In this episode, we sit down with Leah Heister Burton, Knox. From standout collegiate leader to holding the first ever Chief Advancement Officer position at U.S. Soccer, Leah takes us through her impactful career and passion for philanthropy. Plus, she shares how she balances her professional life with her most important roles as a wife and mother to two toddlers.
Leah is a lifelong athlete, leader, philanthropist and a current volunteer with Tri Delta, helping shape the future of Tri Delta’s Foundation and working to expand our support as we serve our members. Professionally, Leah proudly serves as the first-ever Chief Advancement Officer at U.S. Soccer, where she leads philanthropic initiatives, builds fundraising teams and works on groundbreaking projects like the first national soccer training facility headquartered in Atlanta.
In this episode, we’ll hear about Leah’s work as a leader in the nonprofit sector, how Tri Delta continues to play a significant role in her life and the lessons she carries with her to this day. Tune in to discover how Leah has achieved success in all aspects of her life—from her career to her dedication to her family. She’ll share her impactful journey and some fun facts about herself along the way that you won’t want to miss!
This transcript was created using automated technologies and may contain errors.
Welcome to our Let's Talk Tri Delta podcast. I am Mindy Tucker, Tri Delta's Interim
CEO. And I'm so excited today to welcome our guest, Leah Burton from our Epsilon
chapter at Knox. Leah was a standout collegiate leader, she was the chapter president
of her chapter there. She's currently serving Tri Delta as we look to the future of
Tri Delta’s Foundation and look at how it might grow its support so we can increase
the ways that we help all of our members. She continues to excel in her role as
Chief Advancement Officer at US Soccer. That's going to be fun to dig into with her
today. We'll dig into her career, her passion for philanthropy and how she somehow
balances it all with two crazy kids at home that I know she loves.
And we'll talk about all of that. Leah, welcome to the podcast. - Thank you so
much, Mindy. It's great to be here. And hello to all of the Tri Delta listeners and
friends who might be tuning in. - So let's start out today talking about your
collegiate journey and how you ended up at Knox and what really drew you to
Tri Delta? - Yeah. So I was lucky enough to be raised in a house of academics where
education was always incredibly important. And when I was thinking about college, my
parents really encouraged me to think about a small liberal arts experience, because
of the skill sets and competencies that that would provide about learning how to
think, asking critical questions, and knowing that there was probably going to be
another degree in my future. And I originally was born in Illinois, both my parents
are from there and so wanted to return to the Midwest for college and Knox was a
great fit. Little did I know that my parents had mutual friends with the president,
then, and his wife. And fast forward it sort of became a full circle moment when I
found out after I had matriculated to Knox that the president's wife was also tried
out that something she kept very close to her chest. So it's not to, you know,
impart any sort of bias as she was stellar, but I love my experience.
I think the size of NOx allowed me to experience a variety of things, obviously
Tri Delta and my sorority experience, but I also was a three sport athlete
participating in soccer and both indoor and outdoor track and field was able to
serve as class president. And so it was really an exceptional experience and I still
maintain so many close tri -Delta and just greater Knox friendships to this day. And
it was an incredible place to go to school. - Wow, you balanced a lot and it
sounds like you're still doing what you did then, which is balancing a lot of
activities. You were the collegiate chapter president and as an athlete, that's a lot
to have on your plate. How was that being an athlete inside Tri Delta ? Yeah,
I think that's actually what drew me to Tri Delta in the first place is I was lucky
enough that when I was a freshman, Knox had deferred recruitment. They're in a
trimester system, so it was after winter break that we went through recruitment. And
I had spent the whole fall season with my soccer teammates and several of the
upperclassmen who I looked up to who were incredible mentors to me were also tri
-deltas. And so they said, you know, hey, you should go through recruitment. And a
number of my other friends who I had met sort of first trimester were also going
through. And so really, I think that those peer examples help support my interest. I
don't come from, you know, any, my other family members weren't in Greek life at
all. And so this was sort of a new experience. And but I think I was drawn to
the sisterhood almost immediately. And certainly,
you're a part of these discussions we're having now about how we grow the foundation
and grow its impact on our members. What's your passion there? What makes you
passionate to do that work? Yeah, I think, you know, it really stems from the fact
that I'm really passionate about organizations that serve women. I'm passionate about
the impact that Tri Delta has had in my own life and the ability to also have such
a positive impact on future generations. And knowing that challenges and experiences
that I had are going to be different from those in the future, but that Tri Delta
is very future focused on how it can best serve its members, both in its collegiate
experience, but also the alumna member and also thinking about what membership means
and sort of this life continuum. I'm continually impressed by the way Tri Delta shows
up in life's hardest moments. I think about some of my own collegiate sisters who
had no place to turn other than Tri Delta . And so I'm hoping that we can continue
to provide and serve all of our members in whatever life moment,
good, bad, happy and different with support. And I think the foundation is one
demonstrable way that we can wrap our arms around this together and continue to lead
with some of the things that Tri Delta instills in us as collegiate members to serve
others, serve others to continue to make the world a better place,
I think at the end of the day. And so I'm really excited about the work the
foundation is doing today and some of the plans for the future. And I know some of
that will be shared by other members of the team and probably future episodes, but
it's a really exciting moment. And so I hope others are seeing that as well.
- Yeah, it is an exciting time to be having those conversations realizing the impact
we can have. I was on a webinar this week and I learned that only 2 % of the
giving in this country goes toward women and causes around women and girls. And it
sort of blew me away that it was that low to serve 50 % of the population. That's
less than 2 % of the giving. And so you've touched on that. And I think it's a
great segue into your career, which is Chief Advancement Officer at US Soccer.
I'd love to hear more about how you've taken that passion for women and girls and
put it into this particular career and what you're doing. I think people are like,
okay, great, what does that mean? What is she doing for you? Let's talk about that.
- And so, similar to my passion for the foundation, I have worked in philanthropy my
entire career, either at the front -line fundraiser as a consultant, and I've worked
for some amazing organizations.
And right now I have the distinct pleasure of serving at US Soccer, the United
States Soccer Federation at its first Chief Advancement Officer. I took this role in
July of 2023 when I was 34 weeks pregnant with my second child. And so came on
board, quickly on boarded for five weeks and then welcomed Trey into the world at
the end of August and went out on leave. And so it's really been this last year
that I've been in this role building out the philanthropic strategy for US soccer.
Not many people know that it's a 501 (c)(3) non -profit. We're known as the governing
body of the sport, but really what does that mean? It means that we steward soccer
in all of its forms in this country and we're really in service to the sport.
And so your Youth Grassroots Soccer League is a member of US Soccer,
just like the professional leagues and clubs, and then obviously we field 27 national
teams across our youth national teams. Obviously, most notably our senior men's and
women's national teams who are so beloved, but then also we're the world leader in
disability soccer, and so we're incredibly proud for that fact so I've been building
out a fundraising team, scaling it. And I'm so excited when you think about the big
moments that are coming up. We have the Men's World Cup in 26 on our shores and
hopefully Women's World Cup in 31. And we're building the first ever training
facility, National Training Center for Soccer in our country, which is the Arthur M.
Blank US Soccer and Ash Training Center and headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. And I
think most recently I'm really proud. Obviously, there's lots of moments. There's lots
of donors that are making US soccer's vision possible. But most recently,
about two weeks ago, we announced a $30 million investment in our women and girls
program from Michelle King, who is obviously an incredible individual in her own
right, successful business woman, owner of several clubs. Here in the United States,
she's one of the owners of the Washington Spirit and the NWSL. But,
you know, seeing that sort of investment in women and girls soccer, and I grew up
playing the sport, right? So that was me, you know? And so investing in those
future generations similar to what Tridelka is doing is really compelling. And I'm
just so grateful to be a part of US soccer at this moment and seeing the role
that soccer plays for societal good. I feel like women's sports in general is having
a moment. Just you take college basketball, you take gymnastic, whatever it is.
Like they're, the stories are being told more and more. The accomplishments are being
seen. I think there's a lot of discussion around parody.
Are you seeing that? I mean, obviously you just talked about a $30 million
investment. It feels like you're seeing that. But I feel like it's happening all
over and it's not just one particular sport. It's just a renewed interest or a new
interest in women's sports. Yeah, I mean, I love seeing it. I certainly think it's
a, it's a moment for women's sport overall. You see the economics or following that
within the marketplace. But I like to say you a soccer has always been ahead of
the curve. When you think about the fact that our women's national team has won
four. World cups. And, and I think back to just the impact that some of these
teams have have had. The 1999 Women's World Cup team and their win at the Rose
Bowl is a memory that I'll have forever in my mind. And I think, gosh, we've
always had these powerhouse individuals, I think about the 1985 team, who's about to
have their 40th anniversary, who established our women's national team program, and
just like the foundation that these women have set in a moment where,
you know, where they probably weren't getting the light shown on them in the way
that they should, but without that foundation, we wouldn't be where we're at today.
So I'm incredibly grateful, just like I think about the generations of tri -delta
women that have come before me, thinking about the future that we're also laying. If
we don't do the work now, we're never going to get to that place in the future,
but it's really been incredible, I think, for women's sport overall, and particularly
where I sit within soccer landscape. You do such a great job of telling the story.
I'm inspired just listening to you. I love that. I think they've got a great
ambassador at U .S. Soccer. You also have another role that I think is kind of fun
to learn about. You are an adjunct professor at Columbia University. Tell us about
that and what you teach and what made you want to do that. Yeah, no, I am really
grateful. As I said, I came from a family of academics, so I think this has always
been in my blood, probably just based on the house that I was raised in and the
influence of those who raised me. And I'm lucky enough to teach a few courses at
Columbia University's School of Nonprofit Management, really with a fundraising focus.
So I teach an introduction to fundraising, sort of a 101 non -profit governance I've
taught, as well as campaign, major gifts, principal giving, which is so prevalent
that we're seen across all organizations, and so it's great. It keeps me sort of on
the top of my game, I say, and I love interacting with students. I am a lifelong
learner, and so I think this really is something that I love to participate in.
I've had to take a step back with some work and personal happenings, obviously
having a couple small children at home, but always try and, you know, participate at
least one semester a year in, you know, teaching one of these courses. And I've
been really lucky enough to have exceptional students. I've had some Tri Delta 's in my
class who they found out as a Tri Delta . They reached out to me, which is incredible
to make that connection as well. I think you get a lot of energy from being around
our collegiate members. That's what I see. And you probably get the same thing from
your classes as new ideas and fresh thinking and you bringing them the knowledge,
but that pairing together can be so powerful. I think energizing for you even in
your career and where you are now. Absolutely, absolutely. I'm a big fan of learning
from different sectors, right? So I work in sport right now, but my previous role
was in arts and culture. And before that I worked as a consultant and before that
I was in healthcare. And so I think a variety of perspectives is so incredibly
important in any organization that you're a part of, right? You don't want someone
who only has the experience that you have, only thinks the way you do. And so I've
used that same thought process as I'm building my team at US Soccer is, you know,
I've hired people from sort of non -traditional sport background and some from
traditional to come together and to really push the envelope of how we're thinking
about things, that it's not just lather, it's repeat or oh, we're going to deliver
something because we see another organization doing it this way. It's like, no, we're
really going to think creatively and about this moment the US soccer's in and how
we build a really strong philanthropic program. Yeah, good. So you talk a lot about
philanthropy, you talked about sort of this being a thread throughout your life. How
did you get into it? How did it start? Where do you think that came from at the
beginning? And what are some of the other places where you've been able to sort of
exercise that muscle? Yeah, I always talk about, you know, one day I'm going to run
like a huge PR campaign about careers in philanthropy, because I think no one grows
up saying, I want to be a fundraiser. I want to work for a foundation or an
organization. And so I think, you know, in future somewhere, maybe I can think about
some of that, but, you know, I think back and philanthropy has always been a part
of my life. It was something that was incredibly important within my family,
something that my father and my mother instilled in me and that we participated in
as a family and supporting organizations we were passionate about. I also think
growing up, going to church and learning about giving back and some of those
opportunities certainly was an influence in my life. And then most notably,
obviously Tri Delta , the experience that you have around our philanthropic purpose and
our partnership with Al -Sakus St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was incredible.
And I was lucky enough where, you know, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. I went
to school thinking that this was what I was gonna do. This is how I was gonna
make a difference in the world. And my parents really encouraged me that before I
made a decision of going to law school, go take a gap year, do something else. And
they ended up taking a job per St. Jude and never look back. I was like, I love
this. And so I really tried out a lot in terms of that. My parents were like, we
knew, we knew you would tough it out at but you know you probably wouldn't have
been the most fulfilled and so I'm so grateful for Tridelka for you know opening
those doors and exposing me to philanthropy and then fast -forward I've worked for
these amazing organizations like St. Jude obviously an organization that I still
support to this day even though I don't work there but other places like the
Guggenheim Museum and then my work as a consultant and fast forward to today at US
Soccer. - Wow, I love that story. I always say, I think we're growing up a whole
generation of philanthropists through our work with St. Jude and the work that our
collegiate chapters do. They learn how to give back, they learn how to ask others
for money, they learn how to tell the story to raise the money. And I think it's
great to see them go on and leverage that, leverage those skills to do good in the
world and raise funds and support organizations that are doing good in the world. So
I love it that that's one of Tri Delta 's legacies that we raised up this whole
generation or every year, we're raising a whole new generation of philanthropists. So
and you are proof of that right here. Absolutely. And I think too, even if you
don't end up in a career, I would imagine that most trade altas are civically
minded, thinking about kind of, you know, how they're supporting their community
anyways. I don't know if there's been a study done, you probably know better than
I, but, you know, most of my trade altas sisters are involved in philanthropy still
to the state through organizations that they're passionate about, whose missions sort
of align with their values. And I think that that's really important as trade altas
teaches you about sort of value aligned thinking as well and it's something you
don't realize while you're in the moment you're not sort of thinking about oh you
know having purpose behind what I do is really important you're like you know this
is great I'm you know part of a sisterhood but I think it's far less uh you're
far less mindful maybe of the intentionality behind some of what you're learning so
yeah um we do know that Greek members are definitely more apt to give to their
schools, to the universities, fully philanthropically. We also know that of our 2 ,500
volunteers, most of them are giving or volunteering for another organization as well,
not just Tri Delta . So I think you're right. I think it's a skill, it's a mindset,
you're purpose driven from your experience here. Um,
you are doing a lot and I know one of the questions I get all the time, one of
the questions you probably get all the time is how, how are you balancing
everything? Um, so many women are facing, you know, choices about kids and aging
parents and all the things that we're all looking at all the time. Um, so I'll ask
you the question. How, how do you balance everything? What are your tricks and tips?
I think you've got to throw a balance out the window. I mean, balance, right? Be
kind to yourself here. And I've learned a lot too, right? I think since becoming a
parent almost four years ago, you know, being married for, you know, five years to
an incredible partner. And I think that's the root of it is I have an incredible
support system around me. And we really talk about it in our family is not like
work -life balance, but really work -life integration. And So there will be no perfect
balance. And I learned from a mentor of mine very early on that there's this
concept that we always feel like we have to be a great mother and a great partner
and a great, you know, person at work in whatever role we're in. And one of the
things I learned very early on is you can't be great at everything at one time.
And so when I'm hyper focused at work, I'm hyper focused at work but my children
are in the best possible hands where I know those people are loving and caring for
them just like I would if I was with them and I have to be okay with that like
that's just how it works and vice versa when I'm with my kids I'm with my kids
and I'm very intentional about prioritizing my time with them and it does mean that
I have to deprioritize other things unfortunately but I think I'm in a in a life
where a lot of my friends are in the same shoes. And so what I've really
appreciated is there's kind of this no judgment thing. Recently, I was supposed to
go on a girls' trip and I had to cancel. I said, "Guys, I'm traveling the three
days before, I'm traveling the three days after." So it'd mean that I'm like away
from my kids for nine days. I just can't stomach that. And they totally got it.
And it was so sweet, they actually sent me something from the trip. Like we're just
thinking of you. But But that's the type of people that I think having that support
system, I have an amazing husband, amazing partner, amazing family, an amazing kind
of new family that we've met in terms of caretakers and people that are incredibly
loving to our family. And so we really rely on that. I'm also,
as my husband said in his vows at our wedding, which gives you a glimpse to me is
that we live and breathe by our family shared calendar. So every Sunday we have a
family planning meeting, whether it's in person 'cause we're both in the same place
or somehow and we say, okay, here's the week ahead, here's who's doing what, here's
who's got the kids, here's what's for dinner, here's where we're gonna need takeout,
here's where we've got too much going on and we need to like cancel a few things.
And I definitely experienced fair share of mom guilt 'cause actually, I know we were
just talking.
There is no human who's not going to have that situation feel that it's a little
chaotic and so I'm really trying to make the moments count and you know be there
when and where I can but it's imperfect and I think you as someone who tried to
control a lot for so long you know being very gracious with yourself helps a lot
but I'm still learning I think we all are. Yeah I had - Yeah, I had the recent,
you know, the photo came of the championship ring from flag football and I was on
a work trip that weekend. And, you know, you just get that pit in your stomach.
Like, I've missed it. I've missed this moment. And I've tried to make, I mean, this
is probably one of like maybe three games I have missed in his life, but it's that
one. And you have to give yourself grace. - And I think you're totally right.
You have to give yourself grace and you're gonna miss those moments, but you're
gonna be around for other great ones. And I think about like my mom traveled and
my mom worked and I don't remember that, right? I remember the great moments. And
so that's what I try to remind myself of. And I also have been very intentional
about working in workplaces and cultures that really support working parents. And so
I think the fact that I was hired at 34 weeks pregnant as a C -suite executive in
a company knowing that I was going to take four months leave, like to me that
showed all that I needed to in terms of, you know, when I needed to get on that
flight home early from London, my boss was the first person texting to check in and
make sure that I was okay and was like, we got this, right? So I think those are
the things that become really important as a part of that support system as well.
I'm glad you went back to that because that was, I remember when you said it,
thinking, wow, that was they took a, you know, they invested in her and let her be
a mom and let her prioritize that when she needed to. And not every company would
do that. So yeah, finding those places where we can, we can be successful and be a
mom is huge. And you talked about your husband playing a huge role in it. And I
love that that you guys were such a partnership. And
you because I think it does take a village around you to make it work and he's
obviously a critical part of that village. Oh yeah. Shout out to Kevin and my
sorority sisters who will maybe hear this at one point would also give him a shout
out because he's incredible and so beloved by all who meet him but you know he is
the consummate teammate and supporter. And I think that was something that we talked
about a lot as, as we were dating and then, you know, as we were on the path to
getting married and then subsequently as we, you know, we're establishing our family,
that communication is so key. I'm also lucky now. So he also works in sports and
is an athletic director. And so we now share a sector that we work in,
which is nice because I think before when I worked in some other sectors, he
appreciates art, but maybe not to the level that I do. And so I think he enjoys
that, but we really do make all decisions as a family. So when I took this role
at US Soccer, when he took a new role, he also teaches at NYU.
And so when we make any of these decisions, when we think about those family
planning meetings as cheesy as they sound like, we're making these decisions as a
family. And we do push back on one another. It's not just like, okay, okay, this
is great. Like, uh, like, I'm burnt out, right? I think it's Brede Brown or someone
that's like, I'm at a 10, like I need you to like raise that. And sometimes we
have to have those honest conversations. And like today, I've been traveling this
week, and it's been busy. And I was like, Hey, you know, we've got coverage for
the kids tonight, do you want to go out and do something? He's like, no, You need
to stay home, like you need to, you know, and so it's having that sounding board
and also being able to say no sometimes, 'cause it's hard. You wanna be everywhere,
be everything to everyone, but he's a good reminder to me of like, you know, as I
say, he's the chill to my zero chill sometimes. So we make a good partnership.
So I'm very, very, very lucky to have him. - So I'm curious as we close, like if
you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it
be? - Oh gosh, I think I could give myself one piece of advice.
It'd be kind of the importance of having a strong support system around you. And
that might look different, right? For some people, it's their parents. For some
people, it's they're sorority sisters for some people, it's professor or a friend or
a colleague, but really building a support system around you for those moments that
you can lean on because there's a lot of really great moments where you're gonna be
celebrating but there's a lot of hard ones too. And we're talking a lot about
positive things today but I would be remiss if I said there were, there aren't a
lot of really hard moments in life that like no one prepares you for. And so that
becomes important. I think being alright in the imperfection and sort of the painful
moments and learnings and thinking like, gosh, have the grit and grind to get
through this, but then thinking about, okay, in the future, here's how I'm gonna
approach something, but being okay in that moment of like, this is not perfect,
but it's gonna be okay. And then I always think about, and I've had some recent
reminders in personal things, is prioritize what's most important in each moment.
Life is short.
You never know what's going to happen one day to the next and really feel fulfilled
in what you're doing and prioritize each moment to its fullest.
And be kind to yourself. give yourself grace and understand that,
you know, they're going to be tough moments, but they're going to be great ones and
hold on to those great ones and savor them and surround yourself with that support
system during those times. Well, thanks Leah for joining us. What a great story to
hear. We'll all be watching her success at US Soccer and continuing to enjoy having
her involved with growing Tri Delta’s Foundation. Now, for you, when you're out there
and you're paying your alumnae dues, we have some exciting new benefit options this
year. So encourage everybody to go check it out at tridelta.org/dues, hyphen and
hyphen benefits, and you can see all the new things that you can take advantage of
when you pay your alumnae dues. Please like, subscribe, and rate our podcast. We love
those five star ratings, and thanks for joining us today. Until next time, helps a
lot.