About dr. leonie h. mattisomn
Dr. Mattison’s distinguished career is marked by a breadth of honors and contributions that reflect her enduring impact across sectors. She has been recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times as one of the Top 50 Women in Business (2023–2025) and a 40 Under 40 honoree(2018), and was awarded the prestigious Mayor Bloomberg Community Leadership Award for her civic contributions. A prolific author and systems innovator, Dr. Mattison is the creator of the T.H.R.E.A.D. System™, 8-E Change Management Framework™ and REVENUE-X™ widely adopted tools for transformational leadership organizational renewal, and scalable revenue growth across sectors. She has authored ten books, published more than 20 articles, and continues to shape the field through her scholarship and strategic insight.
Her public service includes appointments as a BeWell Commissioner for the County of Santa Barbara, leadership in the Central Coast Black Leaders Roundtable, and active engagement with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce advancing mental health equity and educational access across the region. A nationally recognized voice on transformational leadership, her work has been featured in Forbes, the Montecito Journal, and the Santa Barbara Independent, where her insights continue to guide executives, policymakers, and changemakers committed to lasting, equitable impact.
Dr. Mattison holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Georgian Court University and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Education from Argosy University. She is also certified facilitator in Black and Green Belt Lean Six Sigma methodologies from Denver Peak Academy, Civil Treatment® Workplace program, executive education at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), and Board Leadership Certificate from California Lutheran University.
Dr. Leonie H. Mattison is an award-winning, nationally recognized transformational leader and organizational development scholar-practitioner. Renowned for inspiring and motivating people to exceed performance goals by fostering a shared vision, innovation, and personal growth. Respected for high ethical standards, emotional intelligence, and empowering people to drive organizational change, especially in complex organizations. Characterized by authenticity and empathy, her leadership philosophy is rooted in trust, purpose, and possibility, inspiring teams to lead with courage, challenge convention, and create lasting change.
For more than two decades, as the president and CEO of higher education, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Program Officer, and Chief of Organizational Transformation and Leadership, Dr. Mattison has reimagined multi-billion dollar systems, revitalized cultures, and designed solutions that center on innovation, growth, and expanded access. Her leadership is marked by an ability to guide organizations through disruption while cultivating environments where people and missions flourish. She has successfully led institution-wide strategic planning, shared governance reform, multi-million-dollar grant acquisition and fundraising, accreditation and regulatory alignment, and the development of award-winning workforce development and wellness programs.