04/02/2026
👉Behind the Scenes: Quiet Leadership
Leadership in international development rarely follows a predictable path. Much of the work happens quietly behind the scenes, without headlines and often without recognition. For PH International’s Executive Director Meg Harris, it has been the result of more than three decades of work shaped by international experiences, mentorship, and commitment to connecting people across cultures. 👥
Growing up overseas and spending her formative years in Africa shaped how she understood the world and the role international engagement could play in helping people better understand one another.
💬 “I realized very quickly in my undergrad years that what mattered most to me was having an international dimension in my work,” she recalls. “Helping people understand that there is a much bigger world out there.”
When she joined PH International eleven years ago, she did so as head of development, focused on strengthening programs and expanding partnerships. As a member of the organization’s senior management team, she worked closely with the Executive Director, Finance Director, and Country Directors. When the previous Executive Director announced her retirement, Meg applied for the position and was selected by the board of directors for the role.
The transition itself was gradual. But the full weight of the job became clear during a period of unprecedented disruption for the international development sector last year.
🌐Following changes in U.S. foreign assistance policies, many organizations across the field lost major funding streams almost overnight. PH was no exception. Several of its largest programs were paused, forcing the organization to quickly reassess its structure and make difficult decisions about the future.
💬 “It was the moment when the responsibility really sank in,” Meg says. “We had to make difficult decisions quickly, financially, operationally and for our team.”
The organization was forced to downsize significantly within a short period of time. For Meg, the most important priority throughout that process was the people who make PH’s work possible.
“Our staff had to be the first consideration in every decision,” she says. “This work is not easy. People do it because they believe in it.”
Despite the challenges, the experience also reinforced something she believes defines PH as an organization: its ability to adapt.
The changes also accelerated a shift that had already been underway within PH, moving from largely independent country offices toward a more integrated global team. Today, staff across locations collaborate closely, sharing systems, resources and expertise.
Ask Meg what a typical day as Executive Director looks like, and she laughs.
“There really isn’t a typical day.”
Much of her time is now spent balancing strategic planning, financial oversight, fundraising, staffing decisions, and supporting program teams across the organization. What continues to motivate her is the same belief that guided her into the field decades ago.
“If I didn’t believe in the work, I wouldn’t be able to do it,” she says.
Another part of the role she values deeply is mentorship. Having learned from both inspiring mentors and difficult experiences earlier in her career, Meg now sees helping others grow as an important part of leadership.
“I’ve had incredible mentors along the way,” she says. “Now I feel fortunate to be at a stage of my career where I can support others in their own paths.” 🌱
For young professionals considering careers in international development, her advice is simple but thoughtful. 💡
💬 “Follow the work that feels meaningful to you,” she says. “Figure out not only what you enjoy doing, but also what doesn’t interest you. That can be just as important in shaping your path.”
And above all:
“Find work that fits for your values and your sense of purpose. This field requires commitment, patience, and resilience, but it is also incredibly rewarding.”
Behind the programs and partnerships that define PH International’s work around the world is a form of quiet leadership, the kind that rarely appears in headlines. It is the steady work carried forward by people who believe deeply in the mission.
Over the years, that resilience has been shaped by the culture within PH itself. It is a culture built by people working alongside one another across different locations, cultures, and lived experiences.
For Meg Harris, that mission of building understanding between people continues to guide the work she does every day and the work of the teams she leads across PH. After decades in the field, that belief remains at the heart of the organization’s quiet, determined leadership. 🌍
