Five women entrepreneurs advancing the Sustainable Development Goals will convene in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland, June 14–20, 2026, for the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge.
From Cameroon to Chile, Lebanon to Papua New Guinea, and Canada, five extraordinary women entrepreneurs are proving that local innovation can drive global change.
Vital Voices is proud to celebrate the 2026 WE Empower UN SDG Challenge Awardees — visionary leaders advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through bold, community-driven solutions that are transforming lives around the world.
Launched at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 by the UN Secretary-General, the President of the World Bank, and the Council of Women World Leaders, the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge recognizes women entrepreneurs who are building more sustainable, equitable, and resilient futures. Each year, awardees receive global visibility, leadership development opportunities, and access to a powerful international network designed to accelerate their impact.
This year’s awardees will convene at the Villars Symposium in Switzerland from June 14–20, 2026, joining global leaders, systems thinkers, and more than 140 Villars Fellows for a week of collaboration, training, and high-level engagement with organizations including the United Nations and the World Economic Forum.
These women are not only leading innovative enterprises — they are creating ripple effects across entire communities.
Meet the 2026 Awardees
Rudayna Abdo | Lebanon
Founder & CEO, Stichting Thaki Nederland. Vital Voices Visionaries 2022 Fellow
Rudayna Abdo is expanding digital access and educational opportunity for vulnerable children across the Middle East. Through Thaki, she equips young people with e-learning tools and digital literacy skills that open pathways to education, empowerment, and future opportunity. Her systems-level approach bridges education, technology, and social impact.
Rudayna’s work advances:
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Tahina Booth | Papua New Guinea
Founder & Managing Director, Grass Skirt Project
Tahina Booth is transforming sport into social and economic infrastructure across the Pacific. Through Grass Skirt Project, she is building safer communities and expanding opportunities for women and youth through leadership development, health initiatives, and peacebuilding programs. Her organization’s work is deeply rooted in local leadership, with 84% Papua New Guinea staffing and 85% local procurement.
Tahina’s work advances:
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Macarena Cataldo Hernandez | Canada
Co-founder & CEO, Viridis Research Inc.
Chemical engineer and entrepreneur Dr. Macarena Cataldo Hernandez is leading the future of sustainable water treatment. Through Viridis Research, she developed a proprietary electro-oxidation system that removes persistent pollutants and enables water reuse in textile manufacturing. Her innovation is helping industries reduce environmental impact while advancing scalable climate solutions.
Macarena’s work advances:
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Madeleine Valderrama | Chile
Co-founder & CEO, Bruna.ai
Madeleine Valderrama is harnessing predictive artificial intelligence to improve sustainability across industrial sectors. Through Bruna.ai, she helps industries reduce waste, optimize resources, and strengthen operational decision-making across mining, agriculture, food production, and manufacturing. She is also a passionate advocate for women in STEM and deep tech across Latin America.
Madeleine’s work advances:
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Divina Stella Maloum | Cameroon
Founder & Regional Coordinator Africa, Children for Peace
Peace scientist and humanitarian leader Divina Stella Maloum is building systems-level solutions for peacebuilding and youth leadership across fragile contexts in Africa. Through Children for Peace, she has reached more than 10,000 beneficiaries and trained over 50,000 young people in civic leadership and social cohesion. Her work bridges grassroots action with global policy and emerging technologies.
Divina’s work advances:
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Investing in Women Leaders Creates Global Impact
At Vital Voices, we know that when women leaders are equipped with the skills, networks, and visibility to lead, the impact extends far beyond the individual.
Across our global network:
- 91% of graduates report feeling highly confident stepping into leadership roles
- 82% of alumni go on to mentor others
- Alumni organizations reach hundreds of thousands of people annually
- Women leaders launch partnerships, influence policy, and drive systemic change in their communities
The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge reflects the power of investing in women entrepreneurs whose innovations are advancing sustainable development worldwide.
As these five awardees prepare to take the global stage in Switzerland this June, they also carry forward something even more powerful: the collective strength of women leaders committed to transforming their communities — and the world.
Learn more about the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge and follow along using #WEEmpower.