Impact Stories from Professional Growth Policy Area
Mentor(s): Jill Finlayson (mentor)
Company: Expanding Diversity and Gender Equity in Tech (EDGE) at the University of California
Mentor Type: Impact
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
Mentor Jill Finlayson recently moderated a conversation on diversity, equity and inclusion, speaking with the head of DEI at Siemens, USA. Jill is the director of Expanding Diversity and Gender Equity in Tech (EDGE) at the University of California, and has been moderating a regular speaker series that spotlights corporate leaders making a difference in the DEI space. In her most recent conversation with Nichelle Grant, Jill and her co-moderator explore Siemens’ successes and strategies in order to encourage other leaders and companies to create a more equitable workplace for all. Nichelle emphasized that values around DEI must become a part of the fabric of a company: “Our mandate is that the DEI spans across all the nooks and crannies of the organization,” she said. “It’s how we do business.” Jill also spoke about the power of allyship, sharing that it is everyone’s responsibility to contribute to an equitable workplace: “Just like how microaggressions make people want to leave, microaffirmations make people want to stay,” she said.
Read More »Report Date...: 8/2/21
TechWomen alumnae celebrate International Day of Friendship
Fellow(s): Salma Bekkouche, Fatima Zohra Benhamida, Edith Mugehu, Flora Asibe, Laura Messerschmitt, Noha Elkattan
Country: Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, United States, Zimbabwe
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
July 30 is the United Nations International Day of Friendship, a day that recognizes the power of establishing strong ties, building bridges and working together for positive change. Proclaimed an official day in 2011, the International Day of Friendship acknowledges that unity and cross-cultural understanding are essential to peace-building. In celebration, the TechWomen blog features three stories of friendship, mentorship and collaboration from the TechWomen fellows and mentors themselves. The stories – from Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, the United States and Zimbabwe – show the power of friendship and support, and the impact created when extraordinary women unite.
2018 fellow of Algeria Salma Bekkouche writes about her friend and mentor, 2017 fellow Fatima Zohra Benhamida, sharing how Fatima supported her through her studies, encouraged her to apply for TechWomen and mentored her through some of her greatest challenges. 2018 fellow of Zimbabwe Edith Mugehu and 2020-2021 fellow of Nigeria Flora Asibe share how they met in Kenya, beginning not only a treasured friendship, but also professional collaboration, leading them to co-author two papers on plant biotechnology and pathology. Professional Mentor Laura Messerschmitt and 2017 fellow of Egypt Noha Elkattan conclude with their story of mentorship and connection: “Throughout the TechWomen program, I have always felt like we were one family, accepting each other, embracing our differences, and sharing our culture,” Noha writes. “When differences melt and fade away, we become stronger and we lift each other up. Life is a big network that, if fed with love and respect, will become stronger and enlighten the whole world.”
Report Date...: 7/26/21
Fellows speak about gender equity at international forum
Fellow(s): Omnia Tayari and Nezha Larhrissi
Country: Libya, Morocco
Cohort: 2013
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
2013 fellows Omnia Tayari (Libya) and Nezha Larhrissi (Morocco) were featured speakers at the Social Innovation and Global Ethics Forum, held by Horyou, a social network for changemakers. The forum focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, women empowerment and the future of finance. Omnia is the co-founder of BulbulHub Academy of Public Speaking as well as the founder of Oratoriia, an online program that educates and empowers young leaders. She was recommended as a speaker by Nezha, who recently left her role as the general manager Maghreb at Signify.“We reconnected last year and have remained in very close connection,” said Omnia. In her panel, Omnia joined international women in technology to speak about overturning gender roles, the achievements of women leaders globally and the need to empower women around the world. Nezha’s panel focused on how to achieve gender equality, with the panelists sharing their solutions and experiences with closing the gender gap in technology. “Nezha and I have learned a great deal from and through each other,” said Omnia. “Nezha reappeared in my life in the very right time. She exposed me to some great learning that would result into an exponential growth to my knowledge and skills, which allowed me to expand my impact and create greater transformation in my client’s lives.”
Read More »Report Date...: 7/26/21
Fellow delivers guest lecture on women in technology fields
Fellow(s): Sebay Koroma
Country: Sierra Leone
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This week, 2018 fellow Sebay Koroma delivered a guest lecture to students at the Canadian College of Modern Technology in Mafunde, Sierra Leone. Sebay works as a petroleum engineer for the Sierra Leone Petroleum Directorate in addition to serving as a Next Einstein Forum ambassador. Her lecture, themed on women’s participation in technology, outlined the “stereotype threat” – a phenomenon where people conform to stereotypes about their social group – and how it may contribute to the underrepresentation of women in tech fields. “We talked about seeing effort as a path to mastery, persevering in the face of challenges, taking constructive criticism in stride and being inspired by the success of others,” Sebay said. Together, the group discussed why diversity matters, and how it leads to innovation, better performance and role models for youth. “As a STEM Enthusiast, it is always an honor to lend my voice to conversations about technology,” said Sebay. “What better way to give back than to share knowledge with young, vibrant scholars?”
Read More »Report Date...: 7/26/21
Fellow speaks about 21st century job skills in keynote
Fellow(s): Sarah Abdallah
Country: Lebanon
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2016 fellow Sarah Abdallah was invited as keynote speaker for the launch of Shabab Lab, the first social innovation e-learning platform in the Arab world. Sarah is a consultant, lecturer and community co-lead of Beirut’s Facebook Developer Circle. In the event, attended by Shabab Lab participants, Sarah addressed COVID- 19’s impact on the future of jobs, as well as the way it has created professional development challenges for youth and entrepreneurs. She emphasized the need for youth to be trained in 21st-century skills and work in partnership to create a more sustainable, innovative and equitable world: “If we go alone we can go faster, but if we go together we can go further,” she said. With the future of work bringing greater automation, Sarah shared the top 10 skills of 2025, which include creativity, analytical thinking and resilience. “The future is ahead of us. We can shape our own future. You are the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.
Read More »Report Date...: 7/19/21
Fellow shares entrepreneurship journey in Facebook event
Fellow(s): Ayesha Mumtaz Khan
Country: Pakistan
Cohort: 2019
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
This week, 2019 fellow Ayesha Mumtaz Kahn was featured in a Facebook Live event where she spoke about her journey as an entrepreneur and the lessons she has learned along the way. The Facebook Live was hosted by Circle, a Pakistani initiative with a mission to advocate for women empowerment through research, campaigns, capacitybuilding and workshops. Ayesha is the co-founder and CEO of Hop Orbits, an ecommerce platform that aims to democratize access to technology and create jobs in Pakistan. In the interview, Ayesha spoke about initially pursuing social sciences before discovering her passion for project management and digitization. Eventually, she co-founded her e-commerce company that currently primarily serves womenowned businesses: “I wanted to produce something that would serve my community,” she said. Ayesha also spoke about her TechWomen mentorship at Big Commerce, and gave advice to women embarking on their own entrepreneurial journey: “Women have to say yes to ourselves,” she said. “We have to say, ‘I can do it.’ There is no failure – there is only learning.”
Read More »Report Date...: 7/19/21
Fellow holds Turkmenistan’s first hackathon for social impact
Fellow(s): Maral Hudaybergenova
Country: Turkmenistan
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth
2018 fellow Maral Hudaybergenova hosted the first-ever hackathon for social impact in Turkmenistan, bringing together participants to create web services and mobile apps to support rural women in selling their handicrafts. Maral is an initiator for the Google Developer Group (GDG) Ashgabat, who hosted the hackathon. The event was also supported by USAID, who provided funding for the winning teams.
The two-day hackathon was a first for all participants, who were guided and supported by local mentors and experts through mentorship and brainstorming sessions. Together, the teams created solutions for the women that integrated AI technology that allows customers to virtually try on the items, as well as an online auction function to increase online traffic and interest. “We hope this social impact project will help local women sell their handicrafts not only across the country, but also in foreign markets by presenting the unique products,” said Maral.
The winning teams were awarded a cash prize, giving them access to online courses as well as additional resources from USAID’s Future Growth Initiative and a local incubator. “Our participants met with like-minded people, expanded their network and gained valuable advice from the mentors and experts,” said Maral. “There is an increase in self-confidence that they can do it, which is much more priceless than any awards.”
Report Date...: 7/12/21
In speech fellow inspires girls in STEM4Girls program
Fellow(s): Salma Bekkouche
Country: Algeria
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2018 fellow Salma Bekkouche recently spoke to 40 high school girls in four cities throughout Algeria, sharing about her international education experience and giving advice on career challenges and opportunities. The event was organized by World Learning Algeria with sponsorship from the U.S. Embassy Algiers.
The girls, ages 14-17, are participants in World Learning’s STEM4Girls program, an initiative that trains girls in STEM activities and supports them with career planning. Salma, who has previously served as a World Learning speaker and participated in their TechCamp, is a recruiter and blogger with a mission to empower Algerian youth. On her blog and YouTube channel, Salma Share, Salma gives career advice for young people and shares her international education experiences with TechWomen, TechGirls and more. In her World Learning talk, Salma spoke about her educational and career path, sharing ways the girls can develop their careers through volunteering, mentorship and network-building. “I met enthusiastic and ambitious girls who are eager to learn about applying to TechGirls, finding opportunities around the world and joining STEM universities after high school,” she said.
Read More »Report Date...: 7/12/21
Fellow authors article on telecommunications in rural areas
Fellow(s): Nomso Kana
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2013
Policy Area(s): Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth
2013 fellow Nomso Kana authored an article for Bytes.za, an online report from
South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies. Nomso is
a broadband infrastructure entrepreneur as well as a nuclear scientist who
currently serves as the governor of the Nuclear Energy Foundation Agency.
Her article, Mobile Broadband for Rural Connectivity, outlines key factors that
hinder connectivity and communication in rural communities of South Africa, and
proposes solutions that will increase connectivity and minimize infrastructure
challenges. “Internet access is vital in these economic times,” writes Nomso. “In
these challenging times of the contactless COVID-19 pandemic, connectivity is
more needed than before, as it can support distance education, healthcare, and
the economy.” Nomso proposes cost-effective solutions to the challenges faced
in rural areas, such as a combination of solar powered and on-grid power as well
as anti-theft mechanisms for telecom equipment. “It has been proven that mobile internet connectivity is an
economic multiplier that can transform rural communities,” she writes.
Report Date...: 7/12/21
With AU grant fellow begins research on sugarcane in Kenya
Fellow(s): Edith Mugehu
Country: Zimbabwe
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth
2018 fellow Edith Mugehu was named a recipient of the 2021 Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme, an African Union program that supports higher education cooperation between countries in Africa by providing financial support to educational institutions and supporting its students.
Edith is a PhD candidate in plant breeding and biotechnology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as a research associate at the Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station. Recently, she began her six-month research stay at Kenyatta University in Kenya, where she is conducting ground-breaking research that will contribute to food security and poverty alleviation in Sub-Saharan Africa. She is working on identifying beneficial genes in Zimbabwean sugarcane germplasm, as well as developing a tissue culture protocol that will be adopted by the Zimbabwe sugar industry in order to help farmers reduce costs associated with the propagation of sugarcane seed. Since TechWomen, Edith has been awarded all five grant or scholarship programs she has applied for. “I bloomed after and because of TechWomen,” she said. “I got a confidence boost. I can address any audience without fearing that I’m not good enough. I can now set bigger research goals because I realize how extraordinary I am. Because of TechWomen, I always want to make other young women and girls feel the same way and look at life with the same ambition and hope.”
Report Date...: 7/5/21
