Impact Stories from Professional Growth Policy Area
Fellow selected as TEF2018 entrepreneur
Fellow(s): Oluremi Hamid
Country: Nigeria
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth
2016 fellow of Nigeria Oluremi Hamid was recently selected to participate in an entrepreneurship program run through the The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). The foundation, Africa’s largest philanthropic initiative, promotes entrepreneurship throughout the continent. Oluremi was among 1,400 entrepreneurs selected out of a total of 158,000 applicants. Soon, she will begin TEF’s 12-week program that equips startups with basic skills required to launch and run their businesses at early growth stages. Paired with a mentor to guide her through the program, Oluremi will learn how to more effectively start and scale a business and will learn tools for marketing strategy and product design. At the end of the program, each entrepreneur will receive a $5,000 seed grant.
Oluremi recently launched Hydren Energy, a business that builds mobile solar stations for small business owners. The stations harness solar power during the day, store it for use at night and allow business owners to move the unit between their home and workplace. The TEF seed grant will enable Oluremi produce three mobile solar station units for her target market.
Report Date: 11/12/2018
2018 fellows and mentors collaborate on science research
Fellow(s): Edith Mugehu, Ijeoma Ezika
Country: Nigeria, United States, Zimbabwe
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth
During TechWomen 2018, fellows Edith Mugehu (Zimbabwe) and Ijeoma Ezika (Nigeria) were hosted at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, learning about biotechnology and computer science alongside Professional Mentors Jacqueline Scoggins and Daniela Ushizima. Using Edith’s data from her research in Zimbabwe, the fellows and their mentors collaborated to create a set of data analysis methods to evaluate sugarcane genotype production.
Together they submitted their research to Biology and Mathematics in the Bay Area (BaMBA), a gathering aimed at exploring the role of math in biology, and, on November 3, Daniela presented their data and poster at this year’s BaMBA Day at Stanford University.
Edith and Ijeoma were also featured on the Berkeley Lab website in an article highlighting the TechWomen program and their mentorship experience at the Lab.
Report Date: 11/5/2018
Fellow pitches tech education iniatitive at Harvard conference
Fellow(s): Afnan Ali
Country: Jordan
Cohort: 2011
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This week, 2011 fellow of Jordan Afnan Ali participated in a startup pitch
competition at Harvard Business School. The competition is a pillar event at the
Arab Conference at Harvard, an annual conference that brings together
students, Harvard alumni, faculty, business and societal leaders to discuss
business and economic issues in the Arab region.
Afnan, the founder of Eureka Tech Academy, was one of 10 entrepreneurs
selected to present their initiatives to a panel of judges with tech and business
backgrounds. After the pitch, participants received feedback and were able to
network with venture capitalists, angel investors and industry experts.
Eureka Tech Academy, the first of its kind in Jordan, teaches students
engineering, electronics and invention. Students participate in classroom
activities and development workshops and compete in engineering and
robotics competitions throughout the region. Through her work, Afnan hopes
to make tech education a classroom requirement in Jordan, scaling up and
making a shift in the MENA region.
Report Date: 11/5/2018
Fellow delivers speech about Silicon Valley tech culture
Fellow(s): Elnura Kassymova
Country: Kazakhstan
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Professional Growth
2016 fellow of Kazakhstan Elnura Kassymova recently delivered an address about
corporate culture in Silicon Valley at Chocofamily, the biggest e-commerce
holding in Kazakhstan. There, Elnura spoke about her experience at her
TechWomen host company, Lumos Labs, as well as her visits to leading Silicon
Valley tech companies such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Autodesk and
Symantec.
The audience was comprised of representatives of Chocofamily’s human
resources, marketing, management and sales teams. “I will never forget my
TechWomen journey,” she said. “I will always share my experience to help
people and companies in development. The impact continues!”
Report Date: 11/5/2018
Fellow selected as an advisor for Minister of Science
Fellow(s): Tiisetso Lephoto
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Professional Growth
2016 fellow Dr. Tiisetso Lephoto was recently appointed as a board member to
the National Advisory Council on Innovation in South Africa. Board members
are appointed by the Minister for Science and Technology and advise on issues
in science, mathematics, technology and innovation to improve the lives of
South Africans.
Tiisetso was selected based on her work in science and technology, including
science engagement, science communication, innovation and education. In
addition to receiving multiple awards for her work in research and science
engagement, Tiisetso is currently a post-doctoral research scientist at the
University of Witwatersrand and the COO of GoMaths, a program that brings
mathematics programming to school children.
Report Date: 10/29/2018
Fellow selected as Women in Tech International Award finalist
Fellow(s): Rana Nofal
Country: Palestinian Territories
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Professional Growth
Rana Nofal, 2017 fellow of the Palestinian Territories, was recently named
a finalist for the inaugural Women in Tech Awards. Currently head of the
programming and data department at the Ministry of Health, Rana is being
recognized for her work in health tech that is improving the delivery of
care in her community. Her project, a platform that gives patients the
ability to access all medical staff in her country and assists them with
medical financial assistance, was selected as one of four health tech
finalists.
The mission of Women in Tech is to close the gender gap and help women
embrace technology. Through education, support and advocacy, they
hope to empower women and girls to excel in STEM careers. Award
winners will be selected by an international jury of CEOs, founders and
venture capitalists, and winners will be announced at the first official
Women in Tech Awards in Lisbon, Portugal later this month.
Report Date: 10/29/2018
Fellow wins entrepreneurship grant at United Nations conference
Fellow(s): Patu Ndango Fen
Country: Cameroon
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2017 fellow of Cameroon Patu Ndango Fen was awarded a $10,000 grant at this year’s Africa Youth Conference. The conference, sponsored by UN Women and supported by partners such as UNICEF and UNESCO, aims to create an avenue for young people to contribute to development of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prior to the conference, Patu, a social entrepreneur and innovator, was selected as a finalist for the YAS Open Innovation Challenge, a combined initiative of the United Nations Development Programme and Accenture. At the conference, Patu and nine other entrepreneurs were announced as grant winners for their projects that directly support the fulfillment of the SDGs. Patu’s social enterprise, Closed-Loop System Ventures, specializes in waste management, transforming plant and animal waste into organic fertilizer that can be used in farming and aquaculture. With the grant, Patu plans to construct a warehouse and rent a large-capacity waste collection truck.
In addition to receiving her award, Patu participated on a panel at the conference centered around pitching, presenting and storytelling from a marketing and branding perspective.
Report Date: 10/29/2018
Fellow publishes article about moonshot thinking in Africa
Fellow(s): Sylvia Mukasa
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2014
Policy Area(s): Professional Growth
2014 fellow of Kenya Sylvia Mukasa authored an article published on Engineering for Change, an online platform for engineers whose mission is to improve the life of underserved communities. Sylvia, inspired by the Singularity University Incubator model, reflects on Africa’s position in the adoption of “moonshot” thinking. “A moonshot is a project or proposal that addresses a huge problem, proposes a radical solution and uses breakthrough technology,” Sylvia writes.
Sylvia argues that attempting to solve large challenges necessitates creative brainstorming and innovative thinking, creating unprecedented ideas for change. This moonshot thinking, she says, might hold solutions to challenges that arise from overpopulation and underemployment for Africa, which will have the largest workforce in the world by 2035. Through improving education, increasing investment in African youth and encouraging tech innovators, Sylvia believes that Africa can move forward and solve its most pressing challenges.
Report Date: 10/15/2018
Fellow awarded grant for STEM-based education initiative
Fellow(s): Mutriba Akhmedova
Country: Tajikistan
Cohort: 2015
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
Mutriba Akhmedova, 2015 fellow of Tajikistan, was awarded a U.S. Embassy Alumni Grant for her new initiative, Girls in STEM. Through digital literacy workshops, information sessions and tech bootcamps, Girls in STEM will encourage high school girls in Tajikistan to choose careers in STEM fields, hoping to reduce societal stereotypes of women in STEM along the way. “STEM is new for the people of Tajikistan, especially in schools,” Mutriba said. “The project will hopefully have a huge impact on girls.”
The Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan administers an annual Alumni Grant Program to support alumni-initiated projects aimed at promoting community service and the dissemination of professional knowledge. Next month, Mutriba will officially launch Girls in STEM, targeting 40 girls throughout four regions of Tajikistan, providing immersive education experiences and instilling in them a passion for STEM fields.
Report Date: 10/15/2018
Fellow convenes summit in Abuja to advocate for girls’ rights
Fellow(s): Carolyn Seaman
Country: Nigeria
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2017 fellow of Nigeria Carolyn Seaman, founder of Girls Voices, organized the 2018 Girls Summit in Abuja last week to commemorate International Day of the Girl. The event, implemented in partnership with the Global Fund for Women, brought together government agencies, advocates, representatives of diplomatic missions and the media to advance girls’ voices and advocate for their rights and protection. Throughout the day, 126 secondary school girls addressed the summit’s attendees, speaking about child marriage, gender-based violence and girls’ lack of equal educational opportunities.
Carolyn, referencing Nigeria’s rank of 122 out of 144 in the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report, aimed to secure commitments from stakeholders in order to protect girls’ rights and security. By the end of the day, stakeholders drafted a statement committing themselves to increase outreach, support engaging initiatives and mobilize to protect girls’ rights. As one young participant said in her remarks to the audience, “We want the chance to be leaders of today… tomorrow is too far.”
Report Date: 10/15/2018
