Edgar Sandoval Sr.

Keynote | Wednesday Morning

Edgar Sandoval is the President and CEO of World Vision. He has an unstoppable passion to see that every child—especially the most vulnerable—has the opportunity to experience Christ’s promise of life in all its fullness. Born in Los Angeles, Edgar grew up in Central and South America, where he first witnessed poverty.

Edgar came to World Vision in 2015 in response to a clear calling he and his wife, Leiza, felt to the ministry. As chief operating officer for three years, he directed fundraising programs that generated over $1 billion in donations, thereby strengthening financial and organizational health. 

Since stepping into the role of President and CEO on October 1, 2018, Edgar has placed a strong emphasis on World Vision’s Christian identity and the transformational journey of staff, donors, and the children and families participating in its programs. In 2019, he launched Chosen®, a new invitation to child sponsorship. For three consecutive years, Edgar has led the organization in raising record-breaking donations, including private and public funding for World Vision’s response to COVID-19 and the global hunger crisis, as well as domestic programs in the U.S. that reached more than 3.5 million people in 2022.

His own experience with hardship began at the age of 18, when he returned alone to the U.S. with only $50 in his pocket. He worked minimum-wage jobs while studying English as a second language, later earning bachelor’s degrees in industrial engineering and sociology from Rutgers University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Edgar was recruited by General Electric and later by Procter & Gamble, where, over the course of a 20-year career, he made significant contributions to the corporation’s growth and reputation. As P&G’s senior vice president and general manager of global feminine care, he directed the creation and launch of the internationally acclaimed #LikeAGirl campaign. The spot quickly became a viral sensation, airing during the 2015 Super Bowl, garnering more than 90 million views, winning multiple awards, and changing the perception of the phrase forever. Before the campaign, only 19% of people thought that doing something “like a girl” was a compliment. A year later, that had increased to 76%. 

A respected leader in the humanitarian space, he serves on the board of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Edgar is frequently quoted in national media; has spoken at the Christian Leadership Alliance Outcomes Conference, Devex World, and Global Leadership Summit events; and regularly provides teaching clips for the YouVersion Bible app.

Edgar cherishes faith and 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 while raising his daughters, is an asset to World Vision’s mission to empower the world’s most vulnerable children to take hold of their futures.