2025 Women Of Live: Joyce Leveston

Joyce Leveston
CEO | Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

WORDS OF WISDOM | “Let every twist in your journey, good or bad, water your seed.”
MENTOR | “My mother is my hero.”

Joyce Leveston took the reins as CEO of the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation, which operates the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, on March 10.

She’s the first woman to hold the position.

With three decades of experience – including serving as senior vice president of convention centers for Oak View Group (Pollstar’s parent company) – Leveston has a unique perspective on diversity and the role companies play in advancing careers for women.

“The biggest thing we can do to nurture young female talent is to support them by continuing to be their sponsors in spaces they aren’t currently occupying,” she said. “It’s important to hold the door open behind us as women leaders to pave the way for young talent to follow.” Leveston’s experience includes holding senior roles at notable convention centers in Boston, Washington, D.C, Miami Beach, Houston and San Diego.

She advocates building a network of female leaders for support and being your authentic self.

“It’s a superpower to know your worth,” she said. “I was selected as the first female CEO at the Javits Center because I was the most experienced candidate for the role and the NYCCOC Board of Directors saw my worth. However, there have been people in the past who haven’t seen me and projected their doubts onto me. They think they’re pouring water on me to douse out my potential, but they didn’t realize I’m a seed and they just helped me grow.”

Leveston believes that diverse perspectives are how you build a well-rounded company, and she supports Employee Resource
Groups, creating regular lunch-and-learn sessions and prioritizing supplier diversity goals.

Her advice to young professionals is to take advantage of every opportunity, including tuition reimbursement programs.

“It is my gift and my responsibility to grow the people around me, but that can’t happen if they don’t lean into the opportunity,” she said. “Find mentors who water your seed but don’t forget to create your own rain.”