Impact Stories

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  Fellow(s): Fellow Elmira Obry discusses TechWomen journey in recent interview

  Country: Kazakhstan

  Region: CSA

  Cohort: 2022

  Project/Action: Fellow Elmira Obry discusses TechWomen journey in recent interview

  Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development

  Fellow Elmira Obry (Kazakhstan, 2022) recently interviewed with Kazakh online media outlet ER10 to discuss her career journey and experience as a TechWomen emerging leader. Topics included the mission of TechWomen, the application process, the cross-cultural mentorship and Elmira’s intentions going forward. “I plan to investigate the impact of technology on the involvement of women in the country’s economy,” Elmira shared, “and the development of sustainable technologies through the prism of a multiplier economic effect.”
  Elmira is the founder of QWANT programming school founder and the CEO of the Bureau for Continuing Professional Development (BCPD) of the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC). “By pooling resources, efforts and expertise,” Elmira emphasized, “we can turn the tide not only on gender equality, but also on growing social and economic stratification.” During the interview, Elmira also stressed the importance of supporting teachers, modernizing technical colleges, and “developing the institution of mentoring” in Kazakhstan. “Many people think that Silicon Valley is about money,” she explained. “Actually, it’s about the supportive environment. In order to attract young people, it is necessary to create a benevolent climate [and] to maintain interest in innovation from an early age.”

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  Report Date: 12/12/2022

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  Fellow(s): Fellow Nermin Salah publishes study on breast cancer prodrugs with support from mentor Bianca Liederer

  Country: Egypt, United States

  Region: MENA, US

  Cohort: 2013

  Project/Action: Fellow Nermin Salah publishes study on breast cancer prodrugs with support from mentor Bianca Liederer

  Title: Principal Program Manager

  Company: Genentech

  Policy Area(s): Professional Development

  Fellow Nermin Salah (Egypt, 2013) recently co-authored a publication in the field of drug discovery, crediting her TechWomen professional mentor Bianca Liederer of Genentech with providing helpful support and collaboration to the project. Entitled “Design, synthesis, and metabolite identification of Tamoxifen esterase-activatable prodrugs,” the study explores substances that can improve efficacy and reduce resistance to Tamoxifen, an important medication used in the treatment of hormonal-dependent breast cancers. Though she completed her program nearly ten years ago, Nermin maintains that “once a TechWomen always a TechWomen; you keep the network, support and the spirit.” She shares that Bianca and her team offered valuable assistance throughout the research process, even performing some experiments that would have been a challenge to execute in Egypt. Nermin is currently in the U.S. again as a Hubert Humphrey fellow and fondly reflects that she is “still receiving help and guidance from the whole TechWomen community.”
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  Report Date: 12/12/2022