Programs VV Visionaries in Partnership with the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund

Aehshatou Manu is the Secretary General of the African Indigenous Women Organization Central African Network (AIWO-CAN), where she focuses on identifying the needs of women and girls through trainings, capacity-building activities, project writing, and implementation in Indigenous and local communities in Cameroon.

Aehshatou is an Indigenous Peoples Human Rights and Gender Advocate with over 10 years of experience in community development activities. She has knowledge and a strong interest in public policy and believes in advancing the human rights of marginalized groups and climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. Aehshatou holds a bachelor’s degree in business law with advanced skills in advocacy, project management, and activism. She is equally experienced in qualitative field research methods.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to ensure justice prevails and the transmission of knowledge and skills is passed on to the future generation.”

In 2015, while Syrian refugees were struggling to find work in Lebanon, Aline Sara was finding ways to practice her Arabic skills and came up with the idea for NaTakallam. Her business model, to hire refugees as online tutors, has grown into a larger social enterprise working in multiple languages and communities. Aline has overseen the growth of NaTakallam from a small startup to a globally recognized social enterprise that has distributed over $3,200,000 in self-earned income to refugees, displaced people, and host communities.

Amanda Chenai Makombe is a storyteller, thought leader and project manager. She is the founder of the community-based organization Kumbekumbe Arts Trust. Kumbekumbe Arts Trust uses different forms of art to engage, facilitate, and advocate for community issues. Her organization allows the avid reader, researcher and creative to use art as a tool of engagement to amplify the voices of young people.

Amanda Obidike is the CEO of STEMi Makers Africa, where she developed a first-to-market, teacher-centered learning management solution for African classrooms to access STEM project-based resources with little internet required. She was Breakthrough of the Year Finalist – Falling Walls, Berlin and a Global 20 Goldman Sachs winner. Amanda was celebrated by Forbes Science as an African changing the culture fabric for young talents to embrace opportunities in Science and Technology.

Amna Abdullatif is a community psychologist who has worked in the volunteer sector for over 15 years, working on gender and racial justice. An award-winning campaigner, her viral campaign to ban racists from football was signed by over 1.2 million people in 48 hours. She has recently set up The Three Hijabis, a social enterprise working to make football, sports, and cultural institutions inclusive and accessible for all.

Ana Lucía Gutiérrez González is the founder of Granadilla Podcast and Asociación Granadilla. Both are spaces created to empower Peruvian migrant women. Granadilla Podcast interviews Peruvian women around the world and shares their stories as a form of inspiration and motivation for future female migrants. Asociación Granadilla is a recently founded nonprofit that organizes events and workshops to empower Peruvian migrant women.

Anna Łabno-Kucharska is the leader of the employer cooperation team at the Mamo Pracuj Foundation. This organization works to solve women’s problems when returning to the labour market after maternity and parental leaves. One of the most important features of the foundation is facilitating the hiring of women and mothers with employers who want to find the best employees for their teams. Since 2016, the foundation has run the #MamoPracujwIT programme, which shows the IT sector that women have an important role to play in this area.

Anne-Sharlene Murapa is the founder of Kurapa Moyo, an organization with the mission to create spaces for African women to heal, expand, and cultivate their own pleasure. Through a lovingly curated online repository of wellness tools, virtual workshops, and in-person experiences, Anne-Sharlene hopes to continue uncovering different ways to inspire women on the continent to pursue holistically-well and fulfilling lives.

Bisheshta Shrestha is the creator of the #WHYDIDN’TI? campaign, dedicated to violence survivors. She is a dedicated advocate for gender equality, transformative leadership, and social inclusion. With a background in International Development Studies, she has made significant contributions to the fields of gender research and women’s rights activism. The campaign exposes stories of “WHY DIDN’T I?” to the general public, as an opportunity to learn from one another and stand in solidarity. The #WHYDIDN’TI? campaign focuses on understanding and giving a platform for survivors.

Bonita Muhirwa started a student-led initiative, Mother-Daughter Empowerment, alongside her colleagues to combat period poverty and provide reproductive health education to underprivileged girls and women in her home country, Rwanda. Her vision is to reduce the barriers that hinder quality education and create a society where girls aren’t shamed over menstruation. Mother-Daughter Empowerment collaborates with sanitary towel manufacturers to support the cause and offer educative workshops to girls and women.

Carol Marjorie Chidothe is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Women and Girls Empowerment, an organization that strives to create sustainable solutions to community needs. The Center empowers women and girls to believe in themselves and speak out about their sexual reproductive health rights, economic justice, and climate action by becoming community change agents.

Chinonso Clark is the CEO/Founder of Lead For Good Africa, a social enterprise focused on reducing poverty and advancing human capital development in Africa through leadership development and skill empowerment. She is also the founder of The Well Woman Warrior; a global movement of young women empowered to thrive through holistic transformation. Through its mentorship programs, women are equipped to rise above societal stereotypes, embrace their true identity and live meaningful lives.

Courtney Adams is the co-founder and director of Girls Gearing Up International Leadership Academy, a Berlin-based non-profit organization dedicated to preparing the next generation of globally-minded female leaders. The program offers annual International Leadership Academies, a 12-month mentoring program, and year-round workshops that equip teen girls from diverse backgrounds all over the world with the confidence, skills, networks, and inspiration they need to not only unlock their potential but to create a positive impact on the world around them.

Before founding GGU, Adams co-founded and directed The Youthbridge Initiative, an award-winning non-profit organization focused on peacebuilding and civil engagement for youth in post-conflict areas. She also looks back on more than 15 years of experience in international European companies.

“As a visionary leader, I am empowering girls globally to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.”

Cynthia Asije is a multi-award-winning textile designer who has grown her startup into a global enterprise that has empowered over 10,000 women in Africa and given them access to the market. She is the founder of Adirelounge, a sustainable textile company turning agricultural waste into textiles.

Emiko Sepúlveda is the National Coordinator of the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Chile, a platform where Chilean youth gather to create and advocate for a common vision for ambitious climate action. She is now building a platform both at national and Latino-American level.

Emily is the Co-Founder of Stories of Consent, a digital project sharing personal stories about how affirmative consent looks and feels. Through community-based education, the project aims to make conversations about safety during sex more accessible, comfortable, and actionable.

Gyunel Rashidova is passionate about raising people’s awareness of cancer and the scientific developments aimed at diagnosing and treating cancer. With the increasing number of women in research, she is also interested in hosting webinars and podcasts with female scientists to discuss their scientific breakthroughs and career paths.

Dr. Heera Sharma is the founder of Go Laadli (aka ‘beloved daughter’ in Hindi), a social impact organization committed to powering a movement of young women problem solvers, changemakers, and leaders. Go Laadli does that through investing in their education, providing mentoring, and leadership opportunities, and engaging them in their communities in real-world problem-solving. By providing early opportunities for young women to be career-ready, Dr. Sharma and her team are shifting mindsets, sparking a movement of greater civic engagement and creating a pipeline of women who will be a force of change within their communities.

As a passionate software engineer hailing from Malawi, Innocencia Ndembera, also known as She Coder, has dedicated herself to advocating for women in the tech industry. As an ambassador for Women Technetwork, Women Techmakers, She Code Africa, and 1MillionGirlsinSTEM, she tirelessly works to bridge the gender gap in tech.

Ivana Kondášová is the CEO of The Association of Business Women and Managers in Slovakia. The Association focuses on interests of business women, women managers, women on top level positions and on boards. She leads international projects and educational networking activities that support women entrepreneurs, managers, and start-ups.

Joy O’Neill is the director of the Oxford Climate Alumni Network, a global community taking action on climate change. The network aims to bring together the unique skills and connections of Oxford University alumni, students, and staff to accelerate progress on solving the climate crisis.

Julia Schellhaas serves as the Senior Supply Chains Advisor to the Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Leading a dedicated team, she collaborates with governments, international organizations, and the private sector to address business-related human rights issues and to embed social sustainability in supply chains legislation and public procurement.

Katarzyna Hanula-Bobbitt is designer and creator of the “Fear Navigator,” an initiative that employs art to confront and manage anxiety and fear on both personal and societal scales. The project mission is to inspire actions that propel societal transformations, aiming for a more equitable and just world.

Kikelomo Adisa is the founder of the Steer for Change Mother and Newborn Foundation, a nonprofit committed to reducing maternal and infant mortality in underserved Nigerian communities. Their mission is to enhance the health and well-being of pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children in these areas through medical outreach, nutrition programs, and hospital bill support.

Lenka Hlinkova’s Female Algorithm initiative inspires and educates women and girls to pursue and excel in technology and management. Her commitment is not just to elevate individuals but to reshape the landscape of these sectors to ensure diverse representation.

Ludymila Lobo is a tech community leader and currently leads Google Developer Groups Manaus and Women Techmakers, organizing events to keep IT professionals up-to-date and to help including minorities in the IT field.

Lulu Limbikani is the co-founder of Cumacatu, a non-profit that supports girls and women’s empowerment and community development through access to education and training sessions. The organization provides back-to-school support, invests in women, and community empowerment through basic financial literacy and farming training. She believes access to information and education empowers one to make a difference in their lives and communities.

Maiya Bennett is the founder and Creative Director of the “Ode to Women” Project, a creative non-profit dedicated to using art to uplift and connect women in appalachia. The inaugural campaign raised money for the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia through merchandise sales inspired by her poem “An Ode to Women” and utilized the creative talents of women throughout the state. Inspired by her experience as an eldest daughter and conservative upbringing, her vision for the project includes strengthening the network between women owned and operated small businesses in the state and to empower women and girls through the arts.

Martina Ibrahim is currently in the process of creating a collective aimed towards the holistic healing and well-being of children subjected to the horrors of war and living in Athens, Greece. The collective strives to foster harmony between the children’s psyches and their surroundings in relation to Mother Earth and one another. Through dance, rock climbing, skateboarding, music, and art, Martina’s vision seeks to guide the children back to their natural selves in a loving and safe environment. In finding a middle way, the children will grow up to be changemakers endowed with an inner power to share their open hearts with others.

Mayu Koyanagi co-founded TukTuk Charity, a project developed to empower teachers and increase educational opportunities in early childhood education in Pursat, Cambodia. The project offers resources aligned with the government curriculum and Cambodian culture, and teacher training to empower them to be leaders in their teaching communities. She believes every child deserves a positive early childhood education, and teachers are the key to making that happen.

Nida Jamal is the CEO of ArHaz Jewels, a women empowerment jewelry line. The mission behind this brand is to empower rural women in Pakistan with sustainability and create a bridge between the artisans and the US market. She met indigenous women entrepreneurs trained in gem cutting and jewelry making. Due to limited resources, they were residing below poverty. She set up centers for them and works directly with local miners to ensure all stones are ethically sourced. The brand aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Nikki Innocent is the founder of the Inclusive Leadership Collective, an incubator for modern leaders focused on dismantling systems of oppression by rehumanizing the workplace. As a holistic career coach, she blends principles of gender, racial and generational equity to create a new, liberatory leadership paradigm centering authenticity, trust and belonging.

Paola Moreno-Roman is the founder of Yachaq Warmi, an initiative dedicated to empowering and celebrating Latinas in STEM, emphasizing those from indigenous communities. The name originates from Quechua, a South American indigenous language, and roughly translates to “female scientist,” where “Yachaq” translates to “who knows” and “Warmi” to “woman.”

Paula Kweskin is the Founder/Director of The 49%, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing stories about the world’s most urgent women’s rights issues. Through The 49%’s films and accompanying campaigns, they also have a direct and meaningful impact on the lives of at-risk female storytellers and activists. Paula believes that women’s storytelling is an act of courage.

Pille Tsopp-Pagan is co-founder of the first women’s support Center in Baltic States. Located in Tartu, the Center serves women and children who escape domestic violence. In addition, she is one of her country’s leading advocates on eliminating violence against women and girls, creating projects that address un-met needs. Her most recent focus areas are cyber violence and educating specialists to not re-victimise victims who reach out to them.

As the Founder and Leader of the African YouTubers Hub, Rhodaline Nana Animah is a visionary dedicated to empowering content creators throughout Africa. With a strong commitment to nurturing creativity and fostering a sense of community, Rhodaline has pioneered a platform that offers essential resources, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities to YouTubers at various stages of their journeys.

Saule Agatayeva is a communications specialist with ten years of experience. She has worked with international organizations on development programs and project management on topics such as the rule of law, children’s rights, gender, and inclusivity. She holds a masters in political science and served as a country member of the OrgCommittee of The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia and a country Consultant for the Central Eurasian Leadership Academy.

Shallah Shaiq, a dedicated women’s rights defender, founded the Women’s Radio and Heela Organization. As a visionary leader, Shallah envisions a world where every woman knows her worth and power. Shallah’s impact extends to training 21,000 students in capacity-building programs encompassing computer skills, English proficiency, journalism, carpet weaving, and agriculture.

Shamala Hinrichsen is the CEO and founder of Hanai, a social impact technology provider scaling healthcare while tracing its impact in vulnerable communities. They work through social purpose organizations to enable healthcare access and education, especially via mobile phones.

Shikha Gianchandani is the co-founder of Pardesi, a platform dedicated to empowering South Asian women and femmes worldwide. Drawing from her own upbringing as a South Asian woman in Poland, she has leveraged her personal experiences to lead Pardesi for over three years, overseeing its growth to over 10,000 members. Through the platform, she has worked on several digital campaigns, workshops, and mentorship programs to foster an inclusive space for the community. Her dedication and achievements have earned her the prestigious recognition of the Diana Award Foundation.

Shyah Dickerson is planning to launch Welcome Ohm, a womb wellness space that exists to nurture the feminine mind, body, and spirit. Through products, programs, and experiences, Welcome Ohm aims to enhance the connection to self, others, and the sacredness of life.

Titilope Adewusi is the co-founder of 9ijakids, an all female founded Edtech company helping to reduce poverty in Africa by providing access to affordable education via its gamified online learning platform for nursery, primary, and secondary school students in Africa.

Veronica Madrigal is the cofounder of GeekGirlsMX, an online/offline sisterhood that empowers women through knowledge by creating free online and offline forums where they can get inspired, learn, connect, and network with other women using technology as an ally to create their own “dream jobs”.

Viktorija Aksionova is the CEO and cofounder of MindTales. MindTales aims to disrupt the MENA market by creating the region’s first platform for corporate wellness. MindTales’ mission is to empower organizations to improve the well-being of their employees, resulting in a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.

Kamau is the founder of We Believe Community-Based Organisation, a transformative initiative dedicated to championing the rights of women and girls. She seeks to empower women and girls by promoting gender equality and advocating for climate change awareness. At We Believe Community-Based Organisation, she focuses on women’s empowerment, girls’ education, SRHR, climate change, economic empowerment, and leadership development.

Anxhela Bruci is a social justice mission-driven professional, committed to the fight against crime by empowering survivors in their reintegration path. She focuses on economic empowerment practices, working with survivors of modern slavery and abuse as well as developing and delivering economic empowerment-focused training curricula. Alongside this work, she has founded a socio-economic empowerment model named EmpowerFULL, which aims to help survivors of human trafficking in their economic empowerment and personal development journey.

Bruci holds a master’s degree in global crime and justice and a master’s degree in administration of social services. Apart from her grassroots work, she is involved in research on social protection and human trafficking, with a focus on economic empowerment approaches to prevent human trafficking and support the reintegration process of survivors. In January 2023, Bruci was awarded the Gender & Human Rights Global Ambassador honour from The Federation of International Gender and Human Rights in the United States.

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to bring light where there is darkness, and hope where the gateways seem to have run out.”

Benardette Kendi is a dynamic leader with a background in strategic management. She witnessed the immense potential of businesses to drive positive change and recognized the urgent need to tackle climate change in a strategic and comprehensive manner.

Kendi is planning to launch her own project. This initiative aims to create a global community dedicated to combating climate change by providing an alternative source of energy in order to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. Her vision is to create a thriving global network that greatly contributes to reducing carbon emissions, increasing resilience, and mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change. She envisions a world where all sectors are actively engaged in sustainable practices, making climate action a priority in every decision-making process.

“As a visionary leader, I seek to drive strategic climate action through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy.”

Betty Mbithi is the founder and CEO of Abetec Business Solutions, a social enterprise with programs dedicated to empowering young people in peri-urban and rural communities. The programs are designed to equip them with essential skills for a seamless transition from the classroom to the real world. The courses include digital, vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

Mbithi has a background in business development and enjoys creating social impact. In her previous life, she worked in the corporate world both in the health sector and banking sector. Additionally, she also co-founded VunaTec, an Agritech start-up minimizing post-harvest losses and maximizing economic value for farmers.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to pave a trail that others can confidently tread upon.”

Chioma Nnanna is the co-founder and CEO of OMZN Apparel. Her company is building solutions to make the fashion industry more inclusive and decentralized. OMZN Apparel’s production management software is designed to connect businesses with independent garment workers and small-shop tailors, creating distributed production hubs and functioning as an alternative to large, often exploitative garment factories.

Nnanna has over six years of experience in marketing communications, having held roles in both small startups and large corporations.

”As a visionary leader, I thrive to implement new ideas and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable ecosystem.”

Destiny Daniel is a founder of R.E.A.C.H. (Residents Engaged in Achieving Community Harmony), an on-campus service organization bridging the gap between activism and academia through the implementation of education, mentorship, and political initiatives piloted in her local community. Her vision is to create strong minority communities through equitable and excellent education.

Currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in strategic, legal, and management communications, Daniel is driven by her desire to be the change she wishes to see in the world. Daniel is proud to serve on the National Leadership Training Team for the Family, Career, and Community Leader of America, an organization with a youth membership of 250,000 students. With experience working at 16 nonprofits, she hopes to lead a global education-based organization in the future.

“As a visionary leader, I dream of leaving a mark on the world that can’t be erased.”

Hargun Kaur is the founder of Bundles of Hope, an organization that provides vulnerable pregnant individuals with care kits that promote self-care, mental well-being, and access to community resources. Funded by the government of Canada, these kits aim to alleviate the burden of mental illness during pregnancy, connect individuals with supports, and enhance birth outcomes and child development.

Kaur brings experience in advocacy, entrepreneurship, and health promotion. Kaur serves on the boards of a large mental health organization and national research advisory council, leads organizations making healthcare more accessible for marginalized communities, and represented Canadian youth at the international G7 youth summit. She has been recognized by the YWCA, Scotiabank, McMaster University, and the Government of Canada.

“As a visionary leader, I empower marginalized communities, amplify diverse voices, create equitable spaces for all, and believe that true leadership lies in supporting others and ensuring no one is left behind.”

Karen Laing is the co-founder of Okkanti, a B-Corp with a mission to increase access to doula care and other support systems that lead to better outcomes. The Okkanti CareFinder, an all-in-one matching, booking and practice management solution, links every pregnant person to the care they need while preserving the community-led models that emerge at a local level.

Over a 30-year career in maternal health, Laing trained as a Midwife, Doula, and Lactation Consultant, and founded one of the early doula programs in North America. Her interest in improving care quality while preventing burnout has led her to develop the Compass of Mindful Caregiving™,  6 Qualities of Embodied Mindfulness™, and a mindfulness-based Postpartum Doula Certification.

“As a visionary leader, I believe that we are stronger together in our efforts to build maternal health equity.”

Maria Eugenia Millan is the CFO of Galicia Seguros, an insurance company with a mission to encourage millions of clients to take bold steps forward. In her role, she passionately advocates for financial education as the primary driver of economic independence, especially for women. As a member of the diversity committee, Millan actively works to establish inclusive practices and initiatives that create equal opportunities for everyone, addressing current disparities.

Millan is a woman leader with 20 years of experience in the insurance sector. She is an actuary and MBA holder from the University of San Andrés, along with a postgraduate degree in finance specializing in capital markets.

“As a visionary leader, I firmly believe that our leadership roles should be a catalyst for breaking the cycle of past inequalities and empowering people to uncover their true purpose in life.”

Sohila Bibi is the founder of Elevate Her Coaching, an initiative to support girls and women to become confident, authentic leaders in their careers. It specifically focuses on the career advancement of South Asian women working in corporate, and supports them to achieve their career goals, despite the stereotypes and biases faced by them both at work and at home.

Bibi is currently putting together a programme that will take participants on a journey from which they can evolve as future leaders, be confident and know how to position themselves for their dream job or career. Bibi holds a bachelor’s degree in computing information systems for business as well as a law degree and extensive experience working in the public sector in the UK.

“As a visionary leader, I want to help that little girl who has now become a woman to believe she can achieve her dreams, despite the naysayers, and break the glass ceiling in her career as a South Asian professional.”

Surayya Walters is a social entrepreneur, speaker, journalist, and leader who is passionate about tackling social issues through her work. She is the founder of iDEIntity, a nonprofit that is dedicated to bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion to the startup ecosystem. She is also the founder and community manager of B25, a social initiative designed to help young women of color launch entrepreneurial careers and ventures. She is an entrepreneur who is dedicated to uplifting the marginalized and finding creative ways to live her purpose and make an impact.

Walters graduated from The Wharton School in 2022, receiving her bachelor’s degree in economics, with concentrations in management and marketing as well as a minor in urban education policy. She has received various fellowships and awards, including Humanity in Action’s Racial Equity Fellowship, the LeadNext Fellowship, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Award For Outstanding Leadership and Service. Additionally, Walters is a 2023 Watson Institute Social Entrepreneurial Fellow and an entrepreneur in residence for Bubble Immerse, their premier accelerator for founders of color seeking to build technical skills.

“As a visionary leader, I am committed to blazing a trail that others can follow; to empower others to succeed and craft a life and career they are proud of.”

Titilope Adedokun is the founder of Sisterly HQ, a digital community that is empowering Nigerian women with the tools to tell their stories and connecting them with opportunities and resources to succeed. Sisterly HQ has shared the inspiring stories of 42 Nigerian women and has distributed over 1000 transformative opportunities and resources. Through its work, Sisterly HQ is increasing representation, and bridging the opportunity gap for the economic empowerment of Nigerian women.

Adedokun is a lawyer, social impact professional, and content creator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Lagos and a qualifying degree from the Nigerian Law School. She has worked with many student-led and nonprofit organizations such as Lagos Model United Nations and the Lex Lata Center for International Law and Comparative Constitutionalism in Africa.

“As a visionary leader, I am creating a world where women are empowered, included and represented in every space.”

Victoria Orozco is the founder of Punto Labs, a consulting practice that supports changemakers to promote inclusive growth. Punto Labs brings data, frameworks, and community knowledge to unlock opportunities for people of color.

Ozoco is also the co-founder of Hacedoras, an organization that champions the influential role of Latin American women in public policies. Hacedoras provides women with cutting-edge training and networks to reach leadership positions in the public policy arena. She has worked for the Argentinean Government and think tanks like the Nowak Lab and CIPPEC, where she led projects at the intersection of economic development, equity, and sustainability. Orozco holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Buenos Aires, a master’s degree in economics, and a master’s degree in public administration in international development from the Harvard Kennedy School.

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to see a world where we all, no matter where we come from, have opportunities to reach our full potential.”

Agustina Perez is the child rights campaign manager for Bank Information Center (BIC). BIC is a Washington, DC-based independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization that advocates for transparency, accountability, sustainability, and inclusion in development finance. In partnership with international, regional, and local CSOs, BIC conducts research and advocacy to reform and improve International financial institutions’ policies and practices.

Perez has over a decade of human rights experience working for the United Nations, the Argentinian government, and academia in her country and abroad. She has significant experience with multi-stakeholder engagement and building capacity across different actors, from states to businesses. Perez is passionate about promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment and is committed to protecting children from violence.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to make development finance work toward ending child sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment worldwide.”

Amina Mohamed is the founder and executive director of Cameras For Girls, a project that empowers young Ugandan women through photography and business skills. With the gift of a camera and a 4-phase year-long program, women elevate their talents and seize opportunities in male-dominated fields of journalism and photography. Since 2018, the initiative has trained 47 young women in Uganda, with over 70% securing full-time paid work in journalism, communications, and photography.

Mohamed’s career in Canada’s film and television industry spans over 20 years, starting from wardrobe to producing films and documentaries, refining her storytelling skills. Transitioning into freelance photography, she found the inspiration for her initiative to support women in her homeland, Uganda. Mohamed expands Cameras For Girls to Tanzania this year and South Africa in 2024. Her outstanding contributions have earned nominations for the RBC Women of Influence Award in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Recently, her photos were exhibited nationwide in Canada, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Asian Expulsion from Uganda in 1972.

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to empower and uplift the voices of African women.”

Amisa Rashid is the Founder and Executive Director of Nivishe Foundation, an organization dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of marginalized communities in Kenya. Through innovative and community-based approaches, Nivishe Foundation aims to create safe spaces and provide psychosocial support for victims of violence, with a particular focus on urban Muslim women and girls in informal settlements.

Rashid has extensive experience in counseling psychology and trauma healing, and she has successfully integrated technology and inclusive practices such as sign language into mental health services. Prior to founding Nivishe Foundation, Rashid held various leadership roles in the field of mental health and community resilience. She has worked as a counselor, providing support to individuals and communities affected by violence and trauma, and has been involved in developing and implementing programs that address the mental health needs of vulnerable populations. Rashid’s commitment to empowering marginalized communities and her expertise in trauma-informed approaches make her a valuable leader in the field of mental health.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to challenge the status quo, inspire change, and create a lasting impact in the communities I serve.”

Andrea Remes is the co-founder of Erandi Aprende, a social venture focused on bridging the gender gap in STEM by nurturing and guiding girls to develop their ideas. This digital platform, designed for Spanish speakers, offers engaging STEAM learning through open-ended projects and exciting adventures led by their avatar, Erandi.

Remes is a member of the Generation Unlimited Young People’s Action Team. With a bachelor’s degree in South and Southeast Asian studies and a master’s degree in political science from Leiden University, she has dedicated her career to working in the international development and non-profit sector supporting causes related to children with special abilities, gender equality, education, and climate change.

“As a visionary leader, I aim to help anyone become a better version of themselves.”

Ciji Wagner is the founder of Louder Than Silence (LTS), a nonprofit that gives long-term care for survivors of sexual violence by providing the community and resources needed to experience hope and healing. Through EMDR (trauma) therapy, workshops, retreats, mentorships, self-care kits, and community support, all offered at no cost to participants, LTS helps empower survivors to rebuild themselves and their lives.

Wagner earned a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and worked a number of jobs in the restaurant industry before entering the nonprofit sector as an executive chef. Since that pivot, Wagner has utilized her expertise learned from managing for-profit businesses to benefit several nonprofits in a variety of volunteer and consulting roles, as well as launching LTS.

“As a visionary leader, I believe in creating a world where all survivors of sexual violence have access to the comprehensive resources they need to truly thrive.”

Entle Mmipi is the founder of Finpowerment Botswana, which aims to impart the youth with financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills through age-appropriate and interactive methods, as a way to assist in alleviating poverty and unemployment in Botswana.

Mmipi currently works as a digital associate at Letshego Holdings Limited, a retail financial services organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Botswana and is an MBA candidate at the University of East London. Mmipi is currently serving as the Engagement Lead for Southern Africa at One Young World. Mmipi also served a term as an advocate under the SDSN Youth Global Schools Program, where she was tasked with bringing more attention to the SDGs in her community. She is also a member of the Economy of Francesco network, with which she is currently working to develop and pilot financial education programmes in 3 countries.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to make the world more inclusive by empowering people to become self-sustaining.”

Dr. Fariba Parsa is the founder and president of Women’s E-Learning in Leadership, WELL, a non-profit organization in Virginia. The mission of WELL is to empower women and contribute to democracy through online leadership education, and global networking. The organization provided 10 weeks of leadership training for potential leaders, developed a digital library focused on women’s rights, and video interviews.  

Dr. Parsa specializes in democracy and women’s rights in Iran. She worked as an assistant professor at George Mason University and has conducted research at Harvard University and the University of Maryland. Dr. Parsa was born and raised in Iran and lived in Denmark for several years and has worked with Danish organizations on human rights. She was elected as a board member of a number of organizations, such as the Danish National Women’s Council.

“As a visionary leader, I imagine the WELL organization has a significant role to empower women in their efforts for democracy, freedom, and gender equality.”

Felicia Obafemi is the founder and lead trainer of Esther’s Generation Relief Initiative (TEGRI), an initiative poised at contributing to ending child marriage and reducing GBV among women & girls. TEGRI helps support the journey of recovery for survivors of abuse and maximize potential through training and empowerment. TEGRI empowers with age-appropriate sexuality education in schools and embarks on community engagements and awareness, ensuring that the sexual & reproductive health and rights of women are protected.

Obafemi has worked in hard-to-reach communities. She worked with a faith-based NGO, CYN International, in 2008. In 2013, Obafemi founded her initiative and since then has been touching lives. She collaborated with NGOs and INGOs: Spotlight Initiative, USAID, MMWAT Foundation, CYPF, CLAPAI and COCHIN. Obafemi has an HND in Administration, PGDE, and currently her MPA. Obafemi is PMD Pro Level 1 & 2 certified by APMG.

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to know, go and show others the way.”

Hadijah Nankanja is the founder of Community Women Enterprise Network Uganda Limited, a business resource space for women entrepreneurs across all sectors that provides business information, technical support for members to reach greater markets, create growing revenues and promote their businesses with more focus and clarity. She believes in reinforcing the capacity of high-potential, low-income entrepreneurs to become more productive and gain larger market shares in leading local and regional markets.

With over a decade of experience working on development initiatives, Nankanja is a volunteer board member at Trade and Impact for Women-led Enterprises and board secretary of Tusome Children’s resource centre. She holds a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and small business management from Makerere University Business School. She is a co-owner of different business ventures, including Nakoha Natural Products Limited, Books & More, and Interest for Change. She is a rotarian of RC Kampala Naalya in Uganda.

Haja Isatu Bah is the founder of Uman4Uman, a social enterprise that focuses on addressing the issue of period poverty and menstrual product waste among young girls and women with reusable menstrual pads and menstrual health education. Uman4Uman has worked with over 5500 girls and women in Bah’s home country, Sierra Leone, teaching them about menstrual hygiene. Bah is currently working on a comprehensive menstrual health management guide.

Bah has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Skidmore College. She is a two-time TEDx speaker on the topics of education for climate action as well as on merging a love for learning and an entrepreneurial spirit. Bah is strongly passionate about issues affecting women and the environment.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to use my environmental education as a tool to empower more women and develop solutions to address issues affecting girls and women globally­­.”

Jai Bharathi Addepalli is the founder of Mowo Social Initiatives, a not for profit that empowers women to be independent by offering them 2/3/4 wheeler motor trainings and employment. The mission is to create a generation of confident women equipped with mobility and at the same time making Indian streets safer by increasing the number of women accessing public spaces.

Addepalli is an avid motorcyclist and serial entrepreneur. She led several national and cross-country motorcycling expeditions covering more than 1,00,000 kms across South East Asia and the United States to promote women’s safety and empowerment. She was pivotal in establishing India’s first Motor Training Centre exclusively for women in collaboration with the government organisations.

“As a visionary leader, my goal is to enable a million women in mobility and build an eco-system for women in mobility.”

Jigyasa Labroo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Slam Out Loud (SOL). SOL collaborates with state governments and teaching-artists, working with children across five states to foster Creative Confidence through visual and performing arts. They focus on building Socio-Emotional Learning skills in children from underserved backgrounds. Their online open-source curriculum has reached 10 million children in 19 countries.

Labroo studied Learning Design as a KC Mahindra scholar at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is a winner of Falling Walls, Berlin, and is on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. She was awarded Innovator of the Year 2023 by HundrED, Finland. Labroo has been a fellow at Salzburg Global Seminar, WISE- Qatar, Arts for Good- Singapore, and Teach For India.

“As a visionary leader, I am excited to find a community of women supporting each other to find and raise our voices, inspire collaborative work and learn from each other.”

Malavika Nambiar is the co-founder of Humane Warriors (HW), a global platform dedicated to creating, protecting, and maintaining equity with vulnerable and underrepresented communities. With a focus on socio-environmental issues, HW empowers individuals and addresses the root causes of social problems through various initiatives. Nambiar’s personal passion lies in education, recognizing its pivotal role in driving positive change. She has been involved in teaching from a young age and now channels her efforts into mentorship programs and improving access to digital education infrastructure. Through HW, she envisions a world where every individual has equal opportunities and a voice to shape their future.

Nambiar holds a bachelor’s degree from Manipal University, a master’s degree from TU Delft, and a PhD from the University of Bern. Her multidisciplinary scientific expertise allows her to approach social issues with a translational mindset, making a real-life impact.

Mary Blackford is the Founder of Market 7, a community marketplace that features Black-owned businesses for the purpose of alleviating food and retail deserts in Washington, DC. Mary graduated from Babson College with a bachelor’s degree in business management. In the summer of 2017, she launched her most recent venture, Market 7. Market 7 has worked with over 80 Black-owned businesses in the DC area to create alternative community pop-up markets that include fresh food, lifestyle products, and home essentials in Ward 7 (DC). Market 7 is currently building the first Black-owned food hall in Washington, DC; a new 7,000 sq ft food space slated to open within the next year.

In 2019, Blackford also worked with Whole Foods Market (Mid-Atlantic) to bring new Black-owned brands to their stores in DC. Blackford has also developed partnerships with Google and the Greater Washington Urban League to provide entrepreneurial training in underserved communities.

Mushimyimana Gaudence is the Founding Managing Director of DisAbility Link, a social enterprise launched in 2013, and co-founding executive director of the Rwandan Organisation of Women with Disabilities. The enterprise aims at creating opportunities for people with disabilities to realize their ability, achieve their highest potential, and benefit from their independent living by availing on the local market of a wide range of affordable and accessible skills, knowledge, assistive products, and services they need. They provide advisory services for inclusion, create jobs for persons with disabilities, and organize on-job training skills for youth boys and girls with disabilities including leadership skills development, graduate placement and advocacy. She believes that behind every person with disabilities, there are untapped potentials.

Gaudence has played many roles in building the disability movement. She has been the national coordinator of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2007-2009), deputy legal representative of the Umbrella of Persons with Disabilities in Fighting HIV/AIDS (2006-2008), secretary general of the National Union of Disabilities Organizations (2010-2016) and board member in charge of gender within Association General des Handicapees du Rwanda. She is serving on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Disabled Peoples Forum as the regional representative of women with disabilities since 2019, and women representative officer today. She was recently recognized in 2020 as a Woman of Courage by the U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda for promoting social Economic Inclusion of persons with disabilities in Rwanda. Gaudence is a bachelor’s degree holder in the social sciences.

Olasumbo Adeleke is the founder of the Initiative for Gender Empowerment and Creativity. The initiative trains and upskill people, particularly smallholder farmers, with a focus on women in grassroots communities, to improve their native vocations and produce good quality products of global standards. She believes in a bottom-up approach to tackle poverty, so she strives to make the products attractive to buyers in order to earn more income, improving overall livelihood.

Adeleke is an experienced agricultural value chain and community development practitioner, with extensive skills in cluster development and capacity building. She has volunteered as an active member of some organizations such as the International Visitors Leadership Program Association, and the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University and a certificate in entrepreneurial management from Pan Atlantic University.

“As a visionary leader, I endeavor to impact others with my work.”

Bunmi Jasmine Omeke is the co-founder of GETWORK Nigeria, which stands for the Graduate Employability Training Workshop. The initiative is aimed at helping young graduates transition into the work environment effectively through periodic mentorship programmes, training, career fairs, and recruitment services. The programme now offers a mentorship programme for fresh graduates, which includes training on employability skills, CV review and preparation for interviews, and sessions on workplace ethics and culture.

Omeke is a multiskilled and certified HR professional with background training and experience as a business lawyer in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Igbinedion University as well as a master’s degree in law from the University of Aberdeen. Omeke has successfully planned, implemented, and managed various social projects, including directing the affairs of the Legal Aid Unit of the Occupational Health Safety and Empowerment Centre, which was established to handle cases of occupational accidents with the aim of helping victims get redressed. In her current role at GETWORK Nigeria, Omeke has connected over 300 job applicants to the right employers in the last 4 years.

Prachi Kharb is the director & COO at Life and Limb Private Limited, a MedTech company building user-specific bionic solutions that empower people to live to the fullest. The company innovates accessible, aspirational, and affordable Bionic solutions. Their first product is BIONICLI, a prosthetic hand that can achieve 6 degrees of freedom, weighs less than 450 g and costs 80% less than the market. She believes that this sector is fragmented and needs standardization to make a more inclusive society for people with amputations.

Kharb graduated as an information technology engineer. She worked in analytics in the Fintech sector for a total of 5 years before shifting to the health-tech sector. Recently, she was listed amongst 100 Women in Tech in South Asia for the WEScale program organized by USAID SARDI.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to make the world a more equitable and inclusive society.”

Prashikshya Bhattarai, a visionary leader from Kathmandu, Nepal, is a driving force in disability rights, gender equality, and mental health activism. With eight years of transformative experience as a psycho-social counselor and holding a master’s degree in gender studies, Bhattarai passionately advocates for the rights of young women with disabilities.

Bhattarai’s dedication and personal journey as a visually impaired individual fuel her remarkable impact. With eloquence and empathy, she challenges societal norms, fostering dialogue and shaping a more inclusive world. As a program coordinator at Access Planet, an organization empowering women with disabilities in Nepal through accessible technology, Bhattarai exemplifies resilience and unwavering commitment. Her trailblazing efforts prove that disabilities are not limitations but catalysts for extraordinary achievements.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to create a society where every individual, regardless of ability, can thrive and contribute to the overall development and betterment of their communities.”

Rachel Labi is the co-founder of Building Financial Freedom (BFF), her organization dedicated to financial literacy. At 17, she founded BFF to support economic stability and financial achievement in youth and young adults. Her organization has conducted events with organizations such as Northwestern Mutual and a Berkshire Hathaway conference speaker. BFF has educated 200+ people globally, and Labi wants to expand its impact through partnerships.

Labi is a finance major at Purdue University with a passion for social impact and business. At age 12, she began anti-trafficking advocacy and has since worked for organizations that fight trafficking globally. Labi’s extensive business accomplishments include involvement with companies such as D.E. Shaw, Bridgewater Associates, igniteXL Ventures, and IDEX Corporation. She has additional interests in media, social entrepreneurship, and ethical fashion.

“As a visionary leader, I want to empower youth and young adults to economically thrive in their communities.”

Ratidzo Mutizwa Njagu is the founding director of the Kunashe Foundation, a social impact organization that seeks to empower and equip young people and women across the African continent sustainably. As of June 2023, she has equipped over 6000 young people with essential life skills primarily financial literacy, and menstrual health. She is a development practitioner with over 8 years of experience in women’s development and adolescent & youth programming.

Njagu has worked for Deloitte, the Clinton Foundation, and BRAC. She also co-founded the Blossom Company, a women’s wellness organization. She has also been recognized by JCI as one of Zimbabwe’s Top 10 Young People. Njagu holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations from Sussex University.

“As a visionary leader, I endeavor to ensure young people become an active part of social and economic development across Southern Africa.”

Sintia Lisboa is the CEO and founder of 3 Elementus, a company dedicated to developing sustainable solutions for the environment. Leading an industrial plant that produces a highly effective chemical agent to reduce pollution in the automotive sector, Lisboa understands the power of collaboration in addressing environmental challenges and creating a better world. She builds an industrialization hub that fosters innovation and drives the development of cutting-edge sustainable products using Amazonian resources and technologies.

With 14 years of experience in Brazil’s industrial and environmental sectors, including renowned companies like Petrobras and Coca-Cola, Lisboa brings a diverse background to her leadership role. She holds a master’s degree in chemical process engineering, specializing in credit carbon projects and environmental management.

“As a visionary leader, I am dedicated to achieving a harmonious balance between human action and nature, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.”

Tara Dickman is the founder of Le Next Level, a France-based nonprofit organization that supports those fighting for inclusive societies in their collective power-building process and those in positions of power in their inclusive leadership development. Since 2013, it has offered conferences, workshops, and trainings to NGOs, corporations, foundations, non-profit grassroots organizations, and the public sector, in France and across Europe.

Before founding Le Next Level, Dickman was the director of the French branch of Humanity in Action, an NGO that educates, connects, and inspires young people interested in human and minority rights in a historical, comparative, and action-oriented approach. Dickman is a seasoned community organizer, originally trained in Chicago in 2010 and a 2023 graduate from the Harvard Kennedy School Leadership, Organizing, and Action course.

“As a visionary leader, I believe kindness is a strength, not a weakness.”

Veronica Clements is the president of the Young Women’s Caucus for Art, a Chicago-based chapter of the National Women’s Caucus for Art. The Young Women’s Caucus for Art is dedicated to helping emerging women and non-binary artists find opportunities and foster a sense of community in the Chicago area and beyond. The Young Women’s Caucus is made up of a strong group of women who are passionate about creating, curating, and sharing art with their community.

Clements holds a bachelor’s degree in painting and art history from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in leadership for creative enterprises from Northwestern University. Clements is also a board member, curator, and social media manager for the Chicago Women’s Caucus for Art and volunteers her time at Woman Made Gallery.

“As a visionary leader, I want to impact change in representation for women’s art.”

Chidinma Ihemedu is the company secretary and head of legal at Layer3 Limited, an indigenous Nigerian information technology company that provides broadband internet and technology solutions. As part of its social impact projects, Layer3 intends to expand its fiber optic network to areas identified in underserved communities, creating affordable broadband coverage and ensuring delivery of quality internet services in schools and markets. This will provide access to enhanced economic and social opportunities such as financial inclusion and improved digital literacy.

Ihemedu has worked in several telecommunications and technology companies as Legal Counsel and holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University Of Lagos and a master’s degree in law from Cornell University, where she was also a fellow of the Institute for African Development.

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to create solutions that will spur economic and social development in the communities around me.”

Sphesihle Bhengu is the founder of the Amazwami Advocacy Project, a non-profit club which seeks to raise awareness and foster the roots of transformative education, gender equality, climate action and various socio-political thematics through advocacy work, storytelling and digital advancements. She is currently running a pilot project on developing climate curriculum for schools in South Africa. She holds a strong belief that young people should be able to make a connection between global climate crisis and their day-to-day local climate issues.

Bhengu studied biology and genetics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and also trained as an aircraft structures worker at South African Airways Technical. She is currently enrolled in a Cybersecurity course with Cybersafe Foundation where she specializes in governance, risk, and compliance. She serves as a Young African Leaders Initiative alumna, GCED alumna, a Woman Deliver Youth ambassador and a YOUNGO member.

”As a visionary leader, I believe that youth and women should never be forced to negotiate and beg for a sit at a table. Youth inclusivity and gender equality shouldn’t be negotiable.”

Carla Reed is planning to launch a consultancy to advise executives, managers, and HR practitioners on organizational change through the implementation of equitable systems, processes, and policies. The needs of today’s workforce are shifting, and organizations must be willing to shift to retain top talent, especially Black women.

With over a decade of HR experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sector, Reed received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish from Sewanee: The University of the South. She served on the National Board of Directors for the Women’s Campaign Fund (WCF) and is a graduate of WeLEAD, a bipartisan leadership-training program run by the Women & Politics Institute at American University. She was elected as the first African American Chair of the Women’s Information Network (WIN).

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to reimagine a future of work that allows us all to thrive.”

Juliana Sun is planning to launch a platform for women in low-income and low-education communities. Her vision is to economically empower these minority women, with a particular focus on middle-aged women. Through social media outreach, mentorship, skill development programs, and financial education, she aims to create a supportive environment where women can learn, network, and access job opportunities. The skill development programs will be tailored to women’s interests and needs, while financial education will equip them with the tools they need to effectively manage their finances and avoid financial fraud. Her goal is to provide women with the resources and support they need to improve their lives and thrive.

Sun is an undergraduate student at NYU Stern School of Business majoring in finance. She works as a site ambassador at NYU’s Student Government Assembly. She also worked in consulting and investment banking firms, including IQVIA. She also served as a research assistant at the Institute of Green Investment in China.

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to build a supportive community to empower minority women and foster a thriving community where they can enhance their lives and reach new heights.”

Shatoyia Davenport is the national event manager of ChickTech, an organization dedicated to empowering marginalized genders in the technology industry and aspiring technologists. Through technical workshops, mentoring programs, and community networking, ChickTech creates an inclusive technology culture. Davenport is a strong advocate for marginalized communities, prioritizing diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in all ChickTech events. She believes in the transformative power of technology education, empowering participants to become influential leaders in their communities.

Davenport earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Everest University and holds distinctions as a Digital Event Strategist (PCMA) and an Accredited Event Designer (IWED). Throughout her career, she has showcased exceptional leadership in hospitality management, volunteer engagement, and community advocacy.

“As a visionary leader, I am dedicated to connecting individuals with essential resources, education, and community support. I believe that these connections can profoundly impact people’s lives and circumstances, making a positive difference in marginalized communities.”

Tolulope Makinwa is the founder and chief operating officer at Muazu Africa, a platform designed to connect African social enterprises to market opportunities, shared networks, and exposure. With close to a decade of experience in creating impact across Anglophone and Francophone countries, Makinwa believes that in Africa, where millions of young people are excluded from basic amenities, social entrepreneurship charts a path to self-sufficiency by strengthening all the elements that help improve access to work and economic growth. Therefore, her commitment to developing Africa’s social economy by creating market and impact opportunities, inclusive of the base of the pyramid population, remains unwavering.

“As a visionary leader, I will continually work in uncharted territory so others don’t have to waste ample time clearing the path.”

Maria Ana E. Espinosa is a human rights lawyer and feminist activist from the Philippines. As Program Officer of The Asia Foundation – Law and Human Rights Unit, she heads multisectoral projects for the promotion and protection of human rights. She is also the founder of Urgent Reforms for Development, Unity, Justice, and Advancement (URDUJA) Inc, n organization that provides mentoring to women to become transformative feminist leaders in their communities.

Espinosa is currently a fellow of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Academy of Political Management, which aims to train young progressive leaders to become advocates of social democracy. She previously worked at the Supreme Court of the Philippines and was appointed as the Assistant Committee Secretary of the Supreme Court Committee on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. She graduated with a bachelor’s in economics from the University of the Philippines, a Juris Doctor from Arellano University, and is finishing her master’s degree in Women and Development from the University of the Philippines. Her international education and trainings consist of being a recipient of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange Study (YES) Scholarship by the U.S. Department of State in 2005; an AIESEC Development Intern in Hangzhou, China in 2011; Philippine representative on the Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop in Advancing Gender Equality held in Brunei in 2019; and a mentor in U.S. Department of State’s Civic Education Week held in Washington D.C. in 2020.

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to empower more women to take up leadership roles and change the oppressive patriarchal system into an equitable and compassionate feminist form of leadership.”

Joana Bacallo is the founder of Schools for Environment Education, Development and Sustainability (SEEDS), an international non-profit organization based in Bruxelles, Belgium that commits to strengthening partnerships with remote, low-income schools by integrating tailor-made curriculums on environmental stewardship and advancement of climate resilience through water awareness and education.

She completed a bachelor’s degree in international business and entrepreneurial management at San Beda University and earned her MBA in aviation management from Coventry University. She attributed her unique community water work to her previous career as an international flight attendant, where her illuminating travels immersed her into diverse cultures and life realities. Bacallo received acknowledgment from Women Deliver Conference 2019. She also represented SEEDS at the historical United Nations Water Conference 2023.

“As a visionary leader, I champion young learners, regardless of background, to have access to environment education and inspire them to be stewards of our waters and natural resources.”

A firm believer that the future of the world rests in the hands of the young, Naomi Walston has set her sights on supporting the next generation of climate activists. With more than two decades behind her in the human rights, humanitarian, and health sectors, as a manager, fundraiser, and philanthropist, Walston is ready to take on the most daunting challenge of all, climate change and environmental activism.

But nothing equips her better for this role than her experience as a mother. What more important legacy can there be than helping the world become a healthier, more sustainable place for your children?

“As a visionary leader, I will make the most of this tremendous opportunity and this network of powerful women to stand up, speak up, and rise up!”

Mariama Khai Fornah is a visionary leader and the CEO of Hands of Hope Radio 100.5 FM, the first woman-owned radio station in Sierra Leone. With a mission to provide hope and resilience, the radio addresses crucial issues such as livelihood, gender, environment, governance, legal matters, civic engagement, culture, arts, and education.

Fornah, an award-winning journalist with 18 years of experience, has worked with renowned organizations including World Bank and the BBC World Service Trust. She reported on the trials of former President Charles Taylor in The Hague. She has also managed projects such as the EU-funded Cocoa Livelihoods Project, which impacted over 5000 cocoa farmers. Beyond her journalism career, she excels as a blogger, entrepreneur, and preacher. Fornah’s expertise, combined with a strong background in journalism training and media advocacy, positions her as a media expert.

“As a visionary leader, I strive to illuminate the path of hope, inspire change, and uplift communities.”

Madison Webb is a junior at Harvard College studying Psychology. As a current Content Design Intern at Meta, she is interested in careers in UX/UI/Human-Centered Design and Product Marketing, which will allow her to solve 21st-century user-centric problems that impact underrepresented populations. In pursuit of a master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon, her goal is also to build a university pipeline/partnership program for Black youth to get exposed to the field of UX/HCI.

Outside of school, Webb is a college prep mentor for Black high school students through the Ron Brown Guided Pathway Support Program. Additionally, after spearheading DEI initiatives for Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum (Harvard’s mixed-voice choir, also a 501(c)(3)), she was elected to serve as president for the 2023-24 school year.

“As a visionary leader, I lead with authenticity, firmness, and a passion for advancing equity in traditionally inequitable spaces.”

Limbi Blessing is the founder and executive director of Ecological Balance Cameroon (Eco Balance), an organization that provides nature-based solutions to climate change and poverty. Inspired by the African proverb, ‘a goat eats from where it is tied,’ Eco Balance believes that communities that live adjacent to natural ecosystems should be able to generate livelihoods from, and in turn take care of, such ecosystems. They accompany local communities in Cameroon in protecting, repairing and sustainably managing natural resources and ecosystems.

“As a visionary leader, I raise sustainable leaders.”

Karishma Ali is a footballer and social entrepreneur from Chitral, Pakistan. Ali is driven by her passion to break down gender barriers through the power of sports. In 2016, she represented Pakistan at the International Jubilee Games, and the following year, she joined the first Pakistani female team to participate in the AFL International Club in Melbourne. In 2018, Ali founded the Chitral Women’s Sports Club, which is now known as the Karishma Ali Foundation. The foundation aims to provide a secure and nurturing environment for young girls in remote regions of Pakistan to engage in various sports activities, opening up more opportunities for them to play sports.

Ali’s exceptional work in empowering women in sports has garnered her numerous accolades. In 2019, she was recognized in the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list. The same year, she was appointed as a member of Pakistan’s first national youth council. In 2022, Karishma was honored as part of the Pride of Pakistan initiative, which celebrates individuals who have achieved excellence in their respective fields. Currently, she serves as a member of UN Women 30for2030, contributing to the global mission of advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Maru Martínez is the Founder and CEO of Our Skin Our Story, a social media initiative and “intimate” Community. Her vision is to create and promote skin cancer awareness through her own life story sharing her knowledge about this disease and what has helped her be in a better place emotionally and physically after her 3 Basal Cell carcinoma tumors on her left cheek. Our skin our story is the first Instagram account in Mexico and Latin America committed to providing valuable and scientific information in Spanish and English about skin cancer and sun damage. Patients can listen to interviews with experts across different fields and share their own stories in order to feel supported when going through their diagnosis. 

Martínez has experience in public and business relations. She is the founder of Connecting Dots, a company with a solid network around the world helping people and companies grow their businesses within the Mexican territory. Martínez’s work and projects have been featured by well know Mexican magazines, newspapers, and on social media. 

She has a certificate from the skin cancer charity in the UK for melanoma and skin cancer early detection. Additionally, she is also the only Latin American warrior in the NOTA mole tracker program. 

“As a visionary leader, I aspire to create a universal understanding and awareness about the importance of taking care of our skin, as it is the largest organ we have.”  

Adrijana Hanušić Becirovic is the Senior Legal Adviser at TRIAL International, a non-governmental organization which fights impunity for international crimes and represents victims of conflict-related sexual violence in their quest for justice and reparation. From 2019to 2021, she was serving at the UN Secretary-General’s Civil Society Advisory Board on prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. She is also occasionally serving as a human rights consultant to international organizations like the EU,UNDP and OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as a consultant or board member to various NGOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad. The focus of her work is gender equality and GBV, transitional justice, international human rights standards, and anti-discrimination law. Before joining TRIAL, she worked in a law office, and provided legal expertise to the B&H Parliamentary Assembly as well as to the National Human Rights Ombudsmen Institution. She also participated in traineeship/scholarship programs at the Council of Europe and the German Parliament. Hanušić Bećirovićholds a Law degree from the University of Sarajevo, where she was awarded for excellence, and has received, as a French Government scholarship holder, from the University of Strasbourga master’s degree in Public International Law. Adrijana was a fellow of the Vital Voices Peace Fellowship: Intergenerational Fellowship on Women, Peace and Security in South Central Europe (2021) and a fellow of the Open Society Fund BiH Policy Development Fellowship Program.

With over 25 years of experience guiding the world’s top leaders in business, education and community via individual, small group and full-staff trainings, Dr. Kryss Shane LSW, LMSW has been featured and named “America’s go-to Leading LGBT+ Expert” in The New York Times, ABC News, Yahoo!, and CNN.

Dr. Kryss is known for helping businesses address their unique Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion needs in an approachable, manageable, and actionable way. This includes alterations to physical spaces, updating hiring practices, re-drafting policies and procedures and more. In addition to her doctorate, she holds two master’s degrees, two licenses to practice mental healthcare, and she is currently serving as a Lecturer at Columbia University and an Adjunct Professor at University of Massachusetts Global, Fordham University, Northern Louis University, and Metropolitan State University Denver.

Dr. Kryss is the author of Creating an LGBT+ Inclusive University: A Practical Resource Guide for Faculty and Administrators, which provides guidance for faculty and administrators of universities and colleges to become knowledgeable, capable, and able to make their campuses more LGBT+ inclusive. She is also the author of Creating an LGBT+ Inclusive Workplace: The Practical Resource Guide for Business Leaders, which provides best practices and professional guidance for creating LGBT+ inclusive workplaces, including creating safer working environments, updating company policies, enhancing continuing education and training, and other tangible ways to support LGBT+ people in the workplace.

Anne Nduku is a Business Development Manager and social impact lead at Ed Partners Africa–Kenya, acompany that lends to affordable private school owners. She has successfully run a social impactprogram that equips school owners withskills to run and manage their institution to a competitivestandard. The skills include, leadership, financial management, School management system amongothers. Anne holds a bachelor of degree in Arts (Economics) from Kenyatta University and is an AcumenFellow 2021.

Isabella Mukankusi is the co-founder of Wak Mental HealthDefenders (WMHD), a nonprofit organization that promotes and protects women and children’s rights giving them skills and an opportunity to thrive through legal empowerment, capacity building, formation of strategic partnerships, community groups, and social enterprise innovations, where no one is left behind.So far, WHMD has created one strong community outreach program for persons living with mental illness in Uganda and is committed to providing opportunities to change life paths.Prior to this, Mukankusi worked at Justice Defenders, where she taught incarcerated individuals and prison officers studying a University of London distance learning law degree to help facilitate legal processes. Mukankusi led the Legal Services team to build prison-based legal aid clinics, where trained paralegals and law students provided legal services for themselves and others and implemented gender mainstreaming policies in all the programs. Mukankusi holds a Bachelor of Laws Honors Degree from London Metropolitan University, UK. She recently completed the 2021/2022 Human Rights Advocates Program fellowship at Institute for Study ofHuman Rights, Columbia University in the City of New York. She serves as a Board Member for My StoryInitiative, a disability rights nonprofit and is involved in advocating for sexual and reproductive rights of girls with psychosocial disabilities in Uganda.

Zumazuma is planning to launch an initiative that will focus on supporting young women to deal with various forms of gender-based violence (GBV) in their work places and support survivors to build back their self-esteem and speak out against such violence. Zumazuma envisions a GBV-free environment. Her organization will further focus on empowering women and girls to realize their socioeconomic rights and welfare through the creation of safe spaces for them to interact and share knowledge and skills. The organization will also contribute towards preventing and supporting education for the girl child through prevention and response toSexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in primary schools. Zumazuma is a passionate public health professional with 8 years of experience in human rights advocacy as well as working with survivors of GBV, marginalized women, and adolescent girls.She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Skyway University and has served as aYouth Advisory Council Member for Child Helpline International (CHI).

Claudia Thomas Riché is the Executive Director and co-founder of NECH-CIEH, a collaborative education network for nurses. Created in 2014, the network brings together nurses from Canada, the United States and Haiti with the mission to position nurses as health change makers within and beyond the clinical context, into the community, to promote better health habits and disease prevention.Previously,Thomas Riché was the Program Director of theNECH-CIEH. She is also a nurse consultant at the GHESKIO Centers Training Unit in Port au Prince since 2004.Thomas Riché holds a master’s degree in nursing science from University of Montreal,Canada. She received a certification degree in 2013 from Institute of HealthcareImprovement (IHI) in Boston as Improvement Advisor (IA).In 2019, she was named anAshoka Fellow, a lifetime award, establishing her as part of a community of social innovators and as an actor for change and the resolution of major societal issues.

Ariane Turner, CEO/Founder of Look Good Live Well, is a serial entrepreneur and 20 year beauty industry veteran. After spending over a decade working as a makeup artist for film and television she experienced the impacts of burnout, and committed to learning about the damaging effects of stress on the body. This journey exposed the inequitable marketing of toxic ingredients to Black and Brown communities, the toxic messaging used within the beauty industry to describe melanin rich skin, and the explicit need to amplify the voices of Black andBrown practitioners within the wellness community. Look Good Live Well provides topical skincare solutions for common concerns amongst melanin rich humans and reintroduces the community to the healing power of adaptogens-ingredients used by ancestors for centuries.Turner also prioritizes educating humans on the multiple manifestations of stress on the body and helps guide individuals towards the resources that will help them make the connection between health, wellness and beauty.Turner holds a Bachelor of Arts from Florida A&M University. Her passion for amplifying melanin rich humans in the wellness and beauty space has garnered the attention of Beyonce, EssenceMagazine, Atlanta Magazine, Upscale Magazine, and countless other media outlets. Her knack for impactful storytelling, and commitment to collaboration, have put her in position to excel in various accelerator programs, and to secure over $150k in grants and mentorship from TargetForward Founders, Credo for Change, Brown Girl Jane, SheaMoisture, Essence, Aveeno, Johnson & Johnson, Tower28, BASF and StitchCrew.

Siyothula-Mtshizana is an Energy professional with 16 years of experience delivering small to utility scale infrastructure projects with a focus on Renewable Energy. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of In Pursuit Africa Group, a pan-African Energy Services company that delivers energy efficiency and Renewables projects for public and private sectors. She is also aTechnical Advisor and director at KPCares NPC (PBO), a non-profit organization focused on delivering meaningful socio-economic development programs in energy sector for the empowerment of youth and small-micro-medium enterprises (SMMEs). Siyothula-Mtshizana is a former Senior Project Manager within Arup’s Renewables team where she oversaw a Lender’s Technical Advisory (LTA) team working on renewables projects. She has developed and delivered over 2000MW of Renewables projects (Solar, Hydro, Wind Battery EnergyStorage) in South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana and UK. Siyothula-Mtshizana has also held leadership roles such as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Bonang Power & Energy, Principal forMatt&Co Advisory, Arup Education Trust Trustee, and recently the COO for the SunElex Group. She isa member of the Black Energy Professionals Association (BEPA) in South Africa and the South AfricanNational Energy Association (SANEA).

Hellen Lunkuse Waiswa is the founder and executive director of Rape Hurts Foundation (RHF), aUgandan NGO working extensively with women and at-risk children, child victims of sexual abuse, and survivors of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence. With their mission to empower women to take charge of their lives through human right awareness and protection, affordable health and care services, and entrepreneurship, Lunkuse Waiswa and her team connect survivors to emergency medical and psychosocial services and help relocate those in imminent danger to safety. Lunkuse Waiswa is also the founder & CEO of Hellen Lex Beauty and Cocoa Delight. She holds a masters in human rights, a masters in gender studies, a bachelor’s in environmental management, a diploma in law, and several post graduate certificates.In 2019, Lunkuse Waiswa was nominated to be part of Vital Voices VV100 program. She is a member of National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, a member of the Global ThinkersForum, the World Federation Against Drugs, and TrustLaw under the Thomson ReutersFoundation. She received the Trust law Impact Award in 2018 from the Thomson ReutersFoundation for her project Protecting Children in Uganda. The project aimed to ensure that staff and volunteers were fully protecting the rights of children within their network. Lunkuse Waiswa was also a nominee of the Global Thinkers Forum in the category of ‘African FemaleLeaders’ which recognizes the best female philanthropists in Africa.

Amaka is the founder of Nwanyi Imo Reliance Resources, a food processing company with a focus on milling and packaging complex African foods. She is also the convener of Umunwanyi Imo, a platform through which she celebrates women who are doing exceptional work to make the world a better place. She empowers women and celebrates their efforts to make more positive change. Amaka is an Alumni of Fate foundation and also a graduate ofUniversity of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria.

Hailey Michelson is the creator of Fat Fits, a small business and community driven organization that provides access to thrifted, vintage and new one-of-a-kind plus size clothing. Fat Fits hosts pop-up shops at local community organizations and small businesses where fat folks can come together and feel supported. Fat Fits hopes to provide some respite and community while Fat folks persevere through anti-fatness and discrimination in our culture. Michelson will expand the scope of Fat Fits by creating a podcast and documentary film depicting the anti-fatness and fatphobia that permeates all aspects of American culture.  

Michelson holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies and Entertainment Management degree from the University of Montana. After graduation, Michelson served as the program manager for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) center at the University of Montana. In this role, Michelson was an ally and advocate for marginalized communities, planned campus wide events and served on an advisory board to the university president. While at the university, Michelson realized that there was an important group missing from the conversations around DEI, Fat folks.  

As a visionary leader, I aspire to expose and dismantle anti-fatness in our culture while uplifting and providing community for Fat folks.  

Ben David is a professional security and crisis management consultant helping organizations, schools, communities, and businesses to become more resilient and ready to face any unexpected situations. With her innovative and integrative approach, she brings to her clients the necessary mindset as well as the tools to become stronger, safer, and ready to face what life brings. Training and coaching leaders is a central part of her work. 

Ben David holds a master’s degree from Reichman University, Israel. In the past years, she led various projects that assisted communities on a global scale, including communities after terror attacks in Brussels and Copenhagen. 

Ben David’s methodology for crisis management was published in 2019 by the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic and serves as a golden standard for Czech organizations to prepare themselves for unexpected situations. 

As a visionary leader I want crisis management to become a skill of every leader. 

Leone is the Executive Director of Media Matters for Women (MMW), an NGO with the vision to bridge the information gap of last mile communities and provide critical information on sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) to rural women and girls. MMW work closely with community activists, leaders, and groups— especially those directly impacted by SGBV, FGM, inequality and cultural fundamentalism—with information to enable them to build communities and networks that create change.  

As Project Coordinator for the Women’s Initiative for Safer Health (WISH), Florence worked closely with UNFPA on its advocacy campaign on women and girls’ reproductive health and rights. She took the lead in two major international campaigns: Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) and engaged traditional and religious leaders countrywide on maternal and child health issues, teenage pregnancy, and end child marriage campaigns. 

Leone earned a degree in mass communications. She is the proud winner of the 2020 Women Forward Mentor of Distinction Bronze Award by BPeace- the US Women’s Business Council for Peace. She is also a member of the Civil Society Regional Reference Group (CSRRG) Spotlight Initiative Program representing Sierra Leone among 15 member countries.

Fatma Said Kauga is the Founder and the Executive Director of Doyenne Organization whose mission is to expose young girls to the possibilities, opportunities, and alternatives available to them to become leaders. The aim is to develop the next generation of female leaders through programs that coach, mentor, and inspire high school and university students in Tanzania while pursuing their academic courses.  

Kauga holds a Master’s of Science in Finance and Investment and a Bachelor’s of Science in Taxation both from the Institute of Finance Management of Tanzania. She has more than six years of working experience in developing financial models, business planning, budgeting, and managing financial and human resources. Fatma served as a board member and treasurer of the Policy Forum in Tanzania, and is an advisory board member of Asante Africa Foundation and SAWA initiative both from Tanzania.   

Kauga was awarded Honorary citizenship in Boone, North Carolina in 2021. She was also listed among the 100 Tanzanian Sheroes Award in 2020 for her work with women and youth. She is a Gratitude Network Fellow and a Perennial Leadership Fellow. 

I want to be a visionary leader that enhances youth and women’s potential to bring positive, sustainable change. 

Donna Childs is the founder and chief executive officer of Prisere LLC which develops technology to help the re/insurance sector address climate risks. Prisere’s clients include the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.  

Childs was previously based in Zurich, where she was a senior executive of the Swiss Reinsurance Group, the world’s largest reinsurer of property-casualty and life-health risks. She was also a senior columnist for Dow Jones where her analysis and commentary on corporate insurance and risk management issues appeared in the Wall Street Journal. She provides technical advice on issues of climate resilience, to organizations such as NASA and the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Coast Resilience program. Childs is certified in the NIST cybersecurity framework and was a 2018 Climate Resilience practitioner-in-residence of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center. 

Childs holds a bachelor’s from Yale University, a master’s in International Economics & Finance from Brandeis University, an MBA with a concentration in Information Technology from Columbia Business School and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s three-year Owner President Management Program for entrepreneurial founders leading high-growth ventures. Donna is a 2018 Vital Voices Global Ambassadors Program mentee and a graduate of the Vital Voices Grow Fellowship.  

I want to be a visionary leader who opens pathways for women entrepreneurial founders in the technology sector and in the boardrooms. 

Diana Vicezar is a Paraguayan entrepreneur, advocate, and community organizer. She is the founder of Mapis, a career platform for international undergraduate and graduate students in the United States. Currently in closed beta, Mapis helps international students from colleges and universities in 30+ states land their dream jobs and internships in the US, and has been featured by Business Insider and Forbes. 

Vicezar is an experienced technologist with a passion for building projects and products that solve some of the most pressing problems in underprivileged communities. She began her journey as a community organizer and advocate at the age of 16 after founding Mymba Rayhu, an international youth-led initiative focused on raising awareness of the plight of stray dogs and the importance of accessible environmental education. Vicensar is studying Cognitive Science and Computer Science with a minor in Data Science Pitzer College.

For her work as an entrepreneur and community organizer, she was recognized with the 2018 Asuncion Youth Excellence Award, named one of the 30 Most Influential Young Social Entrepreneurs in the world by the We Are Family Foundation in 2019 and Youth Ambassador of Paraguay by the US Department of State, and received the 2020 Diana Award in memory of Princess Diana. In 2022, Diana became the first Paraguayan to work as a Product Design Intern at Meta in Menlo Park, CA. 

Catalina Chacón is the co-founder of Sirenitas de Popoyo, a project developed to empower young local Nicaraguan girls through surf, education, and life planning. The program offers bi-weekly surf lessons and life planning workshops that allow girls to discover their full potential and how to harness their power. Surfing allows the girls to overcome fears and boundaries established by society and a culture that expects young women to be subservient. In the water, they become radiant, powerful and fearless. Outside of the water and in our workshops, they discover the many paths they can choose to embark on, as explorers of their own destiny.  

Chacón works for a start-up focused on helping women move into the C-Suite and into the Boardroom. She has also worked in many grassroots and non-profit organizations from the age of 15 including Boy with a Ball and Foundation for Medical Relief of Children in Nicaragua. Chacón has completed her Bachelor of Psychology from the Universidad Centro Americana de Ciencias Sociales in Costa Rica and her Masters in Gender and Peacebuilding from the UN Mandated University of Peace. She is also certified by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Art Therapy.  

”I want to be a visionary leader that can lay the seeds for future generations to reap the fruits of my efforts. As a visionary leader, I strive to uplift the light that our world needs to thrive on.”   

Colabore com o Futuro is the first social advocacy business in Latin America that mobilizes society to participate in health decisions with the government, creating more democratic, fair and effective public policies in a transparent and sustainable manner. Colabore is one of the 1,200 companies in Brazil that collaborate with the UN’s SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals, and since its foundation in 2017 has changed the lives of more than 12 million Brazilians, expanding access to health and quality of life for patients in the country. 

Cohen has a deep knowledge of the third sector and in creating strategies for social and political engagement of civil society in health decision-making processes in Brazil. She worked for 8 years as director of one of the most reputable cancer NGOs in Latin America, and also worked in large companies such as Ambev and Peugeot, where she acquired important knowledge in management and processes. 

Cohen was elected as one of the six most admired entrepreneurs and innovators in health through a popular vote promoted by the Health Innova Hub. She has a Social Communication degree, a graduate degree in Graphic Design, and an MBA in Marketing at FGV. 

I want to be a visionary leader that promotes positive transformations in democracy and public policies, guaranteeing wider participation of society in government decisions so that my baby girl and other children can live in a fairer, safer, and more welcoming world. 

Aliu is the executive director of In Time, an organization that provides educational activities, research and analysis to increase the socio-economic well-being of marginalized groups. The organization also provides training and education in areas where these groups can succeed, with a special emphasis in the field of ICT. 

Aliu credits her leadership skills to her work with In Time. She completed her master’s degree in economics and is certified as an Intuit QuickBooks Certified User by Intuit Inc. Aliu is also a French language graduate with the DELF A1 diploma. 

”As a visionary leader, I will provide others with good practices for becoming wonderful leaders and being strong on the road to success. ”

Awah Francisca Mbuli is the founder of Survivors’ Network (SN), CameroonIAfrica, a female-led NGO leading in the fight against all forms of human trafficking in Cameroon and Sub-Saharan African countries.

Mbul is a survivor of sex and labor trafficking and is passionate about her fight to prevent anyone from experiencing what she went through. She has helped rescue and reintegrate 65 female victims of human trafficking from the Gulf Corporation States to their respective Sub-Saharan African home countries and her work has touched over 5000 women and girls directly. 

Mbuli has a master’s degree in Human Rights and Multiculturalism from the Buskerud International University, Norway. She received two International Visitors Leadership Program awards by the U.S Department of State in 2018 and 2020 for combatting trafficking in persons. She is an Ashoka Fellow 2022 from Anglophone West Africa and was awarded the Elkes Impact Award by the Global Freedom Forum organized by Free the Slaves where she has served as an ambassador for two years. Mbul is also a Mo Ibrahim Foundation Now Generation Fellow and Obama Africa Leader.  

Alicia White is a social innovator, and change maker. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Project Petals, a groundbreaking environmental, community development, and climate justice organization working in under-resourced and BIPOC communities. Project Petals provides the tools, resources, partnerships, and education needed to create healthier environments and shift power to communities that the climate crisis has disproportionately impacted.  

For over a decade, White has worked in the social impact sector in development creating environmental initiatives, equitable solutions, strategies, media partnerships, and programs to improve the environment in BIPOC and under-resourced communities. She has partnered with communities, local governments, and companies to improve the environment and create healthier outcomes. White is creating a company to help cities, BIPOC innovators, and businesses gain the tools and strategy needed to help improve environmental outcomes. She credits her passion for social innovation and the environment to her hometown of Queens, New York.  

People Magazine highlighted White ‘s work in their Resiliency Rising Series which focused on people making an impact throughout the pandemic and beyond. She has received awards from the Discovery Channel, NYC Mayor’s Office, and the Sweetwater Clifton award from the New York Knicks. White appeared on ABC, NBC, and was featured in Women’s Health Magazine. She has also spoken at Princeton’s Keller Center of Innovation and PRSA Government Affairs and Policy organization about making social innovation accessible and environmental justice.

Agata Bloswick founded aDaSie (“giv’Adam”) a grassroots organization that empowers the citizens of Krakow to improve public spaces in their local neighborhoods, eventually deepening the dialogue between citizens and local government and driving sustainability changes in the city. Past projects have included the creation of new parks, solar energy sources on school buildings, and urban regeneration projects like Adopt a Flowerpot, or social housing graffiti removal. 

Bloswick is the Global Head of the Site Readiness operations department in Labcorp Drug Development, and is responsible for a team of over 600 individuals in 60 countries delivering clinical trials and new therapies to patients in need. In past years, her operational leadership roles included managing a global portfolio of clinical trials. In 2020, she spearheaded the company’s fast-track drug development program for COVID-19 clinical trials in the early stages of the global health crisis, for which she was awarded the Hero Award.  

Bloswick holds a PhD in Pharmacology and Pharmacy from Jagiellonian University, and was a fellow at the Center for Leadership Program in partnership with the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. She has contributed to the field of bioethics, speaking at the conferences of UNESCO and the Yale University Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics.  

”As a visionary leader, I strive to elevate diverse voices, empower local changemakers, break down barriers to communication and cooperation, and build in all organizations a commitment to achieving results while upholding good values.”

Isabelle Delfosse is the co-founder, director and head surf coach of the Sirenitas de Popoyo. In a male-dominant sport and male community, the Sirenitas de Popoyo aims to empower local girls from the Tola area in Nicaragua through weekly surfing and swimming lessons, education and other group activities such as sexual education, yoga, art and leadership workshops.  

Delfosse is an enthusiastic and active entrepreneur with a passion for the ocean, surf, empowering women and hospitality. In 2016 she solely built and founded Sirena Surf house, which she runs as a beach front guest house in Popoyo, Nicaragua. In 2021 she also founded Sirena Social Club, a yoga and surf retreat business that aims to empower women through unique experiences in nature, connection with the ocean, and the power of self-love. Sirena Social Club creates a culturally inclusive community where compassionate women support each other. She holds a professional bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from the Hogeschool Sint-Lucas in Ghent and a master’s in Design, Communication Strategies & Publicity from the Elisava, Escola superior de Disseny in Barcelona. She is an International Surfing Association certified lifeguard and level 2 surf coach and a certified 200hr Yoga teacher. In 2020, Delfosse took part in Voz Vital Nicaragua’s mentoring program.  

”I want to be a visionary leader that inspires and empowers girls and women to dream big and help them make those dreams come true.”

Joanna Sozańska has the mission of increasing the visibility of women in international relations and global politics. As a young professional specializing in the Arab region, relations between the European Union and WANA (West Asia and North Africa) countries, Sozańska is planning to create an initiative for a reliable analysis of the WANA region and its relations with the European Union, with the goal of including women experts in the public debate. 

Sozańska gained international experience working with the European Academy of Diplomacy. Sozańska also cooperates with the Institute for Security and International Development operating under the auspices of the DEEP NATO Programme as an Advisor and WANA Expert. She also works at European Border and Coast Guard Agency European Union agency.  

Sozańska graduated from Jagiellonian University, faculties of Middle East Studies with a degree in Arabic language and International Relations. She is pursuing a PhD at the Warsaw School of Economics where she studies news public diplomacy and migration policies in the North Africa region. Sozańska participated in the NATO2030 Global Fellowship, Young Leadership Political Academy by National Democratic Institute, and the Academy of Advocates of Changes. Sozanska also served on juries of international programs such as NATO Youth Delegate of Poland and the Innovation in Politics Awards. 

As a visionary leader I believe there is no place for discrimination and double standards in international relations. 

Julie Hamaïde is an entrepreneur and journalist. In 2017, she launched Koï, a new print publication that explores the complexity of Asian cultures, communities, and life in France. Koï has carved out a place in the French media landscape as the voice of a new generation. She has assembled a network of young French-Asian women from all walks of life around her, called Femmes Koï, who are able to share experiences, memories, challenges and solidarity. This group is a tight-knit community who help each other when needed and can find support and solace like nowhere else. 

In 2017, Koï won the Print Innovation Award by Presstalis and received the political and general newspress qualification by the ministry of Culture of France in 2018. The same year, Koï won the second Prize for Information Abroad by the ministry of Foreign Affair of Vietnam. Hamaïde has given keynote speeches at the international convention of journalism about media creation and talked about Asian diasporas in France on international media, including France 24, France TV, and The Initium Hong Kong. Hamaïde is also a Marshall Memorial Fellow and a Raisina Young Fellow, and is a mentee with the SISTA x Bold program.  

As a visionary leader I aspire to gather the French-Asian communities and give a definition to their identity.  

Kapur is the founder of Pardesi, a digital platform and community which celebrates, empowers and amplifies the voices of South Asian women around the world. Over the last two years, the Pardesi Team has built a collaborative multimedia space rooted in powerful storytelling and community building. Through their content, events and development programmes, Pardesi hopes to present a new kind of digital community for South Asian women – a supportive, positive sisterhood where collaboration is valued over competition.

Kapur holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Warwick and is currently reading for her Master of Laws at Cornell Law School. In 2021, Kapur presented at TEDxWarwickSalon and was named a GROW and Travers Smith Changemaker of the Year. She is also the recipient of the leading international award for young social activists, The Diana Award.

Kayla Hicks is the founder and CEO of Sustain Equity Group (SEG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering professional equity for black women in community-based violence intervention and prevention initiatives and other fields. SEG’s flagship program, The Urban Training Research Advocacy Institute and Network (U-TRAIN), provides trauma-informed leadership development cohorts, training, mentoring, and networking opportunities.

Hicks, as a former leader in the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, was an innovative change-maker within the movement. In 2013 Hicks was the first person in the Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) movement to put a lens on the daily gun violence experienced by black and brown communities. A sustained commitment to these communities led to a profound change in policy and programs in Virginia and across the country in neighborhoods impacted by daily gun violence and within organizations serving marginalized communities that are now saving lives.

Hicks is recognized nationally for having worked as African American and Faith Outreach state director for the 2008 Obama campaign, strategic planning coordinator for labor giant SEIU, political consultant, leadership transformation mentor, bail enforcement agent, a private detective, and outreach director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. She earned her AA and BS in interdisciplinary studies and studied for her MA in human services counseling, crisis response, and trauma care from Liberty University. She is a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) member of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, an American Express Social Justice Leadership Academy Alumni and member of the Association of Christian Counselors.

Laura Robert-Rivera is utilizing tools in the kitchen to flip tough conversations and whip up better self-care habits by working on creating a baking experience focused on addressing mental health.

Robert-Rivera is the youngest Director on the Board of the World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. She has over half a decade of experience working with non-profits, foundations, and philanthropic initiatives. The Governor, State Legislature, the Department of Education of Puerto Rico, and several news outlets have recognized Robert-Rivera for her national child abuse awareness campaign, Stand Up Say No to Child Abuse. She is a Vital Voices Initiative HERlead Fellow, Ambassador, and Grantee, and a 2014 Girl Scouts National Women of Distinction. Robert-Rivera continues to be an active member of Girl Scouts and represented the organization internationally in Curacao and at the United Nations. In 2021, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and human rights from Barnard College, Columbia University.

”As a visionary leader, I hope to leave this world a little sweeter than I found it. ”

Reddy is a proud single mother, daughter and a successful career woman. Reddy worked her way up from working at Estée Lauder beauty counters to traveling Africa and the world with Estee Lauder Companies. She has a strong foundation in the prestige beauty industry and a career spanning 22 years at the Estée Lauder Companies (ELC). She shares ELC’s beautiful brands with the sales force around South Africa through high-touch education programs and helps empower employees around the country to achieve their personal and professional goals.  

Reddy also leads Corporate Social Responsibility for ELC South Africa, which includes the Breast Cancer Campaign and has initiated many community impact projects which have not only touched thousands of lives in South Africa but have also been shared as global best practices. Reddy has been instrumental in leading Inclusion and Diversity programs for ELC and has led the development and launch of the ELC Good Works employee volunteerism and giving platform in South Africa.  Reddy is well known as a great motivator, a powerful storyteller, and an influencer of people and she has through hard work and determination, earned incredible accolades and achievements during her career including Winner of the Global Leonard A Lauder Volunteer Award in 2013. 

Linda García Arenas is the Chief of Party of the Come Play with Me project in ChildFund Guatemala, an innovative project designed to strengthen playful parenting practices and promote growth and learning through play in children from 0 to 4 years old in predominantly indigenous communities across Guatemala. Come Play with Me is implemented remotely through radio, text messages and calls, reaching more than 15,000 primary caregivers who are mostly women.

García Arenas is co-founder of the Paco Piñas Library, which facilitates access to knowledge in a community in western Guatemala. She is also co-founder of CiberfemLab, a space to create, discover, appropriate, reappropriate and share the knowledge of women for autonomy and technological sovereignty. She is also part of the radio program “Voces de Mujeres”. From 2018 to 2022 she was president of the board of directors of ATD Fourth World in Guatemala.

García Arenas has a degree in communication sciences and research from San Carlos University. She has published academic articles on communication, technology, gender, and early childhood. In 2018 she was a fellow at the YouthLACIGF.

”As a visionary leader, I aspire to bring women closer to technology so that they can have a positive impact in their community, including the development of children.”

Muratore investigates the lack of financial education and knowledge of entrepreneurship, and STEM development in women. Her objective is to establish concrete actions to end economic gaps and promote a more inclusive and resilient economic system. Muratore has established a business model of a decentralized incubator with which she seeks to promote the development of MiddleMist women’s enterprises through education, and the use of Blockchain technology. She has established that same idea for the Sahel and was a finalist in a Spanish cooperation contest that sought to facilitate social innovation solutions in Africa.

Muratore has been participating in social impact projects for the private, public and third sectors for more than 5 years. In addition, she works as a University Professor and freelance writer. She has a master’s degree in International Cooperation and Development, where she specialized in social economies from the University of Comillas, Spain. She also has a degree in Social Communication from the Universidad Austral and completed an Executive Program in impact investing at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Argentina. Her commitment to gender inequality allowed her to be selected as a Youth Ambassador – G7 for the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society.

Natália Chaves is the energy and sustainability coordinator for the Brazil-Germany Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK-RIO) and a co-founder of the Brazilian Women in Solar Energy Network (MESol). The AHK RIO is a non-profit association that promotes partnerships and business opportunities between Brazilian and German companies by structuring leveraging projects and proposing recommendations for localized energy transition. The Brazilian Network of Women in Solar Energy (MESol) is a socio-political, non-partisan movement that aims to create visibility, and promote, inspire, and connect women who work in the solar energy sector.

Chaves has collaborated with the Brazilian Panel on Climate Change (PBMC) as a junior researcher compiling and reviewing scientific reports to support the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil. During the period of 2012 – 2017, she volunteered for Greenpeace’s National Climate and Energy Campaign and had the opportunity to home her leadership skills on several projects. Since 2019, Chaves has taken part in the Global Women Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET).

As an environmental scientist, Chaves has spoken in the TEDxMorroDaUrca (2022) on renewable energy management. She is passionate about learning, and has publications, articles, and lectures on several topics for platforms such as the Friedrich Ebert-Brazil Foundation and UN Women.

”As a visionary leader I want to make business more sustainable from the diversity of realities and within network experiences. ” 

Sarah Koski is an advocate for the equitable treatment of homeless individuals seeking rehabilitation, housing, employment, and care. She works as an active case manager for unhoused communities in the state of Oregon, specializing in de-escalation and a trauma-informed response. Koski is integral in developing case plans, training content, and job coaching for one of the lowest barrier shelters in the state, while also working with teams and organizations coordinating outreach and support of street-based communities.

Koski received her bachelors in political science from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon and found her passion for humanitarian activism through her work with the American Red Cross. She displayed true leadership as chair of the Lane County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) during one of Oregon’s most devastating wildfires that dislocated thousands. Her experience as a disaster relief strategist paved the way for her to be appointed to two separate gubernatorial task forces on economic reform, reigniting her interest in legislative action.

Her notable work on non-profit philanthropy was highlighted by the UN University of Peace. She is a member of her local Human Rights Commission Poverty and Homeless Task Force, as well as the National Coalition for the Homeless’ Congressional & Legislative Action team.

”I want to be a visionary leader who shifts the perspectives of homelessness and the unhoused for good. I aim to develop new means of storytelling and to redirect narrative structures to advocate for vulnerable populations at home and abroad.”

Rudayna Abdo is the Founder and CEO of Thaki, a nonprofit organization that advances digital inclusion by providing gently used laptops with preloaded educational content for underserved communities in the Middle East. Thaki’s educational features include a bilingual, content-rich app that enables offline learning, and a Digital Toolkit for teachers, acting as an educational bridge between ed-tech solutions and vulnerable communities, enabling children and teachers to interact with the digital world that would otherwise not be available to them. Its circular economy model is based on collaboration and low-effort contributions from the private sector, leading to huge social impact.

Abdo has a bachelor’s of science degree in Architectural Studies from MIT, a master’s degree in Urban Planning from McGill University, and is a graduate of Amsterdam’s THNK School of Creative Leadership executive program. Her original career in urban planning involved envisioning, managing, and tailoring solutions to challenging housing, land use, and urban transportation issues across diverse urban geographies including the Arabian Gulf region where she held leadership positions in the private and non-profit sectors.

Abdo received the 2017 TEDxAmsterdamED Award and has been featured in several publications and podcasts. Under her leadership Thaki won numerous recognitions and awards including MIT Solve and selected among HundrED’s Global Collection of 100 of the brightest innovations in K12 education from around the world.

Sherry Soon is the founder and director of Be Kind SG Limited, a non-profit organization that aims to create and inspire a kind and inclusive society for persons with invisible disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities and autism. Some of the programs run by Be Kind SG Limited include a befriending program for people living in adult disability and destitute homes, a play and toy library for children with special needs and their caregivers, and a pilot training program for youths with special needs to explore and nurture their interests.

Soon has extensive teaching experience in literacy and oral skills for children with dyslexia and speech and language difficulties. She was diagnosed with vasculitis, an autoimmune disease, at 19 years old and currently runs an informal support group in Singapore for persons diagnosed with such conditions.

Soon was selected for the inaugural Obama Foundation Leaders: Asia Pacific Program in 2019. She was awarded ‘Leader of Good’ at the President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards – the pinnacle award and platform to recognize individuals and groups that have achieved excellence in giving, in 2020, and was a finalist at the American Express Leadership Academy Alumni Award in 2021. Soon is also a Starling Collective Fellow with GivingTuesday.
 

”I want to be a visionary leader that creates opportunities for individuals to participate fully in society.” 

Sawsan Shaikh Saleh is the Education Manager at the Jordan Olympic Committee and leads the project of establishing a National Olympic Academy. As the Education Manager, she heads multiple functions within the JOC, like Olympic Education, Gender Equality, Prevention of Competition Manipulation, and Sport for All. She has also organized and facilitated several training workshops and projects related to Olympic Values Education, and Safeguarding in sport across different community groups including coaches, Physical Education teachers as well as school and university students and national team athletes.

Shaikh Saleh has initiated the establishment of multiple partnerships with international sport professional institutions such as the Coaching Association of Canada, and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) in the United States, and has launched the first ever “Sporting School” project for public school students in partnership with GIZ in Amman, Jordan. Shaikh Saleh also handles the file of Sport for Social Development funded by the IOC, such as the Olympic Day and the Asian Games fun run events for multiple years and has engaged various youth initiatives and civil society organizations across Jordan making those nationally recognized events.

Shaikh Saleh comes from an athletic background as she is a former National Boxing Team athlete and Board Member of the Jordan Kickboxing Federation. She is an active board member in the Jordan School Sport Federation. She has a bachelor’s in Pharmacy, a master’s in Business Administration and an executive master’s in Sport Organization Management.

Sheila Michaels is planning to create a program to address period poverty in her region.  Because period products can be cost prohibitive for many families, girls sometimes miss school and other important events during their cycle. Michaels would like to bring awareness to the issue by connecting with community organizations and sharing information through a social media campaign. Grant writing and fundraising will be an integral part of the program, allowing free period product vending machines to be installed in community schools.

Michaels has a background in education, including 15 years in the classroom and five years as a librarian. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master of Arts in Education, and a Master of Library and Information Science. Along with serving as the English department chair and leadership team member in her school, Michaels also served on state committees for the Missouri Association of School Librarians. She had the honor of being named an American Library Association Emerging Leader for 2022.

”I want to be a visionary leader that destigmatizes periods by removing obstacles like period poverty and empowering girls to make the most of their education.”

Stuti Jalan is an award-winning entrepreneur, internationally recognized as an emerging woman leader. She is the founder of the Women Inspiring Network (WIN), a storytelling platform that connects aspiring women leaders across countries and backgrounds. It is a first-of-its-kind digital network, democratizing knowledge and highlighting women’s stories of struggle, perseverance, and success. Through webinars, Instagram live sessions, and online panel series, WIN has built a community of over 7,000 remarkable women changemakers from different sectors. As a women-founded and women-led organization, WIN is driven by a comprehensive vision to pay it forward and uplift women along the way.

Jalan also founded Crosshairs Communication, a public relations, strategic communications, and social media company in India. As a first-generation woman entrepreneur who holds experience working with more than 500 brands, she hopes to be a transformational force in the PR and Communications industry by breaking barriers of traditional leadership. Jalan has spoken for a wide range of forums including The Global Indian Business Meet in New York, Pecha Kucha on Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Development, TEDx Tokyo, and at the United Nations.

In 2020, she was awarded the 100 Most Influential Changemakers award as well as an award for the Best Young Women Entrepreneur. She also holds a Woman of Excellence award, and a 2021 Gold award for the most innovative storytelling in PR in the digital age. She serves as an advisor on the board for the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network.

N Florence Guzha is the founder and director of the Ebenezer Women Social Entrepreneurship Trust(EWSET), a grassroots women and girls’ social movement that aims at strengthening socio-economic opportunities. EWSET aims to enhance the quality of life of the marginalized through capacity development projects, including shoe making and pad making. At EWSET, we believe that inside every woman lies a unique being, which is concealed by bad cultural practices and beliefs in our society but with the correct empowerment and exposure, regardless of where life places a woman, a confident, self-assertive, hardworking woman will emerge. Guzha is a strong woman’s rights activist. She completed the Insider Mediation training with the Begorf Foundation where she learned mediation, negotiation, and facilitation skills which have been of great help to the women and the community she serves. She also completed a training on GenderSupport Programming, Capacity Development Tools and Technics in Gender Mainstreaming. She sits on various boards representing gender, like the National Association of Non-GovernmentalOrganization in Zimbabwe. Guzha was a 2014 VV Lead fellow with Vital Voices.

Rosales founded Women E Work, a regional company based in Perú focused on helping women to return to the labor market and grow their careers.Women E Work is a gender equality company that provides HR Services, gender equality headhunting, leadership training, career coaching and outplacement across Latin America and is currently operating in 8 countries.Rosales has an extensive career as a corporate HR Executive for more than 22 years where she has worked for multinational and global companies such as tech industries, airlines, retail, and global consultancy firms. She has lived in 6 different countries holding regional responsibilities in North, Central, and South America.Rosales has a master’s degree in HRAdministration and is doing a PhD in Psychology where she is conducting research on leadership with a gender equality focus. Rosales is a certified international trainer and a certified coach with extensive HR experience, including leadership development, talent advisory, mentoring, and coaching. She has also served as a speaker at a variety of companies, universities, international associations, NGOs, and humanitarian organizations.

The Women’s Global Recovery Network is an initiative focused on bringing together women leaders and organizations across the globe who serve women in co-occurring mental health, trauma and/or addiction recovery. The goals of the network are to bring awareness to issues specific to women’s addiction and mental health recovery, highlight organizations supporting women’s recovery, provide opportunity for networking and leadership development for women in or seeking recovery, and identify action steps for increasing women’s recovery support globally.  

Caroline Beidler, MSW has a masters in social work from the University of Wisconsin Madison with an emphasis on social policy and administration. She is the founder of the annual Women’s Global Recovery Roundtable held on International Women’s Day in partnership with the She Recovers Foundation. She is a 2015 fellow of the Women’s Addiction Services Leadership Institute sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and a consultant for state and federal recovery initiatives in the U.S. Caroline has held leadership positions within academic settings, overseeing large-scale grant funded programs and works to build capacity of Recovery Community Organizations.  

Caroline was awarded the Texas Research Society on Alcoholism, John T. and Patricia A. O’Neill Addiction Science Education Award, numerous scholarships and was appointed to state councils addressing the addiction crisis. She is also an author, a team writer for This Grit and Grace Life, and is published on numerous online magazines like Recovery Today.  

”I want to be a visionary leader that empowers women in or seeking recovery to connect in community and connect with their purpose.”

As CEO of Corporación Colombia Internacional, Senior Mojica has generated impact indicators in comprehensive rural development and export enterprises. Currently, her goal is to transform 500,000 rural women into agribusiness entrepreneurs, changing their situation of living in extreme poverty and informal work in the countryside.  

Senior Mojica is a woman leader of the agroindustry and solidarity sector of Colombia. She is an expert in agribusiness, foreign trade and entrepreneurship, with 30 years of experience in the agro sector. She is an international economist, specializing in Marketing, MBA and Global MBA. Prior to CCI she was vice president and union president of the Association of Aquaculturists of Colombia. 

Senior Mojica was named one of the 30 best civil servants in the country by the Congress of the Republic and one of the best 30 leaders in the country by Revista Semana and Telefónica.  She received the medal for Agricultural Merit from the Ministry of Agriculture, a Guinness World Record, recognition for her innovative community model by IDB, and an award as one of the 25 companies that contributed most to the country by Semana Magazine. She is a member of the Women on Boards leadership community, a member of Women in Connection, and a captain of the WIC Rural Women’s Committee.

  “I want to be a visionary leader who changes the huge inequality gaps for the Colombian rural women, empowering them with profitable and sustainable productive projects, changing their lives.”

Liz Kaplan, CFRE, is the Senior Director of Development for the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, which is a 15-year-old medical school located in downtown Phoenix.  She is the lead fundraiser for the College, focusing on raising money for scholarships, research, faculty, and academic programs. She was instrumental in securing the first endowed Chair of Surgery for the College with a gift of $2 million.  

Kaplan grew up in Phoenix, has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona, and has worked in the Valley for over 25 years in non-profit development, professional sports, advertising, and sales and marketing. She has held fundraising leadership positions with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona, and was the Executive Director of the Arizona Coyotes Foundation. 

She has been very involved in the Phoenix community and is a proud graduate (Class 27) and former board member of Scottsdale Leadership. She served three years on the Scottsdale Airport Advisory Commission. She has held many community board positions, including ones on the Junior League of Phoenix and Keep Scottsdale Beautiful, and is a past President of the Greater Arizona Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). 

Angelina Spicer is a stand-up comedian, actress, and accidental activist. Spicer became an outspoken advocate for maternal mental health after her diagnosis and hospitalization of postpartum depression (PPD). The Postpartum Revolution’s mission is to educate women about the emotional and physical changes that motherhood brings. It’s an advocacy mission that utilizes comedy to reduce stigma and shame.  

Not only is Spicer using her voice in comedy clubs across the country, she is also working with lawmakers in California and on Capitol Hill to implement laws to support early motherhood. In 2019 Angelina was honored by then Senator Kamala Harris for her work in CA with Black Maternal Health week. Spicer has worked with some of the world’s most trusted healthcare institutions like Cedars Sinai Hospital, Mental Health America, the World Health Organization and has been featured in USA Today, NPR, and was part of Essence magazine’s Woke 100. 

A cum-laude graduate of Howard University, Spicer has smartly delved deep for comedy that’s authentic. With more than 650,000 followers on social media, Spicer’s original content has garnered a staggering 100 million views in more than 45 countries, and been tweeted by Taraji P. Henson, Shonda Rhimes, and Taylor Swift. Her viral success catapulted her career from phone screens to the silver screen when she became a regular performer on both Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Conan O’brien show.  

Angelina is a health equity fellow of the USA Families, The Schusterman Family Foundation, and serves on the board of directors for March for Moms.  

Anisha Kapri hopes to inspire and equip young girls and women to become entrepreneurs through her online platform What Makes me a Boss. The platform provides online content as well as curated events to help young women take actions towards becoming financially independent. She also organizes leadership workshops in rural schools in Nepal. Kapri’s previous work focused on girl education, providing sanitary pads and promoting social awareness to help end menstrual stigma in Nepal.  

Ash Ahmad is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant and creator of Changing Mindsets. Ahmad works with organisations across all contexts to build a workplace that is not only diverse but fosters a culture of inclusion allowing all employees and particularly those from underrepresented groups to thrive. Through her professional experience, lived experiences and ability to inspire others, Ahmad organically stepped into the role of a coach for several women of color and particularly Muslim women to thrive in their careers. 

Ahmad is a versatile and accomplished professional with nearly 12 years of experience in a breadth of functions including Diversity & Inclusion, Training & Development and HR. She has featured in “The Metro” and “The Telegraph” as an expert within her field and has was invited to speak on “The Islam Channel” about how employers can better support Muslim employees in the workplace. 

Ahmad has a BA Honours in Marketing and has completed Level 5 CIPD in Learning and Development. She is a trained mental health first aider and is often someone individuals feel comfortable reaching out to, particularly those from a diverse background similar to her.  

”I want to be a visionary leader thatcontinues to challenge and change the narrative around inclusionfor all within the workplaces and I aspire to help ensurethere isbetter representation of women ofcolour, particularly Muslim womeninsenior leadership roles.”

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Izzi wants to start an initiative focused on the triple nexus of peace, humanitarianism, and development, focusing on gender inequality in the context of the climate crisis, which necessitates diversity and inclusion mechanisms.  

Izzi works on engaging youth on topics of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) among rural-based youth, which fall under the global youth-led organization of Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR). Previously she worked as a Community Organizer at a local NGO focusing on Gender-based Violence (GBV) prevention, specifically men’s involvement in violence elimination where she facilitated community activism to improve knowledge and behaviour in gender justice for both men and women.

Aqilla was appointed as a Country Facilitator for the Asia-Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum and the Asia and Pacific regional ECOSOC Youth Forum 2022. She was in charge of putting together and presenting the Youth Call to Action for higher-level representatives in the context of gender mainstreaming and youth meaningful participation in climate action and policy processes.  

“I want to be a visionary leader that commits to accomplishing the meaningful participation and leadership of women and youth in inclusive and sustainable initiatives.”

Candace D. Queen is the Founder and Creator-In-Chief of Tabernacle, a creative studio that guides brands and individuals in discovering how they can tackle inequities through the lens of branding, design, art, and strategy. Under the Tabernacle mantle, she’s developing a platform that will support women candidates through the process of defining their brands and communicating their platforms to constituents, with the goal of getting more women elected in office and in turn leading to better representation of women in government decisions, from workplace policies to quality of life. 

With over 15 years of experience, Queen has held the title of culturalist, interdisciplinary designer, creative director, and educator, remaining consistent in each role with a commitment to advancing racial equity through design and revitalizing forgotten spaces and communities. She brings a sharp eye for new trends and an affinity for creating data-driven work that pushes our society forward by addressing cross-cultural disparities head-on. 

Queen has served on the Snapchat U.S. Creative Council and is a 2020 fellow of the NAACP’s NEXTGEN program. She’s been recognized as one of the Association of American Advertising Agencies (4A’s) “100 People Who Make Advertising Great,” a 4A’s MAIPer to Watch, a Bill Sharp Award Honoree, an ADCOLOR FUTURE, and recipient of ADCOLOR’s Unsung Hero Award. Queen is a part of the 3% Movement’s Accelerator’s inaugural class and a 2020 winner of Create & Cultivate’s Small Business Pitch Competition.  

“As a visionary leader, I want to lead with empathy and elevate those around me to their next level.” 

Arifah Suparni is the Founder and Chairperson of ZAKKI, a socio-civic tech non-profit dedicated to developing inclusive, integrated communities with a focus on empowering and improving the lives of the elderly and people with disabilities. ZAKKI aspires to foster a culture of retirement readiness and healthy aging.

ZAKKI’s milestone projects aim to improve mental, social, educational, and financial well-being. ZAKKI operates in Indonesia under the auspices of the Integrity Syariah Foundation. ZAKKI’s field programs include elderly care and disaster relief for survivors of disasters such as the Nganjuk landslide and the Malang earthquake. In a further development, ZAKKI aims to spread its impact to other countries, particularly underdeveloped and developing countries like Indonesia. 

Suparni holds a Bachelor of Food and Agricultural Product Technology from the University of Semarang. She has over eight years of profit business experience, including procurement, inventory control, logistics, and shipment management. Her previous involvement in the student science club, student executive body, student cooperation, and the Indonesian Red Cross volunteers’ corps inspired her to become a serial entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to science, technology, social equity, social justice, and ethical business. 

”I aspire to be a visionary leader who contributes to the creation of a more equitable society in which everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability, has access to knowledge and opportunities that can improve their lives.”

Denia B. Smith is the CEO of She Shall Speak, a podcast and empowerment community dedicated to empowering Black girls to pursue civic service, entrepreneurship, and social justice. Since its creation in February 2022, She Shall Speak has garnered a global audience spanning 22 US States and 15 countries. Denia aspires to turn She Shall Speak into a nonprofit organization providing leadership development workshops, networking opportunities, and scholarships to further cultivate Black girls’ leadership skills.  

Smith is a freshman at American University double majoring in Political Science and Justice & Law with a certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies. She is also a nationally recognized activist passionate about racial and gender equity. Her leadership roles include serving as a Teen Advisor to the United Nation Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign, a Youth Advisor on the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common Youth Advisory Board, co-founder of the POC Advocacy, and researcher at the African American Policy Forum.  

Smith is a three-year alumna of Black Girls Lead! hosted by BLACK GIRLS ROCK!®, Conversationalist Disruptor, Disney Dreamer, New Jersey Rising Scholar, recipient of the Princeton Prize in Race Relation’s Certificate of Accomplishment, member of the Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Global Cohort and a GLOW Global Fellow with Women Empowering Nations and Cantu Beauty. In 2022, Smith was named a Write Her Future Scholar and presented a $10,000 scholarship from the NAACP and Lancôme. 

”As a visionary leader, I seek to empower generations of girls to build a better world. ” 

Chicana Inc is a social enterprise focused on elevating, educating, and equipping women in underserved communities. The organization is rooted in building community and helping women overcome the gender pay gap. Through entrepreneurship initiatives, women gain the opportunity to learn, grow, and be inspired by women community leaders and to access workshops, and signature events, including the “Boss Brunches and Leadership” speaker series.  During the pandemic, Chicana Inc launched La Tiendita, which gives local entrepreneurs virtual opportunities to build their social media presence by showcasing their business and telling their stories.  

Escatel holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University and a bachelor’s in Studio Art from San Jose State University.  She is an alumna of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality’s Hope Leadership Institute and Leadership Modesto. Escatel has been a guest speaker at Harvard University, UC Merced, and UC Davis Entrepreneur Academy, and The Positive People Speaker Series hosted by Modesto Junior College. 

Escatel is a past nominee for USA Today’s 2021 Humankind Award. Escatel was recognized by Brainz Magazine as the 2020 global Influencer of the year. She is also the awardee of the 2019 Latina of Influence by Hispanic Lifestyle, the 2018 Women of the year by Stanislaus Commission for Women, and 2016 20 under 40 Modesto Bee. 

”As a visionary leader, I create opportunities for women to grow personally, and professionally while doing social good. ”

Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri (aka Dr May) is the Medical Director and Psychiatrist-In-Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services (PMS). PMS is a leading psychology and mental health facility in Nigeria that is prominent in the application of innovative clinical approaches in the management of psychological, emotional, and behavioral related disorders. Dr. Yusuf Kadiri is also the founder of Pinnacle Medicals SPEAKOUT Initiative, which is geared towards creating Mental Health literacy in Africa. The project “How Bodi Mobile Counselling Booth” aims to provide improved access to mental healthcare services and hope for people in rural, remote, and urban slum communities across Nigeria using the How Bodi telemedicine platform.  

Dr. Yusuf Kadiri is a dynamic Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist and a Fellow of the National Post- Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych) with almost 20 years of experience as a practicing physician. She completed training and certification as a Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavioral therapist from Albert Ellis Institute in New York. She is a Goldman Sachs scholar, Vital Voices Fellow, an Ashoka change maker, an alumna of the US      State Department International Visitors Leadership program (IVLP), 2021 Aspen Fellow, and 2022 AWEC Fellow. 

In 2022 she was given the “Outstanding achievement in Healthcare” award at the Top50 Global Professional & Career Women Awards in Dubai by Women in Management. 

”I want to be a visionary leader that contributes to the normalization of mental health conversations by building a culture of compassion in Africa.”    

Chepkurui Laboso is starting Missing Third Project, an organization that will use research and advocacy to champion Kenyan women’s participation in political leadership. Her vision is to give a platform to women who are passionate about leadership but face barriers due to their cultural backgrounds, including women from rural communities who are often left out of mainstream media and civic spaces. She hopes her work helps support the passing of the 2/3 affirmative action rule which would ensure women’s participation as integral across national social, economic and political leadership roles.  

Chepkurui Laboso earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the United States International University (USIU-Africa), in Nairobi, Kenya.  In 2022, she participated in the party primaries for the United Democratic Alliance of Kenya party as a candidate for the Member of County Assembly (MCA).  She was the only woman candidate among six men and ranked 6th place in a political context that did not believe in women’s leadership. Chepkurui Laboso is actively involved in a grassroots women’s movement and hopes to continue educating women and her community on the importance of including women in leadership roles and supporting girls through education to set them up for success and inclusion in the future.  

Ethel Mwedziwendira plans to launch a digital media initiative that focuses on BIPOC women who have been impacted by the prison system in hopes of amplifying their voices. Through her work, she seeks to raise awareness about the realities of mass incarceration in the United States and its draconian court systems by bringing to light the people whose voices are often silenced by the criminal legal system. 

 A lifelong storyteller and human rights advocate, Mwedziwendira graduated from the University of Mississippi where she majored in journalism and political science. While in undergrad, Mwedziwendira served as the Opinion and Design Editor for the Daily Mississippian. In addition, she held numerous leadership positions and internships, including interning at the Yemen Peace Project where she monitored human rights violations and political developments in the region.

Currently, Mwedziwendira develops and implements communications strategies for capital litigators across the United States. She also serves on the Communications Committee for the Black Professionals in International Affairs, is involved in ColorComm Inc., and is a mentor at Hope Multiplied.  

”As a visionary leader, I want to make sure that all voices are heard and that everyone has a seat at the table.” 

Fernanda Sartori is putting into action her goal of ​​improving the educational system for children and adolescents living in socio-educational homes after committing an infraction. Sartori aims to build real opportunities for this future generation of youth who must also be included within the roles of society in order to break the vicious cycle of marginalization and give way to new visions and voices. 

Sartori has a degree in public management and has worked in private banks in the areas of compliance, accounting, and external auditing during her 8-year career in the private sector. After making a career transition, Sartori joined the Film School and volunteered with Engajamundo for more than three years where she was the screenwriter and producer of “Pimenta pra Jovem é Refresco”, a podcast where the voices and plurality of Brazilian youth echoes. She was part of the Youth Climate Leaders Program (YCL) where she received training in socio-environmental areas. Sartori was also the winner of the Action4SDG Zovu with the Plante Histórias (Plant Stories) Project, bringing stories of Brazilian socio-environmental emergencies to the rest of the world. 

”As a visionary leader, I intend to build bridges to bring education and opportunities to children and adolescents through socio-educational measures in Brazil.”

Gabi Del Rosario is the founder of Alon and Araw Club, a community-based organization for disadvantaged children from a small fishing village in the Philippines. She envisions a world where children of vulnerable coastal communities are free to dream and pursue a purposeful life. “Alon” and “Araw” mean waves and sun respectively, embodying the mission of the organization to create waves of opportunities through the four pillars of sports accessibility, education support, environmental protection, and personal development.  

Del Rosario obtained a bachelor’s degree from Ateneo de Manila University where she majored in communications. She has a background working in corporate retail. Although she has always active as a volunteer and involved in charity work, she never foresaw moving to a coastal town to start a non-profit. Alon and Araw Club is still in its startup phase yet Del Rosario considers it her greatest achievement to date. 

”I want to be a visionary leader that inspires young Filipinas to break barriers and go above and beyond their own self-imposed limitations.  As a visionary leader I will always uphold patience, love, and empathy regardless of who I’m with or where I am.’‘

Hope Farayi Marere is the Country Head of Retail & Business Banking for BancABC Zimbabwe and is passionate about the financial literacy and inclusion of women. She has mentored women who have been challenged to grow and succeed in their chosen careers and aspires to continue supporting women to become the best version of who then can be professionally. 

Marere has over 20 years of experience in the retail landscape and in retail Banking including retail sales, card operations, digital banking, private banking, marketing and public relations, agency banking, microfinance, and banking operations. Marere is also interested in digital transformation and innovation in banking and leveraging these to improve product design and to enhance customer experience. 

Marere has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Finance from the National University of Science and Technology and an MBA from Management College of Southern Africa. She has attended the Authentic Women in Leadership Programme from Alchemy by the Deloitte School of Leadership and completed the Executive Leadership training program. In 2021, Marere received the Most Outstanding Financial leader of Repute from the Zimbabwe CEOS network. 

”I want to be the visionary leader that recognizes and celebrates diversity and inspires excellence in financial services.” 

Jenna Smith is planning to re-launch The LGBT History Project. Her vision is to create an organization dedicated to creating access to queer history education through virtual media. Its purpose is to share the rich and diverse history of the LGBTQ+ community in a widely accessible format. It also aims to bring attention to the BIPOC who have contributed to the queer liberation movement but had their stories erased. 

Smith is a Robertson Scholar at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At Duke, she is pursuing impact work as the Programming Director of Kidz Vote, the Head of the Advocacy Team on the Duke Justice Project, and a Research Assistant at the Wilson Center for Science and Justice. She has pursued her passion for historical preservation as an intern at the Delta Center for Culture and Learning and Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area. In this role, she was tasked with designing and launching a Civil Rights Heritage Archive to preserve the stories of the Mississippi Delta. She will continue to engage in historical preservation as an independent student researcher, focusing on rectifying methods of erasure levied against Black women in history.  

Smith is also a 2019 HERLead Fellow, a Rising Voices Club Mentor, a Point Foundation Scholar, an Eva Clayton Fellow, and is ranked among the Top 20 Best Speakers in the nation as a first-year competitor at the AMCA Undergraduate Moot Court Competition.

”As a visionary leader, I hope to dismantle systems of ignorance through education and storytelling.”  

Jennifer Barrera Wandrey is a cofounder of Beyond Great. The mission of Beyond Great is to enrich the lives of young women by providing mentoring, educational workshops, and personal and professional development opportunities to aid in their success of becoming great leaders. Beyond Great helps to provide activities and experiences for personal growth, social responsibility, and education. In addition, Beyond Great works to provide opportunities for participants to foster positive relationships amongst other young women. 

Barrera Wandrey is a dedicated public servant with over 8 years of experience serving the Houston community through Marketing and Outreach management roles for the City of Houston. She also serves as a Spanish speaking media liaison for the municipal animal shelter.  

Barrera Wandrey received her Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston-Downtown with a leadership focus. The Greater Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation recognized her as Emerging Leader in 2015. She is an alumnus of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc a Latina-based sorority devoted to serving the community while fostering a sense of pride and respect for the Latin heritage.

”I want to be a visionary leader who empowers young women to reach their full leadership potential. As a visionary leader I hope to offer guidance and support to my community who has also nurtured my own vision.”

Bell works with women who are at a point where they need change in their lives. This can be a change in mindset, career, life choices and everything in between! Through her 1-2-1 coaching and mentoring business she aspires to create an environment for women to re-balance, reassess, and reboot, enabling them to be the true version of themselves. 

Bell had an accomplished 15-year career as a teacher and manager in education before working in the corporate sector for five years where she worked in partnership with public, private, and volunteer organizations.  

”As a visionary leader I will inspire other women to be their awesome, authentic selves, despite the environment they find themselves in.”

The mission of Operacion Nanas is to generate well-being for families while providing formal jobs and training for domestic workers in Peru. Operacion Nanas combines technology, distance education, and psychological assistance to support Peruvian and immigrant women with and promote well-paid jobs, backed by labor laws for domestic workers in Peru. 

From a very young age, Diaz had a vocation for helping others.  She was a volunteer that helped develop her local Rotary Club, through which she supported vulnerable areas of her hometown, Huaral.  Diaz has also worked in nutrition clubs, helping to improve the nutrition and wellbeing of families in her community, which has allowed her to develop the leadership skills necessary to start current venture. 

Operacion Nanas received the Women for Tomorrow Award (Mujeres para el Mañana) by Soft Bank & We Work and the Strategic Business Management Award (Programa de Gestión Estratégica Comercial) by the Japanese Peruvian Association. 

”I want to be a visionary leader who helps women to be able to achieve all their dreams, goals and aspirations through formal work and constant training.”

Growing Together (GT) is a non-profit organization founded in May 2020 in Peru to promote gender equality with and for adolescents. GT works with public schools, on the north coast of Peru, by providing workshops and educational programs with a gender equality framework that challenges gender stereotypes. We support youth as gender equality champions and empower them to end gender-based violence. 

I am an international development professional with more than nine years of working experience in diverse development issues in Peru and the United States. I am a social entrepreneur that promotes the conversation about gender gaps in Peru, especially those related to education, data analysis, and public policy. I am a co-founder of Growing Together (GT). 

Ioanna Gallo Jimenez is a candidate for a master’s in Public Administration at Maxell School of Syracuse University. She was a recipient of the De Sardon-Glass Fellowship. Since April 2022 she is member of Meaningful Business community.  

”I want to be a visionary leader representing the voices of Latin-American local women who work to eliminate social norms that reproduce inequalities. As a visionary leader, I will lead a transformative change in the gender norms that relegate women’s futures.”

Melisa Bustamante is the executive director of a platform called RESILISER, created by an NGO (FIDUS) located in Córdoba, Argentina. She has been working since 2020 to create alliances with different institutions that are doing social impact work and are involved with gender inequality. SALTO project is available in the platform RESILISER, where women find not only the training related to SALTO, but also other courses and workshops to enhance different areas of their lives. The project aims at giving women the necessary tools to achieve that shift in their mindset, providing high quality information, training and coaching delivered by experts in their fields of study. By getting to know themselves, what their dreams are, what prevents them from manifesting those dreams, women will be able to take a giant leap, defy their own mental boundaries, and change their lives, spot opportunities where they used to see obstacles. 

Bustamante holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Strayer University and is enrolled in an MBA program at Universidad de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Melisa is also a language instructor. She has been teaching since she was 16 years old. She has experience in class planning and curriculum design, and education technology. Teaching has always been her vocation, and she feels that teaching has enhanced her leadership skills.  

”As a visionary leader I aspire to become the voice of those who come from underdeveloped regions to show Latinas and the rest of the world that our lives can be better, and that we do not need to settle for what our patriarchal society has to offer. ”

Neivia Justa is a journalist, executive, influencer, activist, change maker, mother, entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, teacher and founder of #JustaCausa. 

With 30 years of experience as a leader in Communication, Culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in companies such as Timex, Natura, Schincariol, GE, Goodyear, J&J and UHG, she is the creator of the #lídercomneivia live streaming program and the social media movements #ondeestãoasmulheres (where are the women?) and #aquiestãoasmulheres (here the women are). 

She won the Women’s Press Trophy and the Aberje Award in 2017 and since 2018 she is one of LinkedIn Brazil’s Top Voices

Women in Communities is a women-led organization whose mandate is to uphold women’s rights, health and livelihoods and it is a registered Trust that was established in 2009. It seeks to create safe spaces for women to participate in governance processes and exercise their constitutional rights. The vision of Wico is to create a world in which women play decisive roles in agriculture; health; governance; and natural resources management for sustainable livelihoods and development.

Chirenga is a lecturer and trainer by profession with over 20 years of experience working with tertiary institutions and is an avid community developer and advocacy champion. She has held various leadership positions including Head of Commerce faculty, senior lecturer, and has sat on a number of Boards of Directors. She has been the Executive Director of Wico for the past 12 years and is responsible for planning and implementing programs, training and capacity building, supporting organizational networks and mobilizing resources.

Chirenga was awarded the 2019 Netherlands Embassy Gender Champion Award and The Best Community Developer for 2019for Wico awarded by the National Association of NGOs in Zimbabwe.  She currently sits on the World Patients Alliance Africa Committee. 

”I want to be a visionary leader that will champion the cause of women and girls in all facets of their health, rights and education.  As a visionary leader I want to leave a legacy of empowered and informed women that are in a safe space to demand their human rights.”

 Renata Koch Alvarenga (she/her) is the Founder and Director of EmpoderaClima, which is a Brazil-based, youth-led initiative created to raise awareness of the disproportionate impacts of climate change that girls and women face in the Global South, as well as the need for women’s leadership in climate action.  

Koch Alvarenga is working as a Climate and Sustainable Development Fellow at the UN Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth this summer in New York City. She has been engaged in international initiatives for gender and climate justice for the past 7 years. Koch Alvarenga is a G(irls)20/Fora Ambassador of Brazil, National Gender Youth Activist of UN Women, Transform Education Leader, Voices That Inspire Fellow and Gender Co-lead for Youth at UN Climate. She has also worked as a Political Analyst for the British Mission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.   

Koch Alvarenga holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Unisinos (Brazil), having studied for two years at the Seton Hall School of Diplomacy and International Relations (United States). Currently, she is a Master in Public Policy candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School, as a Belfer Young Leader Fellow and Claudio Haddad Brazil Fellow.