Leslie Ward is president of AT&T Texas, where she works closely with community and business leaders, elected officials, and others at AT&T to bring the most advanced communications and entertainment technologies and services to the state.

Over two decades with AT&T, Ward has served in numerous legislative and regulatory positions. As AT&T’s senior vice president of legislative and corporate external affairs, she developed and executed strategies impacting AT&T’s participation in the Texas political process, including state legislative policy and initiatives for Texas, development of legislative and political strategy, and management of the AT&T external affairs team. She has been ranked as one of the top corporate lobbyists in Texas by Capitol Inside since the inception of the ranking system.

Currently, Ward serves as vice chair for the Texas Cultural Trust and is a member of the executive committee for the board of the Texas Taxpayers Association. She is also a member of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institution board of directors, ZACH Theatre board of trustees, Texas Department of Public Safety Foundation board of directors and is a sustaining member of the Austin Junior League. In 2014, Ward was appointed by former Texas governor Rick Perry to serve as CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation. Ward currently serves on the executive committee of the Texas Civil Justice League and the board of directors for Dress for Success.