Lesah Sesma

BizTUCSONJuly 7, 2026

2 minutes read

General Manager
Casino Del Sol

By Rodney Campbell

When she started at Casino Del Sol 15 years ago, Lesah Sesma was content working as an event manager.

“I wanted to come to Tucson and work for my (Pascua Yaqui) Tribe,” said Sesma, who was a sales coordinator at a Phoenix hotel when the Casino Del Sol job opened. “I wanted to be an event manager. It was the coolest job.”

Her enthusiasm and talents caught the attention of management, and she was offered a chance to work at the resort hotel as an assistant front office manager.

Comfortable in her role, Sesma was initially hesitant.

“I didn’t want to change jobs,” she said. “But they wanted to start a fire in me.”

That flame has burned brightly ever since. Sesma has served as director of hotel operations, executive director of community relations, and was named general manager three years ago after completing an 18-month company executive training program.

Only two employees were chosen for the program. The other, Miguel Escamilla, is also now a general manager.

“It felt like an MBA boot camp,” Sesma said. “We were going through everything. I met with every director and high-level executive. We discussed day-to-day and long-term operations.”

Sesma credits her time in Greater Tucson Leadership’s Class of 2013 and subsequent service on community boards for shaping her approach to leadership. “I’m an empath,” she said. “I listen to people. I’m not quick to react when there’s bad news. I try to look for the positive. I enjoy creating clarity and building people.”

Jacqueline Martinez, Casino Del Sol’s director of community relations, said Sesma is the kind of leader who helps her employees thrive.

“Working for Lesah is an absolute honor,” Martinez said. “I deeply appreciate her authenticity and strive to embody the qualities she models every day. She is a wonderful example of a leader who prioritizes empathy and compassion while still guiding us with clarity and purpose. She creates an environment where people feel valued, heard and supported.”

Sesma’s next big challenge is already set. She will be general manager of Casino Del Sol’s new casino, Casino Del Sol Vahi Taa’am, at Grant Road and I-10 when it opens in November.

“It’s going to be exciting to grow with the property,” Sesma said. “The team we have will never let each other fail.”

Although she admits to having pre-opening nerves, she’s busy thinking about the facility’s future with a nod to her past. “I’m already asking our tribal council when we’ll get a hotel.”