The Council on Women’s Leadership, founded in 2010 at Meridian International Center, develops and raises awareness of opportunities to accelerate women’s leadership, empowerment and entrepreneurship worldwide. The council’s goal of fostering meaningful connections and collaborations could not have been better served than by Bulgarian Ambassador Elena Poptodorova, who hosted a tea at her residence on Feb. 7. A former Member of Parliament, the ambassador spoke proudly of her country’s entry into NATO and the European Union. She said, “I love reaching out to real Washington,” which explains her heartfelt remarks about U.S.-Bulgarian diplomacy as she discussed her nation’s march to democracy.