Wedu is a non-profit foundation that supports the development of women leaders in South and Southeast Asia through mentorship, leadership development, and education financing. Wedu stands for 'women's education'. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, Wedu operates as a Thai-registered foundation and a Cambodian-registered organisation.
The organisation's vision is “a world where half of all leaders are women”, and its programs focus on enabling women to access capability, capital, and community to advance their leadership journeys.
History
Wedu was founded in 2012 by Mario Ferro and Mari Sawai. The organisation began by working with small cohorts of women leaders in Cambodia through mentorship-based support.
Over time, Wedu expanded regionally and developed an integrated leadership ecosystem combining structured leadership development, education financing, and long-term mentorship. Its model evolved in response to structural barriers affecting women's access to higher education, professional advancement, and leadership opportunities in Asia.
Mission and approach
Wedu works to address systemic and internal barriers that limit women's leadership in Asia, including restricted access to education, financing, and professional networks. Its model combines three core pillars:
This integrated approach is designed to support women across different stages of their personal and professional development.