Impact Stories from Professional Development Policy Area
Fellow showcases digital health Innovation at GITEX Europe
Fellow(s): Elmira Obry
Country: Kazakhstan
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Public Health
Fellow Elmira Obry (Kazakhstan, 2022), founder of Foody.AI, represented Kazakhstan’s growing tech ecosystem at GITEX Europe, May 21 to 23 in Berlin, Germany. Foody.AI, a digital health platform that integrates artificial intelligence with nutrition science, was featured among global startups and presented directly to investors, partners and ecosystem leaders — including Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry.
Backed by local accelerators such as Astana Hub and MOST Ventures, Foody.AI is part of a new wave of tech solutions designed to meet global health challenges through personalized, preventive approaches. It uses AI-driven tools to deliver customized nutrition guidance, helping users make data-informed decisions about their daily wellness. Already gaining early traction in five countries, the platform is preparing for broader international expansion.
“We’re proud that our product was born in Kazakhstan — a country that is now laying the foundations for the next generation of the digital economy,” said Elmira, who also represented Foody.AI earlier this year at Central Asia Startup Cup in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Report Date...: 07/14/2025
Fellow honored as a 2025 L’Oréal Woman of Worth
Fellow(s): Aseel Honein
Country: Lebanon
Cohort: 2013
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Fellow Aseel Honein (Lebanon, 2013) was recently recognized as one of L’Oréal’s Women of Worth 2025, receiving the Sustainable Architecture & Innovation Award, celebrated at a gala dinner on June 26 at Sursock Palace Gardens in Beirut, Lebanon.
Aseel is honored for her commitment to reimagining architecture as a tool for both sustainability and social impact. In a video featured at the event, she reflected: “I forged my own path, step by step. I transformed obstacles into opportunities, and barriers into bridges.”
Aseel is the founder of Indigo Kousba, a rural eco-tourism retreat in North Lebanon, and Parallel Studio, a design and technology academy focused on empowering youth through hands-on programs in architecture, design thinking and social innovation. Through Parallel Studio, she also created Architecture in a Box, a program that introduces children and teenagers to architecture, urbanism and cultural heritage through interactive learning and games.
“Guided by the same passion,” she shared, “I launched Architecture in a Box, a modest initiative in scale, yet monumental in impact.”
Report Date...: 07/14/2025
Fellow returns to UNEP as a Change Maker
Fellow(s): Ayeni Olamide
Country: Nigeria
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Fellow Ayeni Olamide (Nigeria, 2017), founder of circular economy company HOPCYKU, was recently invited to the North America Office of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in Washington, D.C., as a recognized Change Maker in sustainability. The invitation followed her participation as a panelist at the 2025 WWF Plastic Summit, where she spoke alongside policymakers, academics and global sustainability leaders.
Ayeni’s journey with UNEP began in 2019, when she was awarded a fellowship to attend the 79th UNEP/UNESCO/BMU International Short Course on Resource Efficiency, Circular Economy, and Waste Management in Dresden, Germany—her first formal education in environmental sustainability.
Reflecting on the milestone, Ayeni shared, “Visiting the UNEP Office was a full-circle moment. I got to share our journey, how we started, what we’ve achieved and where we’re headed.”
Report Date...: 05/05/2025
Mentor Receives Marvell Award for Advancement
Fellow(s): Cora Lam
Country:
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development
Mentor Cora Lam was recently honored with the Advancing Women’s Initiatives Award by Women@Marvell at Marvell Technology’s Santa Clara headquarters. The award recognizes Cora’s dedication to supporting women in STEM and her growing impact as a mentor and advocate.
In addition to her role as a Cultural Mentor, Cora has participated in TechWomen delegation trips to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan (2023, 2024), spoken at the Central Eurasia @ Silicon Valley Conference and joined the TechWomen Alumnae Summit in Morocco. She was also named a 2022 Silicon Valley Business Journal Women of Influence honoree several years ago.
“TechWomen has truly opened doors for me,” she shared. “I’ve grown both professionally and personally. The program transformed me from a purely technical engineer into someone with a life-long passion for mentorship.”
Report Date...: 04/28/2025
Fellow Forges New Collaboration Linking Water Research to Community Impact
Fellow(s): Marwa Ali
Country: Egypt
Cohort: 2024
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Fellow Marwa Ali (Egypt, 2024), director of International Sponsored Projects at Egypt’s National Water Research Center (NWRC), was instrumental in the recent signing of a formal protocol between NWRC and BENAA Foundation—marking a pivotal step in connecting scientific research to community-centered development efforts. BENAA Foundation is a youth-led non-profit organization focused on capacity building to enable and advance the realization of sustainable development projects in the MENA region.
This milestone marks a pivotal step in applying water research to real-world sustainability efforts, as NWRC celebrates its 50th anniversary. In her role as project leader, Marwa emphasized the importance of connecting knowledge to impact. “This is not just a collaboration—it’s the beginning of a meaningful path where water research directly supports people and sustainable development.”
Report Date...: 04/28/2025
Fellow gives keynote address at launch of Tajikistan’s first IT Park
Fellow(s): Zarina Achilova
Country: Tajikistan
Cohort: 2023
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development
At the recent opening of Tajikistan’s first-ever IT Park in Dushanbe, fellow Zarina Achilova (Tajikistan, 2023), country director of Women in Tech Tajikistan, delivered a keynote presentation titled “Digital Skills for an Inclusive Future: Empowering Women in Technology in Tajikistan.”
Representing her organization, Zarina spoke on the importance of accessible digital education, the critical role of women in shaping the country’s digital future, and the steps needed to foster a more inclusive national tech ecosystem. The event marked a milestone for Tajikistan’s growing technology sector and demonstrated the expanding influence of grassroots initiatives focused on digital access.
In addition to this honor, Zarina was recently named among the Top 25 Successful Women Entrepreneurs of Tajikistan by the Association of Financial Institutions of Tajikistan. She is the founder of outsourcing call center T@mos.
Report Date...: 04/28/2025
Mentor(s): Anar Simpson, Jill Finlayson
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Development
The 2025 EDGE in Tech Athena Awards recently recognized mentor Anar Simpson for her role in nominating global nonprofit Technovation for the “Next-generation Engagement” award, presented at a May 13 ceremony hosted by mentor Jill Finlayson, Managing Director of the CITRIS Innovation Hub at UC Berkeley.
As a longtime board member and global strategic partnership advisor, Simpson has played a central role in scaling Technovation’s impact, expanding the program to more than 100 countries and championing access for girls in under-resourced communities. Over 76% of Technovation alumnae pursue STEM degrees, with 60% entering STEM careers.
Report Date...: 05/12/2025
Fellow-founded Green Watech featured by Africa’s Business Heroes and MEDI1TV for eco-friendly water filtration system
Fellow(s): Salma Bougarrani
Country: Morocco
Cohort: 2020-2021
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Fellow Salma Bougarrani (Morocco, 2020–2021), co-founder and CEO of Green Watech, was recently spotlighted in a video produced by Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) as well as in an interview by MEDI1TV Africa for her groundbreaking sustainable water purification system. Since delivering her winning pitch at the ABH semifinals in Cairo last September, Salma’s Green Watech has gained increased funding, visibility and access to a global network of support.
Her company’s low-tech, solar-powered filtration system—FISO—treats wastewater for reuse in agricultural irrigation, offering a clean, cost-effective and decentralized solution for remote areas. Built from locally sourced filtration bricks and designed to last up to 20 years, the system has already treated more than 400 million liters of wastewater, enabling the production of over 80,000 tons of food in water-scarce Moroccan communities.
“Innovation can be born where we least expect it” Salma shared in her MEDI1TV interview, where she reflected on her mission as a Moroccan scientist, entrepreneur and mother: She emphasized the power of accessible technology to improve lives in underserved areas—and the importance of purpose-driven leadership.
“This is the future,” she said, closing her winning ABH pitch. “Without water, we cannot survive. I am a mother and I don’t want my children to feel that they need to immigrate one day because of water scarcity or food insecurity.”
Watch Here
Read More »Report Date...: 05/12/2025
Fellow hosts Innovation Unleashed for Central Asian youth
Fellow(s): Ainur Kuanyshbayeva
Country: Kazakhstan
Cohort: 2020-2021
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development, Youth Engagement
On May 10, fellow Ainur Kuanyshbayeva (Kazakhstan, 2020–2021), founder of Qabi Tech, co-hosted Innovation Unleashed, an international webinar designed to empower young innovators across Central Asia.
Organized in partnership with TechDev Academy, the event welcomed 82 students live, with over 200 participants engaging online. Timed to accommodate students across multiple time zones—from the U.S. to Mongolia—the event featured five global experts across technology, entrepreneurship, fintech, mental health and biotech. Topics ranged from startup strategy to authentic leadership and navigating the path to funding. It also included a coding challenge and scholarship prizes to support continued learning.
“Innovation Unleashed,” Ainur shared, “was a powerful reminder of what happens when we bring together passionate youth and world-class mentors.”
Report Date...: 05/19/2025
Fellow forges partnerships at major Middle East AI summit
Fellow(s): Aisuluu Kozhomkulova
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Cohort: 2023
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow Aisuluu Kozhomkulova (Kyrgyzstan, 2023), regional director of StrategEast Central Asia, recently executed the role of partnerships director for Machines Can See 2025, the largest annual AI summit in the Middle East. Held at Dubai’s Museum of the Future and Emirates Towers, the event convened over 3,000 global attendees, generated more than 7 million views on social media and earned coverage from Bloomberg, CNBC and other top media outlets.
In her role, Aisuluu led strategic engagement with high-level delegations from ministries across Southeast Asia, Africa and the Gulf. She facilitated key bilateral meetings and supported the signing of memoranda of understanding between countries—paving the way for future collaboration in artificial intelligence, the digital economy and innovation.
Her work bridged and deepened global ties between countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and the UAE, leveraging diplomacy and connection to shape tangible, cross-border impact.
Report Date...: 05/26/2025
