About

Philip J. Leach

​

Philip J. Leach is an author, speaker, and advocate for helping young people make confident, informed choices after high school. 

​

Philip’s career didn't follow a straight line. It was shaped by hardship, education, hard-won experience, and opportunities that appeared at just the right moments. Learning while working became his way of life early on - and it set the foundation for the hybrid path that would define his career.

​

Raised as a ward of the State of Delaware, Philip grew up without the parental guidance most kids take for granted. His early years brought loss, uncertainty, and constant change. But during his toughest teenage years, an exceptional high school experience and three key mentors helped redirect his path.

​

Like many young adults, Philip started college before he really knew who he was or what he wanted. That search led him to the skilled trades, where an IBEW electrical apprenticeship gave him confidence, discipline, and direction. Working with his hands and solving real problems brought a clarity that the classroom alone never had.

​

After completing his apprenticeship, Philip earned his degree from the University of Delaware, opening doors that the combination of trade experience and academic training made possible. Over the years, he moved fluidly between construction sites, emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and financial institutions, drawing equally from field experience and university learning.

​

Today, Philip speaks to students, families, educators, school boards, PTAs, and community groups across Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Through his book, Finally, My Choice: A Post-High School Playbook for Teens, and his honest, down-to-earth talks, he helps young people see past one-size-fits-all expectations — and realize that a meaningful future is built through resilience, mentorship, and the courage to keep learning.