Writer, Thinker, Creator
I’m Leo, a writer hooked on finding the perfect words to engage, inspire, and drive action. In my roles in the marketing department at Lyric Opera of Chicago, as an editor for DePaul’s Blue Book, and as a social media manager for DePaul’s Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse Department, I blend creativity with strategy to elevate voices.
When I’m not in Chicago, you can find me getting my palm read in the Florida Keys, learning I’m this close to a Pulitzer—or at least a really clever tweet.
See Leonardo’s words in action.
Testimonials
David Zivan
Lead Writer and Editor, Lyric Opera of Chicago
“All of us in the Marketing and Communications department at Lyric were glad to have Leo working with us. He’s efficient in producing turnkey copy, but more importantly he brought a bit of style to everything he worked on—the kind of touch we all need, if we want to cut through the clutter and get an audience’s attention. He stayed engaged with projects through multiple rounds of review and revision, polishing material at a high level, and we trusted him with our most important stuff.”
Holly H. Gilson
Senior Director, Media Relations, Communications and Content, Lyric Opera of Chicago
“Any new team member needs to navigate the delicate balance between listening and taking in the environment of a workplace, while also beginning to contribute and making their voice heard. Leo Swearingen found that balance, and his solid footing, with great grace. Leo quickly became someone we looked to for a fresh take on a group brainstorming session or with the confidence that a project, once assigned and briefly described, would be turned into a solid draft or a quality article. He always felt present and open, whether in one on one editing turns on a writing project or in team working sessions, which I view as hallmarks of someone you want working on your team. I look forward to seeing where his talents and skills take him next.”
Leonardo Swearingen 