International Alumnae Component of the Fortune - U.S. Department of State Global Women's Mentoring Partnership
Program Overview
Now in its seventh year, the International Alumnae Component of the Fortune – U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership brings together past participants from a particular region for a four-day program. Led by an American mentor who shares her personal and professional insights as a successful businesswoman and leader, the program provides an opportunity to share business and leadership best practices, brainstorm solutions to common challenges and form a regional network of women leaders. Participants also attend networking events, visit a successful women-owned business, and meet with representatives of the U.S. Embassy.
2018 Program Details
The 2018 International Alumnae Component will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam on November 6-9 and engage 16 women leaders from six countries in Asia Pacific. Participants will be joined by featured mentor Monica Hamling, Talent Business Partner for UnitedHealth Group, a global Fortune 5 healthcare organization. Hamling, who has had a 23-year career in the Talent and Human Resources field, advances the talent and leadership agenda at UnitedHealth Group by assessing, coaching and advising executives on their personal and professional growth, encouraging movement of talent to enable greater cross functional / segment experiences.
Meet the Mentees
Xuan (Cheryl) Yu
2018 Mentee, President, Jinghan Education
Cheryl is the Chairman and President of the Jinghan Education Company, which operates 100 branches in 16 cities across China. Jinghan instructs over 50,000 students each year, and is one of the “Big Four” publicly listed education and training institutions in China. She has held this role since August 2016.
Prior to joining Jinghan Education Company, Cheryl worked at Digital China (Lenovo Group) where she created and implemented a net business strategy which led to rapid growth for the company. From 2004-2005, she worked as a market analyst at IDC, and IDG subsidiary.
Following her time at IDC, Cheryl was the Vice President of Pioneer Software Group, and was responsible for Pioneer Software Institute, which provided notebook computers to university students and teachers in central China.
In May 2009, Cheryl joined Amber Educational Group where she held the position of Vice President, and General Manager of the Vocational Education Division. She was responsible for group brand strategy, formulating marketing strategies and establishing good relationship with IPO investors. She was a key participant in the group’ s listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Cheryl also oversaw vocational education, the university cooperation business, and the professional training base, as well as managing the company’ s IT and internet strategy.
Cheryl graduated with a Bachelor’ s Degree in Computer Science and Technology from Nanchang University in 2001, and earned her Master’ s Degree in knowledge management from the French National Institute of Management and Science. She is additionally a graduate of Harvard University’ s General Management Program.
Cheryl was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2011 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Elly Tjan
2018 Mentee, Regional Head of Pematangsiantar Office, Bank Indonesia
Elly Tjan has been working as a central banker in Bank Indonesia since 1994. She is currently Deputy Director, and was named Regional Head of Bank Indonesia Pematangsiantar in June 2013.
She was first named as an Assistant Manager in 1995. Her current position is Deputy Director, and she was named Regional Head of Bank Indonesia Pematangsiantar in June 2013.
Her responsibilities include cooperating with Bank Indonesia’ s main stakeholders as a strategic advisor for local government and guarding inflation stability, analyzing monthly and banking statistics for the main office, strengthening SMEs growth and providing sufficient cash to cover cash and non-cash payment systems for the bank.
When Elly was named Regional Head of Bank Indonesia Pematangsiantar five years ago, she was the first female regional head not on Java Island, out of 41 other Regional Heads. Being one of only a few female leaders in a male-dominated environment for over five years has been a challenge, but has allowed Elly to grow in competency, integrity, and professionalism.
Elly is also a wife and mother to three girls, who she is very proud of. She holds a Master’ s in Business Law and a Bachelor’ s in Law.
Elly was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2009 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Wenyi (Stella) Xing
2018 Mentee, Trustee, Leping Social Entrepreneurs Foundation
Wenyi Xing has been a strong practitioner and promoter of social innovation and vernture philanthropy. Since starting her career as one of the founding members of the Fuping Development Institute (FDI) in 2002, Weny ihas helped to establish and invest in five social enterprises in China. She has worked on migrant workers’ training and re-employment, CSR consultation and promotion, microfinance for rural people, education for rural children, and ecological agriculture.
Wenyi is currently a trustee of the Leping Social Entrepreneur Founddation (superior organization of FDI). As a catalyst and market builder for social innovation in China, Leping accelerates high-potential social enterprises with comprehensive impact- driven investments, thus facilitating innovative solutions with the potential to generate large-scale social impacts. By introducing a series of knowledge and thought products, Leping cultivates the diverse talents and ideas market in social innovation.
Wenyi is also a trustee of the Chinese Young Volunteers Association. Before FDI, Wenyi worked for the broadcasting division of Sony Corporation of HK Co. Ltd.
Wenyi was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2014 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Haijuan Yu
2018 Mentee, Finance Business Partner, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Haijuan Yu has 21 years of experience in accounting, finance and administration in both the private and public sectors. She is currently a Finance Business Partner of IFRC HQs. Her current work responsibilities include managing funds, budget, financial, and contractual matters for global health programs and global road safety projects within the organization. Prior to joining HQs, Yu acted as Senior Finance and Administration Manager of the IFRC East Asia Region. Yu holds an Msc in Accounting and Finance from the University of Manchester and is a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor.
Haijuan Yu was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2013 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Niluh Pertami
2018 Mentee, Creative Director, Niluh Djelantik
In her childhood, Niluh Pertami spent her free time after school helping her single mother at her stall in Denpasar market. In 1994, after graduating from high school, Niluh continued her studies in Jakarta, taking business classes at Gunadarma University, where she majored in finance.
Niluh initially pursued a professional career in 1995 as a telephone operator/receptionist at PT. Primatek Multindo, a Swiss owned textile machinery company. In 1996, she began working at CIC BANK as a personal assistant to the Representative, and in 2000, she started her first sales position at PT. Gudang Mas Satria as an Account Executive. Her las position in Jakarta was as an Account Manager at PT. Mitra Integrasi Komputindo. In 2002, she moved to Bali and became the Marketing Director of PAUL ROPP, an American high fashion company, where she and her sales team expanded the retail and international sales operations.
In 2003, due to health problems, Niluh decided to quit her job and start her own endeavor of gathering Indonesian shoe artisans to establish her own label Nilou. Nilou was born as the result of her dreams to create high quality handmade leather shoes, handcrafted in Indonesia by Indonesian artisans. In 2005, Nilou shoes were sold in more than 20 countries in Europe, Australia and Asia. Nilou was later transformed and rebranded into Niluh Djelantik in 2008.
Niluh was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2017 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Lệ Pham
2018 Mentee, Chairwoman, L & A Holdings
Lệ is a serial entrepreneur and CEO who has successfully built an outstanding organization over the past 18 years. L&A Holdings has executed 150 successful projects delivered yearly by around 10,000 qualified staff nationwide for clients in Australia, Europe, Japan and North America.
In her role as Chairwoman of L&A Holdings, Lệ leads strategy and coordinates resources to support the high growth of the group’ s companies, including Le & Associates (HR Outsourcing and Services), KingBee (Marketing Operation Services), Nesso (BPO in Image and Data Processing) and CxO Search (Job Matched and Culture Fit Placement). L&A’ s winning competence in the HR outsourcing industry is its ability to manage projects proactively using technology to help clients pursue efficiency-oriented solutions that align with their strategic plans.
As a social activist, Lệ co-founded and has served as Vice President of External Affairs of the Ho Chi Minh Association for Women Executives and Entrepreneurs (HAWEE). Le has also participated as an Initiator and Mentor in the SME Mentoring Program for 350 start-ups in Vietnam since 2011. From 2006-2011,m She served as Vice Chair of the Young Business Association of Ho Chi Minh City.
Lệ was the National Prize Winner of CIMA CFO in 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ho Chi Minh City Open University and she was the Valedictorian of English Faculty of Hue Pedagogy University in 1994.
She was selected as a Fortune – U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2007 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Chao Sun
2018 Mentee, Vice President, Guoyan Culture & Media Group, Development Research Center of the State Council
Chao Sun is Vice President of Guoyan Culture and Media Group under the Development Research Center of the State Council. Additionally, she is an Editorial Board Member of China Development Observation and head of the “Belt and Road” Ambassador Interview Program, the first and only national-level in-depth bilingual dialogue and international cooperation program.
Her background includes stong hands-on work experience at international organizations and multinational companies including the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the Wall Street Journal. She has interviewed and partnered with over 50 leaders from foreign embassies, international organizations and multilateral financial institutions, and is the author of “New Order.”
Chao Sun was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2008 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Chung Nguyen
2018 Mentee, General Manager, Focus Travel and Trading Company, LTD
Chung Nguyen was born in 1972 in the city of Hai Phong, Vietnam. Chung is currently General Manager of Focus Travel and Trading Company Limited, one of the leading companies in the field of leisure, travel and tourism in Vietnam. Focus Travel is widely known as a pioneer in the luxury travel market.
Chung has over twenty years of experience in the Vietnamese media, telecommunication, and digital content industry. Prior to joining Focus Travel, Chung worked for over ten years as Chief Operating Officer of VNN Plus Media JSC, a company in the media, telecommunication and digital content industry. She contributed significantly to the development and growth of VNN Plus by introducing many innovative services and copyrighted content to top Vietnamese mobile operators such as MobiFone, Vinaphone and Viettel. Nguyen also helped a number of international investors at companies such as Buongiorno Hong Kong Limited (Hong Kong & India offices) and Umbrella Telecome (India) to explore and develop business opportunities in telecommunications and related areas.
In her capacity as General Manager of Focus Travel and Trading Company Limited, Nguyen’ s main responsibilities include leading the company to achieve its goals and finding and creating new opportunities for the development of all divisions of the company.
Chung holds an MBA from The French Vietnamese Center for Management Education (CFVG).
Chung was selected as a Fortune – U.S. State Department Mentee in 2014 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Anak Norm
2018 Mentee, CEO, Villageworks Cambodia Company, LTD
Anak Norm is the CEO of Villageworks Cambodia. Villageworks is a social enterprise that focuses on supporting vulnerable, marginalized communities in Cambodia. It works to bring sustainable income and safe economic opportunity to disabled handicraft producers, empowers women home-based workers, and reduces rural exodus. Villageworks is also a Guaranteed World Fair Trade Member and has received many awards, including the 2014 Mekong Good Design Award and selection as a PSI recommended Sustainable Product.
Anak has also served as President of the Artisans Association of Cambodia and as a Board Member of the Women Entrepreneur Association and Home Net Southeast Asia.
Anak was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2013 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2018.
Hannah Doan
2018 Mentee, Managing Director & Founder of LAWPRO
Ms Nga Thu Doan (Hannah), LL.M, Managing Director & Founder of LAWPRO, a business law firm in Vietnam, has more than 15 years of experience in legal consultancy and litigation. A well trusted legal adviser for Vietnam companies and foreign companies investing in Vietnam, an enthusiast in helping to solve corporate/shareholder disputes and a reconciliation specialist for family conflicts, Hannah was awarded the prestigious professional recognition “Lawyer of the Year” by the Ministry of Justice in 2012. Hannah holds a Master Degree in Law from Vietnam National University. Hannah is also the current Consultant Director of BNI (US/Business Network International) and one of pioneer coaches in ActionCOACH – number one of business coaching system (franchising business coaching in Vietnam). Hannah is also involved in social activities to help many people, including helping start-up business owners with legal advice and coaching.
Hannah was selected as a Fortune – U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2016 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Dwi Fatan (Lily) Lilyana
2018 Mentee, Vice President of Learning and Development, PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero)
Dwi Fatan (Lily) Lilyana is the Vice President of Learning and Development for PT Pupuk Indonesia, a state-owned enterprise in Indonesia and the largest fertilizer producer in Asia. She has more than 15 years of experience as a human resources professional and communication expert in the Indonesian mining, petrochemical, and media industries. Her current work responsibilities include setting up a Corporate University and managing the Executive Leadership Development Program for PT Pupuk Indonesia and its ten subsidiaries. Ms. Lilyana graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Indonesia. She is a member of International Coach Federation (ICF) and a co-founder of the International Association of Business Communicator (IABC), Jakarta chapter.
Mentor: Tami Reller, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, United Healthcare
Yin Myo Su
Honoree, 2015
When Yin Myo Su – known as ‘Misuu’ – was growing up, foreigners were only permitted to visit Myanmar (known as Burma at the time) for seven days. For nearly 50 years of military rule, the country and its people were isolated from the world outside. It was an era marked by political violence, widespread poverty, and repressive control of information. In 2010 the first signal of changing times came in the form of general elections – the first in 20 years. With a nominally civilian government installed in 2011, the formerly reclusive state has begun the tentative process of developing into a democratic, free and open society.
The country that Misuu cherished as a child – the same country she works to conserve today – is embodied in three aspects: nature, culture and people. For Misuu, this is where the heart of the country lies. As it continues a rapid transformation, Misuu is redoubling her efforts – and her resolve – to preserve her heritage.
As a daughter of political activists, Misuu has always been keenly aware of the needs of her people. In 1995, she saw an opportunity to provide much-needed jobs while also living out her commitment to protect the environment and culture.
Misuu had observed the damage that a young tourism industry was causing fragile ecosystems. She partnered with her family to build the Inle Princess Resort near her home on Inle Lake, an at-risk area already suffering from deforestation, the fast growth of tourism and unhealthy cultivation practices. Together they opened a socially and environmentally responsible hotel that employs local people and grows most of its own vegetables.
When the hotel began to thrive, Misuu wanted to do more for the Inle community. In 2013, Misuu opened the Inle Heritage Hospitality Vocational Training School. The school invests in local people, develops their life skills and leadership, and provides hospitality training to a new generation with a focus on sustainability, local heritage and environmental responsibility.
Misuu also formed the Inthar Heritage House, a community center that preserves the local culture; its Green Practices Center revives traditional farming techniques that once sustained Inle Lake families.
Her business model reflects Misuu’s values entirely; she is running a business that “seeks first to achieve maximum social impact, rather than maximum profit.” Myanmar’s nature, culture and people have always been at the center of her work.
In this time of transition and seemingly limitless opportunity, Misuu wants to use Myanmar’s growth to elevate its people. She sees risk in investment and business models that value the bottom line above all else; and her approach is to establish a distinctly local model of socially responsible business. Her vision for Myanmar is rooted in the culture, values and environment she inherited; Misuu is doing her part to ensure that these ideals are preserved for generations to come. “I don’t want people to lose hope. I want to give hope. If all new businesses in Myanmar have an ethical background, hope will be spread.”
Focus Areas
Nilamsari
2018 Mentee, CEO and Owner, PT. Baba Rafi Indonesia
Nilamsari is the Owner and Marketing Director of PT. Baba Rafi Indonesia, which was established in 2003. Also known as Kebab Turki Baba Rafi, her organization already has more than 1,300 outlets throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Brunei, the Philippines and the Netherlands. Additionally, PT. Baba Rafi Indonesia will be opening branches in India in the near future. As of May 2017, Nilamsari is also the owner of Petite Audrey.
Nilamsari also runs Baba Rafi Mentoring, a start-up mentorship organization of the Baba Rafi team that works in the culinary field. She is also in charge of Womenpreneur, which helps survivors of abusive relationships to gain self-confidence and financial independence.
Nilamsari has experience in the fields of entrepreneurship education, franchise business models, restaurant models for food business, women’ s leadership, social empowerment women’ s empowerment, low-budget high-impact marketing, and international franchise expansion. She has written a book called “Womenpreneur,” which describes the growth of her company.
Nilamsari has received significant recognition for her work. She participated as a keynote speaker at the Singapore Human Capital Summit 2011 on “Accelerating Leadership Development in Asia Pacific” and the “Catalyze Your Dream” event hosted by the US Embassy. She was recognized by the Women in Global Business of Australia Awards in 2016 and participated in the Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’ s Mentoring Partnership in 2017.
Nilamsari was selected Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2017 and participated in the International Alumnae Component
Tungalag Damba
2018 Mentee, General Director, Denimon LLC
Tungalag Damba is the General Director at Denimon LLC and the President of the Professional Federation of the Sewing Industry. She has over seven years of experience in SME’ s specializing in the domestic clothing market. Specifically, she has experience in mentoring work, retailing and managing the production process in the sewing industry. Her current work responsibilities include everyday activities such as meeting with the CEO and CEFO of the company, as well as representing the company in various meetings with potential clients and the media. Tungalag was recently elected as the President of the Professional Federation of the Sewing Industry.
Mentor:
Anu Gupta, Senior Vice President of Operational Excellence, Target
Tungalag was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2018 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.
Khulan Davaadorj
2017 Mentee, Director, Chief Technologist, Natural Essentials LLC
Khulan Davaadorj is a Mongolian social-entrepreneur who founded her company Natural Essentials LLC in 2014, with the aim of producing natural and healthy products with unique Mongolian raw materials in the most environmentally friendly way. Davaadorj started Mongolia’ s first ever organic skincare brand LHAMOUR because of her own skin problems. As a woman business owner, she hopes to help diversify the economy and be a leading role model for the younger generation. She hopes her vision can be shared, and she has seen her philosophy successfully implemented in Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Thailand and Canada.
Khulan wants to show the world that new generation of manufacturers exists and that businesses can create a large positive social impact on any country. LHAMOUR is committed to making a positive social change in Mongolia and around the world through its use of raw materials, employment of marginalized communities, and practice of giving back to communities and the environment.
Mentors
Kate Lubenesky and Sarah Kauss, S’ well Bottle
Khulan was selected as a Fortune- U.S. Department of State Mentee in 2017 and participated in the International Alumnae Component in 2018.