TorchLight February Contractor of the Month: Vicki Leonardo

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Susan Mullin

Vicki Leonardo is TorchLight’s February Contractor of the Month! Learn more about Vicki—where she grew up, how she ended up in communications, and what she likes most about being a TorchLight contractor!

Where did you grow up? Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I grew up in Queens, NY and attended Syracuse University (Go Orange!) where I graduated with a dual degree in Communications and Psychology. A few short years, later I got my MBA in marketing from American University.  

What did (or do!) you want to be when you grow up? How did you get into marketing and communications?

I thought I wanted to be a psychotherapist after taking a psychology class at a college summer program while I was still in high school but I was also influenced by a high school classmate to pursue a degree in communications. In college, I became aware of the marketing field. It’s a great career for me as it taps into my ability to understand and empathize with people and turn them into insights that would shape marketing/advertising strategy. 

What do you like to do for fun?

I enjoy playing tennis even though I am not great at it – and also love to travel. There is so much of the world to explore and I hope to do so again soon. 

Favorite food? Drink?

I’ll take tacos and margarita any day of the week!  

One bucket list destination…

Thanks to the Amazing Race’s influence, two bucket list destinations are Altstatten, Switzerland and Corsica, France. Look them up! Both places look like storybook destinations. 

What’s the best advice a manager has ever given you?

You don’t have to do it all by yourself. Build those connections, learn to appreciate the different perspectives that everyone can bring to a project and collaborate to get the work done. 

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their career?

Find a mentor and build your network of esteemed colleagues and industry leaders in your field. You will be surprised by how much you learn from them and in turn, they can guide your career choices and generate opportunities. 

What work accomplishment are you most proud of?

I worked in telecom for twenty years and successfully lived through two mergers and rapid industry change with the launch of fiber optic service and the growth of cellular service. Through it all, I remained adaptable, resilient and positive which help me excel at any project I tackled.  

What has been the biggest plus about working from home during the pandemic? Challenge?

The work-life balance I gain from working at home has been priceless. I was able to be even more productive than when I was coming into the office, primarily due to the time saved from commuting.

Finally, what do you like about working for TorchLight?

The Torchlight team is fabulous! I appreciate that at every level the effort is made to keep us informed or just to check in to make sure things are going well both personally and professionally. When a company shows you they care, it makes one work that much harder.

Congratulations again to our February Contractor of the Month, Vicki Leonardo. Keep up the good work! Check out our last Contractor of the Month, Joyce Kelly.

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