WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT LUNCHEON

Barbara Leshinsky

Former Chief Revenue & Development Officer

The Ad Council

Barbara began her career in college athletics. Over the course of ten years, she coached tennis and held a variety of administrative positions, culminating in her role as the Director of Women’s Athletics at Columbia University.

In 1982, she decided to pursue a different professional direction when she joined the development team at Columbia University.  After a brief period at Fordham University, she became the Vice President of Development at the YMCA of Greater New York where she established the development office and led a 150-million-dollar capital campaign. She then moved on to become the Associate Dean for Development at New York Law School.

In 2004, Barbara joined the Ad Council where she remained until her retirement in December of 2023. As the Chief Revenue and Development Officer, she has the distinction of having raised an astonishing 350 million dollars during her nineteen-year tenure. Her standout accomplishments include spearheading the single largest public health campaign in the United States’ history, the Ad Council’s Vaccine Education Initiative, raising 60 million dollars in a matter of months. She secured the largest single gift in the Ad Council’s history, a 15-million-dollar contribution from the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation in support of the Mental Health destigmatization campaign. In addition, she was instrumental in creating and leading a 25-million-dollar gun violence prevention campaign.

Barbara has a strong belief in giving back. She has volunteered throughout her career, as a member of the Advisory Board of the Women’s Sports Foundation, the President’s Advisory Council of Queens College, and the UJA Youth Sports Committee. Additionally, she was the President of Women in Development.

Barbara Leshinsky has been a success in so many ways: as an athlete, a remarkable fundraiser, and a role model & mentor for generations of young professionals. She has used her competitive drive, belief in making the world a better place, and true enjoyment of developing others to craft a career of impressive achievement and personal gratification.

Mary McQuillen

Associate Director of Development

NYU Langone Health

Mary McQuillen is an accomplished development professional with a passion for healthcare philanthropy. As a seasoned fundraiser, she has made significant contributions to renowned organizations, driving revenue growth and fostering lasting relationships with donors.

Mary’s career journey began at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center (MGHCC) in Boston where she honed her skills as development professional, supporting the hospital’s fundraising efforts. Building on her success, Mary transitioned to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) in New York City, where she held progressively senior roles culminating as Senior Associate Director of Advancement. During her tenure, Mary led major gift fundraising initiatives in the Southwestern U.S., consistently exceeding revenue targets and maintaining an impressive donor retention rate. Her ability to articulate a compelling case for support and cultivate meaningful donor relationships made her a key spokesperson for the Foundation.

Following a memorable tenure dedicated to supporting the Parkinson’s community, Mary embarked on a new chapter in 2022 as the Associate Director of Development for NYU Langone Health. In her current capacity, Mary spearheads fundraising initiatives aimed at catalyzing research breakthroughs, advancing patient care, and ensuring a promising future for the field of medicine.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Mary is deeply committed to community service and has served as a volunteer for the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, Northeastern University and Women in Development New York. Mary graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Originally from the Greater Boston area, she now calls Brooklyn home.