employee and customer experience that drives value, growth and profitability enterprise wide.

With more than 25 years of experience in the Chicago banking industry, Leslie has held leadership roles in various capacities dating back to her initial tenure with Harris Bank in 1996, when she led the bank’s Urban Emerging Market strategy (UEM). Leslie also spent seven years at Fifth Third Bank, where she was responsible for leading the creation of its middle market healthcare group in Chicago while also leading an existing top-performing Middle Market growth team. Her return to BMO has grown her leadership tenure in regional commercial banking leadership covering Illinois and Northwest Indiana as well as most recently as the National Head of Metropolitan Banking Treasury Management Sales.

Leslie has a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Hampton University and an MBA with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Strategy from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Leslie also holds a Certified Treasury Professional designation and a Smart Buildin Certification from Harvard University.

An active member in the Chicago business community focusing on college readiness and persistence as well as entrepreneurship – Leslie serves on the executive board and various committees of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center/1871, Board Chair of OneGoal Chicago, Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of After School Matters, Advisory board member of the YWCA Impact Investment group and Board Treasurer of Chicago State University Foundation Board. Leslie is also a fellow with the Aspen Global Leadership Network – Finance Leaders Fellowship as well as a Fellow with Leadership Greater Chicago and a 2013 Chicago United Business Leader of Color. She has been recognized with the following honors: 2010 Chicago Defender Woman of Excellence, 2018 and 2019 Black Women of Impact, 2018 Most Notable Women in Commercial Banking and 2012-2019 member of the American Banker Most Powerful Team in Banking and 2020 Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America.