A native San Antonian, Leilah Powell has worked in many areas of the community-development sector in San Antonio – for financial institutions such as Bank of America; non-profit organizations such as the San Antonio Housing Trust and the Brackenridge Park Conservancy — as a consultant for clients including the San Antonio River Authority, Bexar County and Trinity University, and for municipal and county government, including serving as chief of policy for two mayors.
She has also served on numerous boards, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Antonio, the San Antonio Section of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association and her neighborhood association.