VIE LESA is set up as a “gemeinnütziger Verein” (a non-profit association according to Austrian law), founded in autumn 2017 and run by two Austrians – Verena Heingärtner and Sandra Glück-Taglieber – who have both lived abroad as expat partners for many years. FROM expat spouses FOR expat spouses. Like-minded people sharing a vision and contributing to bringing it to life. Find out more on how to support us by clicking Join us (individual) or Partners (as a company).
PS: If you want to have a look at VIE LESA’s statutes, send us an email to office@vie-lesa.org
Verena Heingärtner
Without Verena there would not be a MTL LESA (Montreal Local Expatriate Spouse Association) and there would not be the vision of VIE LESA. Verena is the best spokeswoman and networking professional we could hope for. She is our driving force who manages to combine diplomacy with being hands-on, a thorough business lady with being a caring friend with an open ear. Strategic consultant and spontaneous idealist, Verena is it all and more. Aviation lawyer and accredited mediator by education and profession, make-up artist and expat spouse consultant by heart. Verena has recently moved to Brussels, commutes to Paris on the week-end where her Austrian husband works or hops on the plane to visit her “home base” in Vienna.
Without Verena there would not be a MTL LESA (Montreal Local Expatriate Spouse Association) and there would not be the vision of VIE LESA. Verena is the best spokeswoman and networking professional we could hope for. She is our driving force who manages to combine diplomacy with being hands-on, a thorough business lady with being a caring friend with an open ear. Strategic consultant and spontaneous idealist, Verena is it all and more. Aviation lawyer and accredited mediator by education and profession, make-up artist and expat spouse consultant by heart. Verena has recently moved to Brussels, commutes to Paris on the week-end where her Austrian husband works or hops on the plane to visit her “home base” in Vienna.
Sandra Glück-Taglieber
Sandra is our strategic think-tank. She manages to throw in creative ideas in our brainstorming sessions and at the same time keep a “master” view and pencil down a realistic action plan afterwards. Sandra loves to draft and shape concepts and to match text and pictures to bring across ideas. Having lived abroad for 15 years, Sandra gained first-hand experience in almost every expat partner set up and brings in her expertise in communications, training and HR. Her globetrotting pathfinding journey took her from the United Arab Emirates to Croatia, Canada and Belgium. She has recently repatriated to Linz in Upper Austria with her family where she continues her career in content marketing and human resource management.
And this is our Story: Once upon a time in Montreal, we got to know each other over a couple of good coffees and soon after the idea of MTL LESA (Montreal Local Expatriate Spouse Association) was born. Even though we are no longer in Canada but spread around the world again, the seed planted back then has continued to grow and become an important network partner of organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and Montreal International.…and a few years later, again over a couple of good coffees, we have decided it’s time for VIE LESA!
Last but not least, a special “Thank you!” to Rodica Stroe, another MTL LESA co-founder and believer in the concept of LESA, for her financial kick-off support for VIE LESA.