Sustaining Women’s Leadership: Collective Action for a More Just Future
Women leaders are at the forefront of change—driving climate justice, gender equality, economic opportunity, and human rights movements. Yet, they remain chronically underfunded, overextended, and increasingly under attack. In turbulent times, how can we build a stronger, more connected ecosystem to sustain feminist leadership? How do we ensure women entrepreneurs, working mothers, and grassroots leaders have the resources, security, and community support they need to thrive?
This discussion will explore strategies for investing in long-term, flexible funding for women’s leadership, strengthening cross-movement solidarity, and fostering a culture of care to prevent burnout. We’ll also examine the role of feminist funding models, uncommon collaborations, and economic empowerment in advancing gender equity globally, particularly for women in the Global South. Participants will share ideas on how to support working mothers in leadership roles and ensure women leaders remain at the center of systems change.
Key Questions:
How can we ensure long-term, flexible funding for feminist leadership and well-being?
What strategies strengthen cross-movement solidarity between funders, advocates, and women-led organizations?
How can we better support women entrepreneurs and female-led businesses, particularly in the Global South?
What policies and workplace changes are needed to support working mothers in leadership roles?
How can we foster a radical culture of care to prevent burnout among women leaders and activists?
This session will provide a space to connect, strategize, and commit to real action in sustaining women’s leadership—ensuring those driving change have the resources, support, and security they need to thrive.
Session Co-Leaders:
Claudette Nduwayezu – Founder & Legal Representative of SOPAD, a social entrepreneur transforming agriculture into a tool for women's empowerment through training, financing, and sustainable economic inclusion.
Emily Bancroft – CEO & President of VillageReach, advancing health access, climate action, and feminist leadership through innovative primary healthcare solutions.
Enrica Duncan – Director at Mapa do Acolhimento, tackling gender-based violence in Brazil and currently an Obama Scholar at Columbia University.
Helen Davies – Chief of Staff at Operation Fistula, a queer feminist catalyzing proximate leadership in health systems and founder of The Rainbow Road, a space for LGBTQIA+ professionals in international development.
Mendy Marsh – Co-founder & Executive Director of VOICE, a global changemaker shifting power and resources to frontline women leaders in humanitarian aid and gender-based violence prevention.
Mitali Wroczynski – Associate Director of Partnerships at Co-Impact, focused on building high-impact collaborations that drive sustainable social change.
Simone Ishikawa – Unlock Her Future Programme Director at The Bicester Collection, an advisor, mentor, and investor in fintech and impact startups, with a background in global finance.
Valerie Foulkes – Strategic Initiatives Manager at Plant With Purpose, supporting smallholder farmers in cutting poverty and restoring degraded watersheds through sustainable initiatives.