“Whether it’s kids in Bangladesh, Uganda, or Honduras, I see a lot of me in them. Though their situation is much harder than mine was, I see their potential. I see their smarts. And I feel a tremendous responsibility to empower them with opportunities.”
Edgar Sandoval Sr. is president and CEO of World Vision. Founded in 1950, World Vision is one of the world’s largest Christian humanitarian organizations, with a presence in nearly 100 countries, reaching approximately 60 million people each year.
Edgar was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Latin America. When he was 18, family hardship prompted him to return alone to the United States, speaking no English, with only his U.S. passport and $50 in his pocket.
After earning degrees in industrial engineering and sociology from Rutgers University and an MBA from the Wharton School, Edgar was recruited by Proctor & Gamble. A highlight of his 20-year P&G career was directing the creation and launch of the internationally acclaimed #LikeAGirl campaign, which dramatically transformed the popular perception of the phrase.
In 2015, Edgar joined World Vision as chief operating officer in response to a clear calling he and his wife, Leiza, felt to the organization’s ministry. After stepping into the role of president and CEO in 2018, Edgar led the launch of Chosen®, World Vision’s invitation to child sponsorship that puts the power to choose in a child’s hands — flipping the script on a 70-year-old industry and garnering national recognition for innovation and impact.
Under his leadership, World Vision has seen five consecutive years of record-breaking operating revenue– contributing to the organization’s goal of equipping and empowering more people than ever to step out of poverty into fuller lives. In addition, the organization has received the highest possible financial accountability ratings from top watchdog organizations like Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau.
As World Vision president, Edgar has traveled to some of the places it’s toughest to be a child, including the Venezuela–Colombia border, gang-controlled urban areas of Honduras, Rohingya refugee settlements in Bangladesh, as well as the Sudan–Chad border, where he witnessed the impact of the world’s largest displacement crisis. A highly respected leader in the humanitarian space, he serves on the board of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and has appeared as a guest on national outlets including Fox News, The Washington Post, Vox, and Religion News Service. He is also a regular contributor of guided Scripture videos to YouVersion, the world’s most popular Bible app.
“It’s true everywhere we work: World Vision staff responding to the needs of the most vulnerable children and communities in dire circumstances and in the highest risk situations. That’s what we are called to. That’s what we’ve done for more than 70 years.”
Edgar cherishes his faith in Jesus and his family above all. His wife, Leiza, is a former teacher who was born and raised in Puerto Rico. The Sandovals live near Seattle, Washington, and they have four children, including two daughters with special needs. Edgar’s understanding of the potential of every child, instilled in him through his experience raising his daughters, drives his dedication to World Vision’s mission of empowering the world’s most vulnerable children to take hold of their futures.