About the Foundation
Why We Started
Gender-based violence is more than a women's issue.
Gender-based violence is one of the world's most widespread yet underfunded human rights challenges. In fragile and conflict-affected settings, it destroys lives, fractures families, weakens communities, and undermines the foundations of peace, justice, and long-term development. Yet despite its profound social and economic consequences, it remains surrounded by stigma and silence. Survivors often face fear, discrimination, and barriers that prevent them from seeking help, while organisations working to support them continue to receive only a fraction of global philanthropic funding.
Lasting change begins within communities.
In places affected by conflict, displacement, and institutional fragility, survivors rarely turn first to international organisations. They seek support from people they know and trust. Local women leaders and survivor-led organisations understand the cultural context, have earned the confidence of their communities, and are often the first—and sometimes the only—source of justice, protection, and hope. We believe that meaningful and lasting change begins by strengthening the leadership that already exists within communities.
Yet these organisations are often the hardest to fund.
Many of the organisations creating extraordinary impact remain invisible to traditional philanthropy. They are often small, locally rooted initiatives operating in complex environments with limited administrative capacity, little visibility, and few resources to navigate lengthy funding processes. As a result, some of the most trusted and effective organisations are also among the least funded. We created Where the Way Leads Foundation to change that—connecting courageous local leaders with the funding, partnerships, and opportunities they need to continue creating pathways to justice.
Our Approach
We listen first.
We begin by understanding local realities before deciding how we can add the greatest value.
We trust local solutions.
We believe the people closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions.
We fund flexibly.
We provide support that reflects the realities organisations face, not rigid funding models.
We build capacities.
We strengthen the systems, skills, and resilience that enable organisations to thrive over the long term.
We strengthen leadership.
We invest in courageous leaders whose vision, trust, and commitment drive lasting change within their communities.
We connect communities.
We bring together local leaders, donors, and partners to share knowledge, build relationships, and expand opportunities.
We make sure no one has to walk alone.
Our Future Vision
We believe the future of philanthropy lies not only in funding projects, but in strengthening the people, organisations, and networks that create lasting change.
Our vision is to help build a global community of local leaders advancing survivor-centred access to justice—connected through shared knowledge, trusted relationships, and access to expertise, technology, and opportunities that strengthen both their leadership and their organisations.
As this community grows, we hope to contribute to a new model of philanthropy: one that recognises local leadership earlier, invests more flexibly, shares power more intentionally, and values trust and long-term partnership alongside accountability. By helping shape this ecosystem, we believe more organisations will gain access to the resources they need, and more communities will be able to build lasting pathways to justice.
Who we are
Our Fund is stewarded and backed by women leaders across human rights, business and finance.
FUND HOLDERS
Marianela Santos
PHILANTHROPIST & BUSINESS LEADER
KALPA VENTURES
BUSINESS - PHILANTHROPY - ESG
Marianela has more than thirty years of experience as a serial and social entrepreneur, business leader, and board member. Marianela serves as the CEO of Kalpa Ventures, a Mexican family fund that supports inclusion and sustainability enterprises and initiatives. Marianela’s work spans ESG, finance, technology, social enterprise, workplace inclusion, and long-term social mobility. Marianela brings financing expertise to the Fund and will engage leaders in business and finance to capitalise the Fund.
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Marianela is a serial businesswoman from Mexico. In addition to serving as the CEO of Kalpa Ventures, she is pioneering the first AI-Green Data Centers initiative, which is building the first AI-Nvidia Factory in the LATAM region to meet key sustainability parameters under the SDG 2030 agenda.
In addition to Marianela’s businesses, Marianela leads a number of social initiatives:
Chairs the Hecho con Capacidad A.C. Foundation, dedicated to promoting workplace inclusion for people with intellectual and motor disabilities
Former President of the Social Responsibility & Sustainability Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce Monterrey Chapter
Director of social enterprises such as Uno a Uno Taller Protegido, where 50% of employees live with an intellectual disability, as well as Health Angel Monitor Systems, dedicated to supporting specialized telemedicine programs for low-income Mexican migrants in California, United States
Founder and CEO of the “Coahuila Valley” Foundation ecosystem, based in Coahuila, Mexico, which promotes social mobility by educating young Mexicans in STEM, Manufacturing 5.0, and Information Technology
Awards
Recipient of the Yiacantecutli National Award from the American Chamber of Commerce Mexico for promoting inclusion, sustainability, and anti-corruption in the Mexico-US business community
Arfat Selvam
RETIRED CORPORATE LAWYER & PHILANTHROPIST
FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR,DUANE MORRIS & SELVAM LLP / SELVAM LLC
CORPORATE LAW - PHILANTHROPY
Arfat has over fifty years of experience as a corporate lawyer in corporate finance, with a career at the forefront of Singapore’s financial services and capital markets development. Arfat’s work has spanned mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructures, takeovers, capital markets fundraising, privatisations, cross-border investments, financial services, and international joint ventures. Arfat’s career reflects a long-standing commitment to strengthening institutions, advancing pro bono service, and supporting public-interest leadership. Arfat will steer the Fund’s corporate governance, in addition to raising awareness and resources for the Fund.
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Arfat has been closely involved in the legal changes driving the legal and financial services sectors in Singapore. Arfat was a member of the Company Law Reform Committee, which made major recommendations affecting companies and securities laws in Singapore. Arfat has been cited in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018 edition as a recommended lawyer in Corporate and M&A – Local Firms in Singapore. Arfat was admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1969.
Notable positions:
Managing Director of Duane Morris and Selvam LLP and Selvam LLC until March 2026
President of The Law Society of Singapore in 2003
Former Director of the Stock Exchange of Singapore Limited
Member of the Senate of the Academy of Law
Member of the Board of Legal Education
Formerly on the Board of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
Director of Pro Bono SG until March 2025
Board Member of Club Heal
Awards:
Awarded Public Service Medal by the Republic of Singapore in 2024.
Awarded the International Bar Association Pro Bono Award in November 2025.
Learn More:
Profile: https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/arfatselvam.html
IBA Press Release: https://www.ibanet.org/Singapore-Arfat-Selvam-has-won-the-2025-IBA-Pro-Bono-Award
Yalda Aoukar
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER, BRACKET CAPITAL
YOUNG GLOBAL LEADER, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
INVESTMENT - PHILANTHROPY
Yalda has nearly ten years of experience leading Bracket Capital, a global private markets investment platform with offices in Los Angeles, London, and Doha. Yalda is one of the few female General Partners and founders in venture capital worldwide. As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bracket Capital, Yalda has helped deploy more than $1.5 billion into disruptive, high-growth technology companies. Yalda brings financing expertise to the Fund and will engage leaders in business and finance to capitalise the Fund.
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After a successful career in investment banking and private equity across London and the Middle East, Yalda co-founded Bracket Capital in 2016.
As one of the very few female General Partners and founders in venture capital worldwide, Yalda has led the firm to top-tier performance, deploying more than $1.5 billion into disruptive, high-growth technology companies across AI, Fintech, Industrial Tech, Healthtech, Spacetech, and other frontier sectors.
Yalda’s work focuses on identifying and backing category-defining companies at the growth and late stages, supporting founders who are reshaping global industries.
Yalda also serves as President of the Bracket Foundation, the firm’s philanthropic arm, where Yalda champions the use of technology for social good, particularly in online child safety. In 2019, Yalda launched a pioneering initiative exploring how artificial intelligence can combat online child abuse, which led to a strategic partnership with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and a multi-year collaboration with the UAE government to equip law enforcement with advanced technological tools to protect children in digital environments. Yalda proudly sits on the board of Umanitek, a Swiss-based AI company whose Guardian agent uses a decentralized knowledge graph to enable privacy-preserving collaboration between platforms, NGOs, and law enforcement to help detect and prevent harmful content online.
A committed advocate for women’s empowerment and inclusive innovation, Yalda advises governments and policymakers on digital transformation across key sectors including biotechnology, food security, AI integration, and education technology. Yalda sits on the board of the UN’s AI for Safer Children Initiative, which Yalda helped launch in 2020, and serves on the advisory board of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Accelerator.
Named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2024, Yalda holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. Yalda divides her time between London, Los Angeles, and the Middle East, driven by a commitment to advancing breakthrough technologies and building a safer, more innovative, and more equitable future.
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
Natasha Latiff
INTERNATIONAL LAW - HUMAN RIGHTS - GENDER JUSTICE
Natasha is an international human rights lawyer, and, co-founded two award-winning non-profit human rights organisations to respond to gender-based violence. She has more than fifteen years of experience advancing access to justice and reparations for survivors of gender-based violence in some of the most complex countries. She has built legal teams, and, supported civil society leaders and survivors across Afghanistan, South Sudan, Vanuatu, Pakistan, Argentina, Kenya amongst others. Natasha brings practitioner experience to funding and supporting survivor-centered justice work in conflict and fragile settings.
INTERNATIONAL LAWYER FOCUSED ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
CO-FOUNDER OF TWO AWARD-WINNING NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS
YOUNG GLOBAL LEADER, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
FELLOW, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FORUM
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Natasha is the Co-Founder of two non-profit human rights organisations: SAHR, which supports women civil society leaders and lawyers across the Global South, and Women for Justice, a women-led organization providing essential services for women and survivors in Afghanistan.
Natasha has designed and overseen programmes that deliver legal aid and psychosocial support to women survivors of violence and women in conflict with the law, while building community-based justice mechanisms under extreme political and legal conditions.
Natasha has secured and managed projects funded by donor governments, UN agencies, and major foundations, including USAID, the United States Institute of Peace, UN Women, UNICEF, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Natasha has also overseen compliance, monitoring and evaluation, and quality assurance for these portfolios.
As a practitioner, Natasha has represented survivors in complex cases of sexual and gender-based violence in South Sudan, Afghanistan, Vanuatu, and other contexts, often negotiating directly with governments, public institutions, and corporations to secure remedies and institutional reforms. Natasha has led remediation efforts in high-profile cases involving serious violations. Natasha’s findings have informed policy changes, law reform, creation of mechanisms, and reporting to UN Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures.
At SAHR, Natasha led a Gender Justice Accelerator that accompanied civil society leaders to use and shape law and policy to increase women’s access to justice in cases of gender-based violence.
Natasha brings organisational leadership experience to the Fund through more than fifteen years of work in fundraising, donor reporting, and rigorous survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and intersectional quality standards in service delivery.
Admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore, Natasha holds an LL.B from the University of Warwick and an LL.M with Distinction from SOAS, University of London.
Natasha also holds a certificate in Global Leadership and Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education.
Natasha is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, an International Women’s Forum Fellow, and an Ashoka “Special Relationship” changemaker. Natasha has received multiple awards and scholarships for Natasha’s human rights work.
Rachel Kang
PROGRAMS & OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
GLOBAL SHAPERS COMMUNITY, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
YOUTH LEADERSHIP - LAW, POLICY & SOCIAL IMPACT
Rachel is an emerging legal, policy, and social impact professional supporting the establishment and strategic development of the Foundation. Rachel is a senior at Vanderbilt University studying Human & Organizational Development and Legal Studies, with academic and professional interests spanning law, governance, international human rights, humanitarian policy, and gender justice. Rachel supports grantee research and assessment, partnership engagement, communications, governance coordination, and institutional development for the Fund. Rachel brings experience in public service, congressional operations, policy research, civic leadership, and youth-led social impact.
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Rachel has contributed to research, policy analysis, and institutional development initiatives related to legal reform, survivor-centered approaches, human rights protection, civil society engagement, and access to justice. Rachel’s work is grounded in a broader commitment to strengthening institutions, supporting community-led solutions, and advancing justice for women, children, and vulnerable communities.
At Vanderbilt University, Rachel’s academic work focuses on public policy, organizational leadership, international protection of human rights, law, and governance. Rachel’s coursework has included international human rights law, public policy analysis, statistics and quantitative methods, organizational leadership, criminal law and procedure, law and media, and emerging adulthood and social systems. Rachel’s academic writing and research have examined issues including human rights protection, legal institutions, incarceration, media ethics, public policy, and the social conditions that shape access to justice and civic participation.
Rachel previously interned in the United States House of Representatives, where Rachel supported legislative and policy-related work, constituent engagement, congressional operations, casework, research, and public-facing services. During this time, Rachel also supported interpretation and engagement for visiting South Korean National Assembly delegations during diplomatic and public service events in Washington, D.C., including Korean-English interpretation in congressional and public service settings. This experience strengthened Rachel’s interest in foreign affairs, international law, East Asia and the Pacific affairs, healthcare access, and institutional accountability.
Rachel has also supported policy and research initiatives through the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, contributing to research and analysis focused on policies that improve outcomes for children and families. Rachel’s work has included examining evidence-based approaches related to early childhood systems, family wellbeing, and public policy implementation.
Rachel serves as the incoming Curator of the Nashville Hub of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, where Rachel supports youth-led civic engagement, community partnerships, and social impact initiatives. Through this work, Rachel has contributed to initiatives focused on medical debt relief, public interest advocacy, and youth leadership development, including local efforts connected to Shred the Debt.
Rachel has been recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Award Gold for her commitment to service and has been named to the Dean’s List at Vanderbilt University. Rachel’s broader interests include philanthropy, social impact strategy, international cooperation, and strengthening institutional approaches to justice and equity through long-term, locally grounded partnerships.
ADVISORS
Sanaa Souidi
MANAGING DIRECTOR
HEAD GLOBAL FACULTATIVE REINSURANCE AT SWISS RE
YOUNG GLOBAL LEADER, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
REINSURANCE - BUSINESS - EDUCATION
Sanaa has over fifteen years of experience in the global reinsurance industry. Sanaa is Managing Director and Head of Global Facultative Reinsurance at Swiss Re, where Sanaa oversees property, casualty, financial lines, and special risks facultative business worldwide. Based in Zurich, Sanaa is also a member of the P&C Reinsurance Management Team. Sanaa brings her expertise in risk, analytics, investment, business leadership, and education-focused social impact.
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Previously, Sanaa led the risk and analytics function at Swiss Re Group Risk Management, where Sanaa led internal model development, risk and solvency reporting to the Board, regulators, rating agencies, and analysts, as well as insurance and investment risk-taking frameworks.
Before joining Swiss Re, Sanaa was a Catastrophe Underwriter at PartnerRe. Sanaa holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School and is a qualified actuary.
Recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2023, Sanaa also serves as an Ambassador for the Jadara Foundation, demonstrating Sanaa’s commitment to education and community development.
Judit Pach
ADVISOR TO THE CEO OF MET ASIA ENERGY
FORMER AMBASSADOR OF HUNGARY TO SINGAPORE, BRUNEI, INDONESIA, TIMOR-LESTE AND ASEAN
MENTOR AND ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
DIPLOMACY - GOVERNMENT RELATIONS – STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Judit has more than twenty years of experience connecting people, institutions, and ideas across cultures, sectors, and regions. Judit is a former Ambassador of Hungary to Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN. As an Ambassador, her work spanned international relations, economic diplomacy, strategic partnerships, communications, and business development. Beyond Judit’s diplomatic and private-sector work, Judit is a long-standing mentor and advocate for women’s leadership and youth empowerment.
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Judit is a senior executive, former ambassador, and advisor with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of international relations, economic diplomacy, strategic partnerships, communications, and business development.
Judit currently serves as Advisor to the CEO of MET Asia Energy, the Asian platform of a Swiss integrated energy company, where Judit supports the company’s growth across Asia through strategic partnerships, market development, investment opportunities, and cross-border cooperation between Asia and Europe.
Prior to joining the private sector, Judit represented Hungary in Southeast Asia for more than a decade. Judit served as Ambassador of Hungary to Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, and previously as Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN. Throughout Judit’s diplomatic career, Judit worked to strengthen political, economic, scientific, educational, and innovation partnerships while promoting dialogue between governments, businesses, universities, and civil society organizations. Judit also served as Hungary’s Governor and Executive Committee Member of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), advancing cooperation between Asia and Europe on issues including education, leadership, sustainability, and people-to-people connectivity.
Earlier in Judit’s career, Judit held senior leadership positions within the Hungarian government, including roles supporting the President of Hungary and the Prime Minister’s Office, with responsibilities spanning international communications, public affairs, economic diplomacy, and stakeholder engagement.
Alongside Judit’s professional career, Judit has been a long-standing advocate for women’s leadership and youth empowerment. Judit serves as a judge for the prestigious Women of the Future Awards Southeast Asia and Global Women of Influence Awards, mentors emerging leaders through the pro bono platform VLookUp.ai, and regularly contributes to initiatives supporting women in leadership, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, and public service. Throughout Judit’s career, Judit has mentored students, young professionals, and aspiring leaders across Europe and Asia, with a particular focus on empowering women to navigate leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Judit’s contributions have been recognized through national awards from Hungary and state decorations from Lithuania, Belgium, and Poland.
Judit holds degrees in international business and languages and has completed executive education in leadership, management, and public affairs. Judit’s work continues to focus on building bridges between sectors, cultures, and regions while supporting the next generation of leaders.