Rupa, tell us about the World Woman Foundation. When was it founded, where is it based, and what are its goals?
I’m the co-founder and CEO of the World Woman Foundation, which we started in 2017.
We are a global non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, currently active in over 20 markets. Our global mission, which we call the Equality Moonshot Mission, is to invest in one million women by 2050. At present, we’re working with 55,000 women worldwide.
Our goal is to empower one million women by providing access to capital, coaching, community building, and commerce opportunities giving women entrepreneurs a global stage and ensuring they become the heroes of their own stories.
Who are the women behind the World Woman Foundation? What are their nationalities? Are they business leaders?
We work with women across a wide spectrum. We have several programs for example, one that supports professional women who have been out of the workforce for two to three years and are now trying to re-enter. These are highly qualified women facing a global challenge it’s very difficult to rejoin the workforce.
We also work with women who are CEOs or C-level executives who join us as mentors and advisors to help us accelerate our global mission.
Based on your experience, what kinds of businesses do women most often choose to invest in?
It’s quite broad, but mostly product-based businesses. Many women come to us after running their businesses for two or three years without becoming profitable. They seek a second chance an opportunity to scale, to find a supportive community, and to share their story on a global platform.
We typically offer grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. What we ask for in return is a one-year commitment: to receive mentorship, community support, and to use our global stage to grow their business and share their story in a more powerful way.
Why did you decide to participate in Cannes Lions?
Because globally, there are so many conversations happening around AI and the role of women in artificial intelligence. AI is affecting every sector, especially the creative industries film, advertising, and others, where women make up the majority of the workforce.
These jobs are being threatened, which is why we’re here: to make a statement that investment in the creative industries, through AI, can empower women and create equal opportunities. It’s a global challenge 100 million women worldwide will need to reskill or change careers.
This change is happening faster than we think. To face it, we must place creativity at the center of everything. You can’t solve these problems with technical skills alone – creativity is essential to overcoming the challenges women and girls face today.
And what message would you like to share with the audience at Cannes Lions?
I believe women are courageously creative. When we are given the opportunity to solve a problem, we do it fearlessly. AI is putting us in the driver’s seat in a world that wasn’t designed for us, but one we can now reshape using our creativity and the power of technology. That’s why we’re here at Cannes Lions and other major global cultural and business events to shape the world that women truly deserve.
Are there French women in your association?
Yes, definitely. We collaborate with women globally, and many French women are part of our community.
How did you decide to start this foundation?
Honestly, I just follow my instincts. If I feel like doing something, I do it. That’s how I live my life whether it’s working, going out, or starting something new.
And now you’re working with your daughter?
As for my daughter, I believe that as women, we spend more than eight hours a day outside the home working, and our children, whether sons or daughters, are watching us balance everything.
I don’t want to be the mountain they admire from afar; I want to climb that mountain with them. That’s why I bring my daughter everywhere with me. She helps and at the same time, she’s learning. She’s switching roles: she can clean tables, and she can also sit at the table and speak her mind. I didn’t train her – she watched me, read, learned and when she was ready, she joined me naturally.
Do you think she’ll follow in your footsteps?
I don’t think so. She has her own mind, and I want her to explore her full potential in all directions.
What is your personal life motto?
Whatever you think – just do it. There is no tomorrow. Never ask for permission.
Because you might have wings, but if you ask for permission, you’ll never fly. So give yourself grace and permission to do what you want. Don’t wait for approval.
In your view, what would a truly equal world for women look like?
I don’t believe we’ll see full equality in my lifetime. But it’s changing. Yes, but equality is a fight. Instead, I focus on harmony. I’m a mother, a colleague, a professional, I can’t do everything 100%, but I try to bring harmony and balance.
So rather than gender equality, I aim for gender harmony. If we can respect each other, make space for choice, and value each other’s roles, that’s meaningful progress.
The World Economic Forum estimates it will take more than 134 years to achieve true equality. It takes political will, organizations like ours, and educated girls around the world.
It takes empathy, understanding different realities – mine, and that of girls like my daughter to redefine what equality means in every country and every context.
What advice would you give to women around the world who are still underserved or mistreated, to help them take the first step toward change?
Education is key. But I also know how easy it sounds, sitting here in the French Riviera, to say that education gives you power, when many girls don’t even have access to it.
So my advice is: use what you have. That’s what I did. Whether it’s a little courage, a small amount of food, or support from someone start with that. You just need a small push to move the needle forward. Yes, the first step. And women are gaining more power every day. It’s an honor for me and for all women.
@worldwomanfund
By CEO Rupa Dash @thedashshot
Photo credit @WorldWomanFoundation
