Emily Ledet doesn’t subscribe to hustle culture. As senior vice president and marketing executive leading the healthcare, education and not-for-profit commercial banking business for the Central United States at Bank of America, she has spent years climbing, striving and balancing motherhood with relentless ambition. But today, she’s found a better path — one built on purpose, people and letting go.
This fall, Ledet will share the hard-won wisdom behind that perspective as a panelist at North Texas’ most powerful women’s leadership event: Local Profile’s 24th annual Women in Business Summit, presented by Bank of America, on Sept. 12.
Get tickets and event info here »
A Health Scare That Changed Everything
Ledet’s current chapter isn’t about more meetings or more titles. It’s about more clarity. More impact. More presence with her family, her team and herself.
That wisdom was hard-won. Two years ago, Ledet experienced a spontaneous coronary artery dissection, a rare event that caused a heart attack. She was rushed to the hospital, terrified.
“I thought, what is happening? Why is this happening?” she recalls. “I keep a healthy lifestyle: healthy eating, exercise, focus on sleep. What could be the cause of this?”
It was a wake-up call. That moment shifted everything.
Redefining Success On Her Own Terms
Together with her husband, Ledet began to intentionally focus on what really mattered. It wasn’t easy, but it was essential.
“We wanted to design a life where we could pick and choose how we show up,” she says. “That meant redefining success in a way that aligned with our values, not someone else’s expectations.”
“We wanted to design a life where we could pick and choose how we show up,” she says.
Like many women, Ledet once believed success meant more: more hours, more responsibility, more sacrifice. But experience — and exhaustion — taught her to pause and reassess.
“Success doesn’t always mean a bigger paycheck or a higher title,” she says. “It could mean having time with your spouse and your kids. It could mean having time to focus on hobbies or service to your community.”
Learning To Let Go And Prioritize Joy
As mother of two, Ledet applies those lessons daily. She’s learning to delegate, to be intentional about how she spends her energy and to prioritize joy, not just productivity.
“You can’t be ‘on’ all the time,” she says. “Your brain needs breaks, just as your body needs breaks. You need space to think and to reset.”
For women in leadership — or those trying to get there — Ledet’s advice is refreshingly grounded: stop waiting for permission.
“No one is going to tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘It’s your turn.’ You have to define your own success. Write down what matters. Say it out loud. Ask for what you need before burnout hits.”
A Community Of Women Who Lead
That belief in connection, especially among women, shapes her approach to leadership. Ledet believes women need to speak up, not just for themselves, but for each other.
“If you see someone being overlooked, say something,” she urges. “Lift other women up. Create space. Share the mic.”
“If you see someone being overlooked, say something,” she urges. “Lift other women up.”
A Life Rooted In Purpose
Looking back on her career, one of her most powerful decisions was the one that felt most risky at the time: building her life in Dallas.
“It was a leap,” she says. “But it gave me roots. It gave me stability. And it allowed everything else — family, career, community — to grow.”
Now, with more intention and a stronger team behind her, Ledet is focused on what she calls “smart growth”: building boldly, but without burnout.
“We don’t have to do it all to lead well,” she says. “Sometimes, the smartest move is to step back and let others shine.”
Hear More From Ledet At Local Profile’s Women In Business Summit
Emily Ledet will share her story and transformative insights as a panelist at North Texas’ most anticipated women’s event: Local Profile’s 24th annual Women in Business Summit, presented by Bank of America.
Join 500 of North Texas’ most influential women on Sept. 12 for a day of powerful conversations, high-impact networking and stories that will inspire you to trust your own path.
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