Paul Chadha’s day began before 6 a.m. with client calls and a run to the airport. He spent a few hours in Accenture’s office in the morning, then an afternoon at Northwestern University crafting a syllabus and writing letters of recommendation for his law students.
His four-year-old daughter wanted breakfast for dinner, so he swung by the grocery store for eggs, toast, and sausage that would give them the fuel to continue her bike-riding lessons that evening. It was a long day, not unlike many others in his work week, where he spent most of his time on work and his daughter in Chicago while keeping in the back of his mind the many children in Awassa, Ethiopia, that also depend on him.
Chadha’s life is a testament to the importance of balance. He specializes in corporate law as part of the legal team at Accenture, he teaches negotiation and international business law at Northwestern University, and he prioritizes spending time with his daughter at night. On top of all this, Chadha has been the president of the Awassa Children’s Project, an orphanage and school in Ethiopia, and was one of the founding board members of the organization 12 years ago. He currently serves as chairman of the board and assists with volunteer coordination and grant writing.