From the Community: Why this Nominee Stands Out

“Ashley Leonard has been a driving force behind transforming how Medtronic engages Gen Z students through early outreach. Over the past nine months, she has led the expansion and formalization of our Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Internship Program—originally a grassroots initiative—into a nationally scaled, sustainable program that now spans seven locations and hired 97 interns for summer 2025.

Ashley challenged the status quo by designing a structured, early-touch talent strategy that engages students during the summers before and after their freshman year—well before traditional internship recruiting begins. Her work has modernized early career recruiting in three critical ways:

Built-for-Gen Z Experience: Ashley created a pan-Medtronic program framework with consistent processes, training, and onboarding across sites, ensuring a high-touch, high-quality experience tailored to Gen Z expectations around clarity, community, and career growth.

Inclusive and Targeted Recruiting Strategy: She developed a cohesive outreach and interview strategy focused on increasing access for underrepresented students in STEM, partnering with both internal teams and external partners to create inclusive pipelines.

Innovation in Programming: Ashley implemented hybrid program events and mentorship touchpoints that meet students where they are—digitally and developmentally—ensuring early exposure to Medtronic’s mission and career paths in MedTech.

Ashley’s work directly supports our long-term goal of increasing diversity and representation in technical roles. Her strategic mindset, operational excellence, and authentic passion for early career talent have not only improved the candidate experience but also future-proofed our pipeline with high-potential, values-aligned Gen Z talent.”