Leslie Miley

Leslie Miley is a technology executive whose career includes roles at some of Silicon Valley's most influential companies. Miley advanced through engineering positions at Walmart, ODesk, Apple, Google, and Twitter before serving as director of engineering at Slack. He later worked as a technical advisor to the chief technology officer of Microsoft, focusing on consumer product, analytics, and sustainability. Miley also served as chief technology officer for the Obama Foundation.

Miley's path in the engineering sector is unconventional. He left college to support his family during a period of limited economic opportunity. Over time, he developed engineering expertise and progressed through roles at Apple, Walmart, ODesk/Upwork, Google, Twitter, and Slack. His journey from college dropout to director of engineering has positioned him as a prominent voice on leadership, diversity, and career development in the technology industry.

Miley gained national attention after publicly explaining his decision to leave Twitter, citing concerns about workforce diversity and internal resistance to change. He declined a severance package to speak openly about his reasons for leaving. At Slack, Miley advocated for innovative hiring practices, including blind coding tests and recruiting talent from regions outside Silicon Valley. He has addressed systemic barriers facing underrepresented groups in technology, emphasizing the importance of equitable opportunities in the tech sector.

In addition to his corporate roles, Miley has worked to expand the technology ecosystem beyond Silicon Valley. He joined Venture for America as the first executive in residence, helping recent graduates launch entrepreneurial careers and supporting the revitalization of American cities. During his time at Venture for America, Miley engaged with communities and companies in cities such as Detroit, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Miami to discuss strategies for developing local tech ecosystems. He also advises startups founded by women and minorities and invests in funds supporting diverse entrepreneurs.

Miley's influence extends to media and thought leadership. He has been featured on Wired's Next List and contributes to USA Today, HuffPost, CNN, Fast Company, and TechCrunch. His work and perspectives are referenced in numerous published research articles. Miley has served on the board of advisors for The Center for Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy at the University of Texas at El Paso and was a founder and speaker at the first Google Test Automation Conference. As a keynote speaker on technology, diversity, and inclusion, Miley is recognized for his technical expertise and candid approach to industry challenges.