The business at a glance
Across the globe, millions of women with huge talent to lead are locked out by marginalization, discrimination, and systemic inequality. At the current pace, it will take 140 years to reach equal representation in leadership (World Economic Forum, 2023).
Worldwide Sheroes is a leadership development social enterprise creating pathways to leadership for women from marginalized and underserved communities. It connects them with highly accomplished female mentors across the globe, sectors and cultures - building confidence, agency, and influence through structured, one-to-one mentoring.
Following a successful pilot engaging 200 women from marginalized communities across 35 countries, Worldwide SHEroes is now focused on building a sustainable, revenue-generating model with our support. They are developing a certified corporate leadership programme that offers a powerful leadership experience. Through cross-border mentoring within similar sectors, professional women will grow their leadership capability while mentoring women who face systemic and cultural barriers - helping them build confidence, skills, and new opportunities. This innovative model will position Worldwide SHEroes to scale its global impact and long-term sustainability.
Meet the project leader
Sahera Sumar, the founder of Worldwide SHEroes, is an executive coach, global mentor, and social impact leader with decades of experience in leadership and organisational development. She is passionate about advancing gender equity and creating inclusive leadership pathways for women from underserved communities around the world.
Meet our alumni
Want to see who we’ve supported in past years?
Find the full list of all founders we've worked with since our inception in pages 32–43 of our impact report.