Olga Leventis on Purpose and the Next Chapter of Uprising

14 Aug Olga Leventis on Purpose and the Next Chapter of Uprising

In a recent feature with Vogue Portugal, our founder Olga Leventis opened up about two of the most significant developments in her life right now: the arrival of her third child with her husband Nick, and the launch of Uprising Surf Lab, the foundation’s newest initiative based in Nazaré.

Reflecting on this pregnancy, Olga described feeling more attuned to her body and more respectful of her own rhythm than in earlier pregnancies, which were shaped by a drive to “get everything right.” She spoke candidly about how motherhood has reshaped her definition of success, shifting her focus from speed and output toward awareness, impact, and meaning, both in her personal life and in her professional choices.

That same philosophy underpins Uprising’s approach to giving. Olga traced the foundation’s origins back to grassroots work supporting children’s sports programs in Asia, and explained how the onset of the war in Ukraine transformed that instinct to help into something more structured and sustained. As she put it in the interview, real impact requires presence, continuity, and accountability, not just emergency response.

The conversation also touched on Uprising Surf Lab, the foundation’s new venture in Nazaré. Nick described the project as an effort to build an environment where local talent can grow and where knowledge is shared over time, rather than optimized for a single moment of performance. Olga added that the Surf Lab isn’t a conventional surf school, but a collective experience designed to help people connect with nature and understand their own limits, reflecting the couple’s shared belief that real performance comes from balancing strength with awareness, and ambition with responsibility.

Looking ahead, Olga shared that her priorities remain grounded: staying present as a mother and partner, while continuing to build projects rooted in honest communication, meaningful impact, and long-term vision.

Read the full interview on Vogue Portugal.