Collective Building: Why I’m leading World Pulse’s next chapter as CEO
Jun 26, 2024
Story
Seeking
Encouragement
Lourdes
Jun 22
Joined Aug 26, 2021
I begin this message with deep gratitude to be a part of World Pulse’s future with you.
I am from Argentina and now live in Spain. I’ve always strived for a better life, free from violence and reaching for empowerment. I studied language and technology and founded an online translation company.
After growing the company to more than 500 business clients and receiving recognition and awards in both Europe and Latin America — I was regularly listed in local rankings of entrepreneurs, earned a disruptive start-up award in 2012, and best women-led company in 2018 — I still felt unfulfilled, like something was missing.
My introduction to feminism offered a collaborative and caring alternative to the top-down, male-dominated technology industry. I began to evaluate my life, my history, and my mother's experiences through the lens of the powerful women creating movements and narratives that had previously been invisible to me.
I arrived at World Pulse three years ago in the midst of this inner work — and the community gave me new purpose. I realized that I was here because I belonged in this community, that my story was the story of so many members, and that I was on this journey with you.
Now, I can't discuss feminism, community, and personal growth without mentioning technology. It's been my instrument for exploration, professional advancement, and understanding the world. Despite feeling isolated locally, technology provided me with global companionship. Despite feeling outside the spheres of power, it facilitated meaningful connections. Despite lacking a 'pedigree,' it gave me valuable knowledge by enabling me to tap into others' knowledge.
This is my wish for everyone. It’s what I see happening at World Pulse every day.
Jensine Larsen envisioned a vast network of interconnected women leading social change. Today, the impact of World Pulse's membership from more than 200 countries and territories is rippling out into the world. I believe in that vision and see technology as our greatest ally for scaling it.
Now, we are designing and building the missing link, an online network with a feminist approach that facilitates social change by bringing all voices and solutions together into an unsilenceable roar.
There's a lot of tech being built by people who aren't listening. We all need a seat at the table. Women, in all our diversity, have often been left out. We're here to amplify the voices that know the problem, to act upon what we hear, and to become collective builders.
I believe that alternatives to today’s toxic tech are possible. Designing and building purposeful social platforms is an obligation we have to humanity. Technology is merely a paintbrush, and we are the artists.
Looking ahead, in a world where too many women and historically excluded voices are still silenced, attacked, or ignored — online and offline — let's ensure together that World Pulse remains a place where our voices can speak freely, where we can connect and share our stories and our hearts, a safe place where you are welcomed and encouraged.
I believe in our collective potential to strive for more — still, too many don’t know that World Pulse exists. I’m deeply committed to reaching unheard voices to tell a bigger story, grow our collective power, and make a bigger impact.
Achieving this requires shared resources, and no one can be left behind. We can only do this together, navigating through the necessary changes, finding common spaces and processes for exchange, learning from our mistakes, and being patient with the process.
I'm not aiming to lead as a traditional CEO. Instead, see me as a work-in-progress feminist CEO: a Collaboration Executive Officer. I know that I am working alongside our community, our boards, our supporters, our team — and you.
We won't always get it right, but we know the direction we need to go in.
Warmly and in partnership,
Lourdes
PS: Reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you and your vision for the next chapter in World Pulse’s story! Lourdes@worldpulse.org