Written by Colin McEvoy | March 25, 2025 | SHARE
Lesley Robinson, a distinguished leader in entrepreneurship and education, will be among the featured speakers at Lehigh University’s upcoming AIEA Thematic Forum, where experts will explore the role of coaching in advancing intercultural learning and global education.
An upcoming Lehigh event will feature a distinguished leader in entrepreneurship and education who is dedicated to empowering women founders through mentorship, funding, and global leadership initiatives.
Lesley Robinson will be among the speakers at the upcoming Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) Thematic Forum being held at Lehigh University next month.
The event, which will be held on April 8 and 9, will explore the powerful role of coaching in advancing intercultural learning and global education.
“I’m passionate about the intersection of cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset alongside a global mindset—both require adaptability, curiosity, comfort with risk and uncertainty, and a commitment to solving complex global challenges,” Robinson said.
Robinson is Co-Founder & Director of Education at Ayana, foundation dedicated to uplifting women founders worldwide by providing them with education, community, and enhanced access to funding. She is also Founding Director of the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.
“Coaching within critical intercultural learning sharpens our ability to navigate complexity while empowering others to find their purpose,” Robinson said.
“Purpose-driven leadership isn’t just about personal success; it’s about creating space for others to thrive and flourish,” she said. “I’m excited to explore the practicality of how to do this as international educators at the AIEA Thematic Forum.”
Pre-registration for the AIEA Thematic Forum is required. Visit here to register.
AIEA is the nation’s only association dedicated exclusively to senior leaders in the field of international education. The AIEA Thematic Forums provide opportunities for international education leaders from around the country to meet and engage with salient issues for those leading internationalization.
The Lehigh event will take a deep dive into how coaching can further our commitments to intercultural learning, offering higher education professionals an opportunity to explore innovative approaches to supporting students and staff in an increasingly diverse and complex world.
“This forum is highly relevant for individuals leading internationalization who are committed to making global learning an opportunity for students to develop in service of themselves, others, and the world,” said Cheryl Matherly, Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs at Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA).
In addition to Robinson and Matherly, other speakers for the AIEA Thematic Forum will include:
Darla Deardorff, Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Competences at Stellenbosch University in South Africa
Christopher Glass, Professor of the Practice in the Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education at Boston College
Miriam Meima, Founder & Executive Coach of Every Day Leader
Angelina Rodríguez, Assistant Vice Provost for Global Learning at Lehigh; Teaching Associate Professor, College of Health
Dawn Whitehead, President of the Office of Global Citizenship for Campus, Community & Careers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Through her role at The University of Texas at Austin, Robinson has dispersed more than $115,000 in seed grants and equipped 95 women-led startups, earning KS WELI the 2023 GCEC Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center recognition.
Her innovative course, EntreLeaderHER, was a 2024 USABE Excellence in Education Award finalist, focusing on gender-smart entrepreneurial leadership. As a U.N. Global Purpose Award winner, Robinson is also a U.S. State Department Professional Fellow involved in global and local leadership initiatives.
She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University. Her research focuses on gender and entrepreneurship. She serves on Advisory Boards for SXSW Pitch and Blue Sky Partners.
Additionally, Robinson is a 2024 Austin Woman Magazine inaugural Change Maker, 2024 Young Women’s Alliance Educator of the Year, 2023 Austin Business Journal Women in Business Finalist, and 2023 Austin Under 40 Finalist.