Leigh William

I have been humbled by the invitation to share personal relationships with many, many families from numerous countries over the past three decades. My latest project, born of unfortunate necessity, has been the creation of a nonprofit supporting pregnant mothers and families fleeing Ukraine. I began delivering food and water, warm coats, shoes, diapers, and baby strollers to train stations. Also, I coordinated insurance and midwifery connections, as well as personally attending births as a volunteer. I worked with local municipalities and private citizens to organize housing for Ukrainian mothers and children. By July, I was so exhausted and broke that it became clear this effort would not scale. I got organized and registered PALs as a US 501c3, raising nearly $30,000 to continue the work. In my free time, I enjoy sailing, writing, and traveling. Two years ago, I bought a 10-meter classic yacht and attained a German boating license, as well as completed the international certification for coastal cruising. I am currently working towards my Captain's License so that I can one day teach others to sail. My family means the world to me. I have been married since 1994 and have four children, ranging in age from elementary school to university. We are an interesting bunch in the sense that everyone in my household is either bilingual, trilingual, or a polyglot. Because of my husband's career in technology and sustainability, we have lived in many countries. We have met interesting people along the way and appreciate learning about different languages and cultures. In terms of work/life balance, I've always been pretty good about multi-tasking because I've always found a way to weave career into everyday life. Work has never really felt like "work." I am a creator. I thrive on networking and relationships. My work does not necessarily look like a typical job because whether creating bilingual immersion schools, or supporting families as they welcome a baby into the world, or engaging curious travelers who want to learn about a new country, I am naturally always building a community. This latest creation of a nonprofit for the families fleeing Ukraine was a serious labor of love, but the reward is seeing women and children survive one of the greatest tragedies they may ever face - in community with one another.