Impact Stories from Professional Development Policy Area

Fellows spearhead inaugural production of TEDx in Yaoundé

Fellow(s): Nadia Habsatou, Murielle Ursull Abomo

Country: Cameroon

Cohort: 2016, 2023

Policy Area(s): Professional Development

Fellow Nadia Habsatou (Cameroon, 2016) organized the very first TEDx event to Cameroon’s capital with the launch of TEDxYaoundé 2025 on April 19. Under the theme “Limitless: Redefining Success,” the independently organized event invited attendees to challenge conventional definitions of achievement and embrace new models of leadership, resilience and innovation across sectors like governance, health, entrepreneurship and education.
A project engineer at CAMTEL and founder of Learn&Adapt consulting, Nadia spearheaded the initiative and was joined by fellow Murielle Ursull Abomo (Cameroon, 2023), who took headed online registration and attendance. Murielle, who also works at CAMTEL as Chief of Optical Routing, shared, “The theme wasn’t just a slogan—it was a lived reality. The speakers’ words reminded us of the power of self-knowledge, networking and technologies like AI.”
Featuring more than 10 speakers as well as performing arts segments, the event drew over 500 local attendees and more than 5,000 virtual viewers. Highlights included a keynote address from U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon Christopher Lamora, who urged participants to see success not as a destination, but as a journey defined by courage and continuous growth.

Report Date...: 05/26/2025

Fellow presents on public admin digitalization for SDGs

Fellow(s): Mahinabonu Bekova

Country: Tajikistan

Cohort: 2023

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellow Mahinabonu Bekova (Tajikistan, 2023) recently gave a presentation, “Transformation of Public Administration through Digitalization: New Opportunities to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” at Tajik National University. Her talk sparked engaging dialogue with students and faculty about how digital tools are reshaping public management. “It was very interesting to hear the opinions of future specialists and colleagues,” she shared, “on how digital technologies are opening up new horizons for sustainable development.”
The presentation followed Mahinabonu’s recent participation in the ERASMUS+ ESGCA project at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, where she took part in a week of collaborative learning on ESG principles and sustainability. Highlights included site visits to the Slovnaft Refinery and sessions on water treatment innovation and university–industry partnerships.
She also recently served as a Technovation Girls mentor alongside fellow Zevar Davlatmamadova Bordachyova, for team Sigma Girls. Their team won first place in Tajikistan’s national competition for developing a mobile application that offers practical tools to help users navigate emergency situations.

Report Date...: 06/02/2025

Mentor(s): Jeannice Fairrer-Samani

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

Mentor Jeannice Fairrer-Samani, a digital technologist and founder of the Fifth Wave STEAM Initiative, recently presented a workshop, “AI for Impact: Empowering Innovation Across Industries,” for IIE’s Alliance of Saudi Women Active in Tech (ASWAT) fellowship program. In her session, Jeannice explored how artificial intelligence is transforming STEM fields, entrepreneurship and global problem-solving.
ASWAT brings together rising Saudi women professionals in cybersecurity, biotech, electric vehicles, energy and beyond for a three-week program based in Austin, Texas. Activities include job shadowing, site visits, professional networking and the creation of action plans for impact.
Through ASWAT, Jeannice advances a growing movement of mentors who are helping to shape technology-driven, cross-sector solutions to today’s biggest challenges.
“AI has the power to drive innovation across industries,” she shared, “and I’m honored to welcome this extraordinary cohort of women in tech to explore that potential together.”

Report Date...: 06/02/2025

Fellow featured in award-winning geoscience documentary

Fellow(s): Sara Fakhry Elokda

Country: Egypt

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Fellow Sara Fakhry Elokda (Egypt, 2022) was recently featured in the award-winning film “Abia” (“أبية”), a documentary highlighting her path as a well-site geologist and her work advancing renewable energy in Egypt and beyond. The film premiered on the banks of the Nile during the Aswan International Women Film Festival and went on to win Best Impact Film at the festival.
The title Abia, meaning strong-willed in Arabic, reflects Sara’s determination to break barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field. “This isn’t just a personal win or a film about me,” she said. “It is a moment of recognition for every woman in geoscience who’s working hard.”
Sara’s story is not only one of personal resilience but of scientific impact. She was recently awarded the Excellence Award at the SEG IMAGE Conference in Houston for her team’s work on carbon capture in Norway and was recognized as a global finalist in the EAGE Laurie Dake Challenge for her geothermal energy research in the Vienna Basin.
These innovations, developed with her team at Helwan University, are now part of her vision for energy transformation in the MENA region. “I hope the film reaches and encourages young women who feel that their dreams are too bold,” she shared. “Because sometimes, being ‘too much’ is exactly what the world needs.”

Report Date...: 06/02/2025

Mentor(s): Cassi Janakos

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

Mentor Cassi Janakos, COO of Healthy Horizons, was recently named to Inc.’s 8th Annual Female Founders 500 list, alongside her mother and co-founder, CEO Sheila Dukas-Janakos. The honor recognizes 500 trailblazing women whose innovations are redefining industries and solving critical challenges across the globe.
Cassi and Sheila were recognized for their groundbreaking work expanding workplace lactation support across 130 cities in the U.S. and Canada, a mission rooted in maternal health, family well-being and employee retention. Under their leadership, Healthy Horizons has become a national leader in corporate lactation services, designing and maintaining lactation rooms, offering breast milk shipping, new parent resources and Lactation Room Servicing™ that supports millions of working parents.
“This recognition significantly elevates awareness of the critical need for comprehensive workplace lactation programs,” Cassi shared, “empowering us to partner with more employers and foster truly supportive, family-friendly workplaces.”
In addition to this honor, Healthy Horizons has earned spots on the Inc. 5000 list, the San Francisco Business Times’ 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies, and was named one of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Report Date...: 06/09/2025

Fellow named runner-up in Cambridge Zero Climate Challenge

Fellow(s): Sally Musonye

Country: Kenya

Cohort: 2023

Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Youth Engagement

Fellow Sally Musonye (Kenya, 2023), founder of AshGold Africa Initiative, was recently recognized as a runner-up in the 2025 Cambridge Zero Climate Challenge. Sally, a Commonwealth Master’s Scholar at the University of Cambridge, collaborated with fellow scholar Kamalha Jockim to pitch a social enterprise addressing energy poverty and educational inequity in rural Kenya.
AshGold Africa Initiative, launched in 2015, focuses on creating sustainable impact through solar energy and mentorship programs. To date, the initiative has mentored more than 11,000 students and educators in 13 schools, trained 20 solar technicians, and completed two solar installations displacing over 3 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Through five weeks of training, Sally and her team refined a scalable model to accelerate climate resilience, drawing on expertise in climate entrepreneurship, voluntary carbon markets and sustainable development.
In a recent blog post, Sally expressed that “the path behind us is lined with lessons, quiet triumphs and progress; beyond the horizon lies a future of promise and possibility.”

Report Date...: 06/09/2025

Fellow gives TEDx talk on resilient innovation at University of Bourmedes in Algeria

Fellow(s): Imene Ferhat

Country: Algeria

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

On April 26, Fellow Imene Ferhat (Algeria, 2016) took the TEDx stage at the University of Boumerdes in Algeria to share her personal and professional journey in a powerful talk titled “The Resilient Innovator: From Playing It Safe to Breaking New Ground.” Drawing from more than a decade in the energy sector, Imene spoke candidly about stepping out of her comfort zone, transitioning from engineering into business leadership, and the mindset shifts that shaped her growth.
In her talk, Imene challenged the audience to rethink their relationship with time—arguing that effective time management isn’t about discipline alone, but about deeply understanding one’s purpose and making every decision count. She reflected on the courage it takes to evolve from being “a simple engineer” to a strategic leader, especially in male-dominated industries.
“Some people say they started from zero, but their zero was really a million,” she explained in a post-talk interview. “My zero was worth negative 100.”
Now serving as North Africa Business Development Manager at GOWell International, Imene blends technical expertise in geomechanics with business strategy to drive innovation and cross-industry collaboration. Her academic path—from PhD to MBA—underscores her belief in lifelong learning as a vehicle for transformation.

Report Date...: 06/09/2025

Fellow(s): 21 TechWomen mentors and fellows organize impact trip to Lebanon to implement international collaboration in STEM

Country: Lebanon, United States

Cohort: 2014, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

TechWomen mentors and fellows organize impact trip to Lebanon to implement international collaboration in STEM

From May 31 to April 8, 2025, TechWomen mentors from Silicon Valley journeyed to Beirut for a powerful week of knowledge exchange, mentorship, and community building led by Lebanese TechWomen fellows who co-organized a series of high-impact events. U.S. mentors Jill Finlayson, Kathy Giori, Rekha Pai, and Terri Khonsari joined Lebanese fellows Aseel Honein (2013), Christelle Bou Harb (2024), Claudette El Hajj (2022), Diala Al Samarani (2022), Ghiwa Haddad (2022), Hala Awkar (2024), Lara Chikhani (2017), Lara El Khoury (2014), Nisrine Bou Ghannam (2024), Noura Al Merhabi (2024), Rola El Hafi (2022), Sabine El Kahi (2014), Sawsan AlJamal (2023), Sawsan Sleiman (2024), Talar Kichian (2023), Zahraa Sweidan (2024) and Zeina Farah (2022) in orchestrating this impactful series of events that brought together a variety of institutions, students, entrepreneurs and local changemakers in an inspiring journey to advance international and local innovation, mentorship and STEM excellence.

Highlights included a high-level AI and Entrepreneurship forum at the American University of Beirut, featuring guests from the U.S. Embassy of Lebanon and speakers from the National Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NCEI). Another standout event was hosted at Lebanese American University (LAU) in partnership with the LAU Innovation Center, where mentors met with computer science students and faculty to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, startups, and global collaboration. Additionally, a panel titled “AI Tools: Accessibility, Ethical Use, and Impact was organized in collaboration with LAU Libraries, Arab Union for Specialized Women, and others. At Beirut Digital District, the event “Connect & Elevate: Lebanese Women” welcomed leaders in STEM from across the country for an evening of community networking and mentorship with the visiting U.S. STEM pioneers. These mentors also met with entrepreneurs at the Chamber of Commerce in Tripoli (Lebanon) and delivered sessions at Lebanese University Roumieh, supported by partners such as IEEE Lebanon Joint Chapter, EdTech Syndicate in Lebanon, and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Mentors also brought their STEM expertise and leadership to youth, delivering inspiration and hands-on physical computing workshops to students at the American High School in Lebanon, girl scouts from the AGBU – AYA Antranik Antelias Scouts, and more.

“Let’s keep bridging global wisdom with local talent,” reflected fellow Zahraa Sweidan on the powerful week of events.

Report Date...: 04/07/2025

Fellow(s): Adetoun Akitoye

Country: Nigeria

Cohort: 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development

Fellow hosts chemistry educators event at UNILAG

Adetoun was commended on her food insecurity research at the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.

Fellow Adetoun Akitoye (Nigeria, 2022), a lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), recently hosted the Women Chemistry Educators Network event, “Shaping the Future: Teaching and Mentorship for Women Chemistry Educators,” supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The gathering brought together leaders in academia to explore the transformative role of mentorship and continuous learning in the sciences.

Adetoun, who mentors undergraduates and champions innovation and food security research at the university, led the event with a focus on community, growth, and collaboration. During a presentation of her work at the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, she was commended by U.S. Ambassador Richard M. Mills Jr. for her efforts to combat food insecurity in her country.

Report Date...: 04/07/2025

Fellow(s): Assala Dob, Elghers Nesrine, Gasmi Rim, Imen Lezzam, and Nassima Farhi

Country: Algeria

Cohort: 2024

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development, Public Health

Team Algeria 2024 Seed Grant Winners Advance to Product Distribution with “Camel Bright Solutions”

Fellows Assala Dob, Elghers Nesrine, Gasmi Rim, Imen Lezzam, and Nassima Farhi of Team Algeria 2024 have just surpassed the testing phase and are now on the path to product distribution for their TechWomen seed grant-winning impact project, Camel Bright Solutions.
Addressing the urgent issue of the approximately 500 devastating road accidents that occur in Southern Algeria each year, primarily at night and often involving camel collisions , the team developed Camel Bright Solutions. This product line of fluorescent, reflective, and adjustable collars for camels are designed to make the animals visible from up to 1,500 feet away by drivers. These lightweight, comfortable collars will not only enhance road safety but also help camel owners track their livestock more effectively.
Since receiving $3,000 in seed grant funding, the team has successfully moved from concept to implementation. They have completed the design phase, ensuring the collars are adjustable for camels of all sizes, and developed a prototype with a local supplier. Field testing at a camel farm confirmed that the collars fit securely and did not cause discomfort.
With promising results from testing, the team is now working on the next critical step: distribution. They have initiated discussions with Algeria’s Ministry of Agriculture to define a large-scale deployment strategy, aiming to make Camel Bright Solutions widely accessible. By improving visibility on roads, their innovation has the potential to significantly reduce accidents, save lives, and protect the livelihoods of families who depend on camels.

Report Date...: 03/03/2025

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