Meet the singular Leslie Josel
Get to know the dynamic and down-to-earth author, speaker, and entrepreneur.
“It All Started With My Son”
Leslie Josel was organized and time managed long before there was such a profession. She was four years old when her mother became ill, requiring her to take control early on. “I was raised in a disorganized household and was left to fend for myself most of the time. Systems and lists gave me peace of mind in an otherwise uncertain world.”
By the time she attended Cornell University, Leslie had sensed her calling. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, then became a human resource professional. “Working with individuals to create customized systems that worked was my ‘ah-ha’ moment.”
Leslie launched Order Out of Chaos® in 2004 after her son was diagnosed with ADHD. Soon after she graduated from the JST Coach Training Program for teens and college students with ADHD. In 2012, she expanded her business to include educational products and officially launched Products Designed With Students in Mind™.
Leslie is the creator of the award-winning Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management®. The planners, awarded glowing reviews by numerous media outlets including Family Circle and ADDitude Magazine, are a 2023 National Calendar Gold Award recipient honoring the best planners for children. In 2024, Leslie sold the Academic Planner & Accessory business to an educational company. In 2020, Leslie’s line of student organizing products – a collaboration with Samsill Corp – was released and remains a top Amazon seller.
A respected resource on ADHD and Executive Functioning in students, Leslie has written over 300 Dear ADHD Family Coach® columns for ADDitude Magazine, the premier resource for adults and children with ADHD. She also speaks and conducts workshops internationally.
“My need to learn everything I can to help students learn the skills they need to be successful in learning and in life – is very personal.”
Books, Awards, & More
Leslie is the co-author of the award-winning, The Complete Diabetes Organizer: Your Guide to a Less Stressful and More Manageable Diabetes Life. Her second book, the award-winning What’s the Deal with Teens and Time Management: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teen Succeed, was published by People Tested Media in 2015. Her latest book, the award-winning, How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done (Lerner Publishing), was released to glowing reviews.
Leslie is a Golden Circle member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and in 2018 was the recipient of their Founders’ Award. Given in the spirit of the original founders, it’s presented to a member whose outstanding contributions have helped advance the organizing and productivity profession.
For the last EIGHT years, Leslie has been named by Global Gurus as one of the top Time Management experts in the world.
In addition to her focus on student issues, Leslie coaches other women entrepreneurs. She presents often at conferences on women’s entrepreneurship and is a member of Cornell University’s prestigious President’s Council of Cornell Women.
Leslie splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City with her husband, Wayne. Her children are grown and flown. In her all-too-rare spare time, you can find Leslie hiding out in her car indulging in her favorite treats – entertainment magazines and frozen yogurt.
Awards & Recognition
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Books
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Columns
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Speaking
