Why I Actually Know What I’m Talking About

I’m 69. I grew up in an upscale Detroit suburb—both parents were doctors, international travel from childhood, private schools, the whole privileged package. I was pre-med until a required computer programming course changed my life. Switched to tech, spent decades in the Bay Area through the dotcom boom and bust, made a decent living.

Then life happened. Divorce. Bankruptcy. Age discrimination became very real once my hair went grey. At 60, I finally did the thing I’d dreamed about since I was eight years old: I joined the Peace Corps.

I sold my house, simplified everything, and moved to Madagascar sight unseen. Then moved to Costa Rica. Then back to Madagascar. Five moves in seven years.

Here’s what matters: Two of those moves were to countries I later left because they weren’t good fits. I’m not selling you a fantasy—I’ve lived the reality, including the parts that didn’t work.

I learned how to spot trouble before you waste time and money on it. I learned that you’re not a tree—you can always move again. And I learned that life is SO much better for Black folks outside the U.S., but only if you land in the right place for YOU.

The Part That Might Surprise You

I live in Madagascar. I love Madagascar. It’s my paternal ancestral home and after Peace Corps ended, I came back and started Mama Leeza Cares—a 501(c)(3) supporting special needs children, orphans, and rescue animals.

We provide school tuition for kids who were locked out of education—many had never seen a doctor before, born at home with cognitive difficulties from oxygen deprivation during labor. Now they attend a special needs school. Their families can finally work. It’s a domino effect of transformation.

We support children in two orphanages here in Mahajanga—many were street kids, some were taken from or given up by families who couldn’t care for them. They’ll never be adopted. Most will spend their entire childhood in the orphanage. They deserve education, stability, and hope.

I care for about 45 rescue animals—half live with me, half with my housekeeper. We provide veterinary care, food, and owner education. This place is perfect for me.

And I would never recommend Madagascar to most Blaxiteers.

It’s one of the world’s poorest nations. The infrastructure is challenging. Basic services most Americans take for granted? Not here. For most people, it lacks too much.

Madagascar isn’t even in the BDE database, even though I live here. Because this work isn’t about me—it’s about you.

Here’s what matters: Every client I serve through Blaxit Forward helps me serve children who were locked away at home, families who can finally thrive, and animals who were dying in the streets. Your freedom plan fuels someone else’s future. That’s the work.

Why High-Achievers Actually Need This

You’re successful. Well-educated. You have resources. You might be thinking you can figure this out yourself.

You probably can. Eventually. After spending time and money exploring countries that sound good on paper but feel wrong in reality. After dealing with surprises that research didn’t prepare you for. After realizing that “best countries for expats” lists are written for white retirees, not for you.

Here’s what I’ve noticed: money can’t buy connection or happiness everywhere. Some high-income folks think wealth means they can make anything work, or bribe their way past obstacles. Sometimes true. Sometimes a liability that paints a target on your back.

More importantly, you might overlook countries that lack the “it factor” but could be near-perfect matches. Or chase after popular destinations that look amazing but miss what actually matters to you.

I value your time. I’m an open book—maybe too open, honestly—and I connect with people authentically. My only agenda is helping you succeed. You have the resources to act on good recommendations. Together, we can move faster and smarter.

What Makes Me Different

I’ve done this. Not once—five times. I’ve moved to countries sight unseen. I’ve stayed in places that worked and left places that didn’t. I’ve learned where the blind spots are, what the guidebooks don’t tell you, and which “paradise” destinations are oversold.

I’m not trying to sell you on any particular country. I don’t care if you choose Portugal or Panama or Thailand or Ghana. The BDE shows you what the data says based on YOUR answers to 65 questions about what you actually need.

I bring lived wisdom, a fearless spirit, and the mathematical certainty that better exists. I’m constantly refining the system because I’m never satisfied with “good enough” when “excellent” is possible.

And yeah, maybe I’m a little motherly about it. Not in a coddling way—in a “I see through your bullshit and I have your back” way. Because that’s what people who are actually ready to move need: someone who tells the truth and knows what they’re talking about because they’ve already walked the walk.

Three Ways To Work With Me