Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Occupation: Marketing Co. Owner

Leslie, 36, was named one of Hispanic Business magazine's "100 Most Influential Hispanic Americans" and previously served as the executive director of the White House Initiative on Hispanic Education. A former aide to U.S. Representative Henry Bonilla, Leslie spearheaded the Republican Party's first multimillion-dollar advertising campaign targeting Hispanic voters. Leslie - who once sold encyclopedias door-to-door - earned her M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and her undergraduate degree from George Washington University. She is the founder and CEO of Impacto Group, LLC, a communications and market research firm. A native of Texas and a frequent commentator on cable news, Leslie lives with her husband and dog Jalapeña in Alexandria, VA.

When will you consider yourself "a success?"
There are many milestones by which one can measure success: a degree, financial security, a good job. The problem is that every time you reach one goal, there's another one - that's bigger, tougher, more exciting - right around the corner. I suppose the best yardstick is whether I've lived to my fullest potential - whether those I care about believe I've touched their lives and made their world a better place.

How would you describe your leadership style?
I always liked what Walt Disney once said: "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." While consensus and planning are indispensable, I'll put my money on forward motion, not discussion.

How do you deal with personal and professional challenges?
I am sustained by the values of family and faith, and in so doing, I understand that true leadership abounds in the human spirit. For this reason, I believe with hard work, anything can be accomplished.

What, in your opinion, is the most important quality to have in order to succeed in life and why?
Perseverance drives me, both professionally and in my personal life. Dreams are fragile things, and so many times I've seen that without drive and dedication, they fade away.

What's more important: College Education or Real World Experience?
Anyone with real world experience will tell you just how important education really is. As the first person in my family to be privileged to attend college, I think I appreciate more than most that higher education does more than position you for economic success: it's the great equalizer, which is why it's so important to me that others - Hispanics in particular - be afforded greater opportunities to obtain a college education.

Have any previous Apprentice winners motivated or inspired you?
Real people always inspire me. I especially enjoyed Kendra and Tana's spirit, drive and enthusiasm, especially under stressful circumstances. And I always like to see women being recognized for their professional capabilities.

How do you combine your creativity with your business savvy?
My business is about helping our clients find new and innovative ways to reach women and Hispanics, to connect with them and address their concerns in ways that others haven't thought about - and to do so better and more effectively than our competitors.

Faves;
Music: Shakira, Sara Evans, Alicia Keys, Celia Cruz, Bob Marley and Keith Urban
Books: What I Saw at the Revolution, by Peggy Noonan; Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren
TV: "The West Wing", "Martha Stewart Living", "24", "To the Contrary" on PBS, "Fox and Friends", anything on The Fox News Channel and - best of all, of course - "The Apprentice"
Movies: "The Godfather" trilogy; "The Blues Brothers"; "The Sound of Music", romantic comedies as well as anything by Nora Ephron and M. Night Shyamalan

She strikes me as well-rounded, and I don't think she's going to be annoying in the slightest. If she does take the fall before the final four, I guess it will probably be because her vision wasn't executed to the fullest.

She reminds me of a cross between Meredith Viera and Barbara Walters

My friends and I are cheering for her, Leslie seems like a talk show host equivalent to Oprah! Her bio is inspirational and she was great on the show! I think she is going to be in the final 2. GO LESLIE! Does anyone know were she is from? We want pictures of Jalapeña :laugh !

She's from Alexandria, Virginia.