The Power of Virtual Communities - Expat Women

Expat women is a website that provides resources for living in over 190 countries for women living in a country other than their own. But it is so much more than a resource site - it is an ever growing source of knowledge, insight and community for women across the globe.

There is not much you cannot do or find here. You can read stories of other expat women's experiences or share your own. Get articles, tips and information on money matters, careers, education and learning languages. Find other expat women who self-identify as students, travelers, mothers, partners, volunteers, professionals or free spirits. Read their blogs or connect with them on the forums. Read recent polls to see what the latest thoughts are on the issues facing expat women. Find country-specific and expat-related books and read reviews. Find a mentor to help you settle into your new home country. Every time I return to the site there is new information, new insights shared and new women that serve to inspire or educate about how to build a successful life abroad.

It is clear that the two founders, Andrea Martins and Jill Lengré, are committed to making this site THE space for expat women from around the world. They have not only gathered and organized an tremendous amount of useful information, but through their stories, interviews, forums, blog directory and mentor program they have created a virtual community that is so much more than the sum of its parts.

This site is clearly a result of the passion and commitment of its founders. Having met in Mexico, Andrea, an Austrailan, and Jill, an American, discovered a mutual interest in creating a much needed resource for women living abroad. They scheduled a meeting at Starbucks to discuss the idea further, and a few cappuchinos later Expat Women was born. The two of them worked for a year while juggling their personal and professional responsibilities - including that of being a mum - before launching the site. Their long hours and hard work have paid off and their commitment to excellence shows - not only in a well-resourced and organized site - but by the fact that they receive around 14,000 unique visitors to their site monthly!