Sandija Bayot is the Chief Development Officer at the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston. Prior to her current role, she served as Director of Communications for Houston’s Consular Corps – the 3rd largest Consular Corps in the United States, with over 90 nations present. Before moving to Texas, Sandija worked at the Embassy of Latvia Washington, DC as the Assistant to the Trade Counselor. She maintains an ongoing relationship with the Latvian Embassy as well as many other international organizations in Washington, D.C. For her continued engagement with the Latvian diaspora, she has been recognized by the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Latvia, the Prime Minister’s office, Embassy of Latvia and others. She has also completed both the FBI and DEA Citizens Academy programs. Sandija was recently recognized as the Honoree of the Women Who Mean Business Award by Houston Business Journal. University of Houston Law Center honored Sandija as the 2019 Beacon of Light – Standing for Unity, Peace, Respect, Justice and Hope. Sandija is also a member of the National Language Service Corps, Department of Defense.

Sandija is an Executive Committee Member of the FBI Houston Citizens Academy Alumni Association Board, US Global Leadership Coalition Texas Advisory Committee Member, and former Vice President for National Affairs for the Latvian American Chamber of Commerce.

She is fluent in Latvian, English and Russian. Sandija is married, has two sons, and lives in The Woodlands, Texas.

The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston is also hosting the Inaugural International Women’s Day Symposium the afternoon of March 8 at the Federal Reserve Bank – celebrating the theme of L.E.A.D. – Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement and Diversity.  Visit their website to learn more:  https://wachouston.org/event/inaugural-international-womens-day-symposium-l-e-a-d/