Impact Stories from Professional Growth Policy Area

Mentor(s): Cora Wai Sheung Lam

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth

Mentor Cora Wai Sheung Lam was honored as one of the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2022 Women of Influence in its third year. Honorees are selected from the public, private and non-profit sectors, and each recognized for the positive impacts they have effected in Silicon Valley and beyond. Those selected as honorees must demonstrate a “strong record of innovation in their fields, outstanding performance in their businesses and a clear track record of meaningful community involvement.”
In addition to her years as a mentor and champion for TechWomen, Cora has more than two decades of experience in STEM and current serves as Senior Principal CAD Engineer at Marvell Technology. Cora also leads the Women at Marvell organization and describes her dedication for promoting gender equity in STEM by saying, “Witnessing how STEM can exponentially improve millions of people across the globe, especially women, just touches my heart deeply.”

Report Date...: 5/31/2022

Fellow selected as World Bank Youth Summit 2022 Finalist

Fellow(s): Arielle Kitio

Country: Cameroon

Cohort: 2016

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement

The World Bank selected 2016 fellow Arielle Kitio as a finalist for its 2022 Youth Summit Competition, representing her organization TechWoman Factory, part of the Cameroon Youth School Tech Incubator (CAYSTI). Arielle was one of six finalists selected from a competitive pool of 1,031 applications representing 107 countries. The 2022 summit theme was “Unlocking the Power of Inclusion for Equitable Growth,” and all finalists were selected for projects that effectively and impactfully spoke to elements of social, environmental and economic inclusion.
TechWoman Factory’s inaugural cohort consists of 179 Cameroonian youth (including 134 women), who receive professional training in one of three fields (data science, web development and digital art) for six months in Yaoundé, followed by a three-month professional mentorship with a partner organization. Additionally, all participants receive a core education in entrepreneurship, financial education, cybersecurity and soft skills such as negotiation, leadership, effective communication and creativity.

Report Date...: 5/31/2022

Kazakh fellows premier film to combat domestic abuse

Fellow(s): Kymbat Yeltayeva, Moldir Kussainova, Ainur Kuanyshbayeva and Raushan Nurdillayeva

Country: Kazakhstan

Cohort: 2020-2021

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth

The 2020-2021 Kazakh action plan team composed of Kymbat Yeltayeva, Moldir Kussainova, Ainur Kuanyshbayeva and Raushan Nurdillayeva has recently released a short animated film entitled “”Signs of Abusive Relationships or A Modern Fairy Tale about Bayan-sulu and Kozy-korpesh”” as a key part of their TechWomen seed grant-funded initiative to battle domestic violence against women in their country.
The project re-imagines the nationally-beloved fable of two lovers, highlighting the warning signs of domestic violence embedded in the fabric of the tale. Team Kazakhstan’s analysis of the story challenges the glorification of husband Kozy-korpesh’s overprotective behaviors towards his wife Bayan-sulu and discusses the dangers of relationships based on control, isolation and psychological manipulation. The team hopes this film empowers people to “reconsider the stereotypes created in society regarding women and romantic relationships,” Kymbat shared in a recent post.

Report Date...: 7/18/2022

Fellow awarded funding for assistive technology innovation

Fellow(s): Sylvia Nyaga

Country: Kenya

Cohort: 2022

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

Syna Consultancy, founded and led by CEO, 2022 fellow from Kenya Sylvia Nyaga, recently won second place at the Assistive Technology Innovation Showcase in Kenya. Sylvia and her organization received $6,000 USD in funding to further their mission of providing equitable and inclusive water and sanitation services. Syna Consultancy’s “top priority is the achievement of access to safe and adequate all-inclusive water and sanitation paying special attention to the needs of marginalized groups” in rural and urban communities in Kenya. The showcase was hosted by Villgro Africa, a Nairobi-based impact investor and incubator whose focus is emerging healthcare businesses in Africa, in partnership with assistive technology accelerator Innovate Now and the Kenyan National Innovation Agency (KeNIA). Applicants were selected for their potential for impact and scalability, team and product strength and awareness of user needs. In addition to funding, Syna Consultancy and other winners gained access to investor networks from Villgro Africa, Innovate Now and KeNIA, as well as mentorship and training to solicit further funding and partnerships.

Report Date...: 5/23/2022

Fellows and Mentors present at LocWorldWide46 conference

Fellow(s): Barateng Miya, Binta Moustapha, Sylvia Mukasa, Chepkemoi Magdaline, Mpara Faith Muwar, Josephine Ndambuki, Ouafa Benterki, Mimi Hills, Jannice Campbell and Melissa Biggs

Country: Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, United States

Cohort: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth

At Localization World’s LocWorldWide46 conference, TechWomen fellows and mentors organized and delivered three sessions geared toward localization, translation, and global website management and business professionals. Mentor Mimi Hills moderated “Ensuring Your Investment in Africa Is Sustainable,” which went “beyond the cultural stereotypes to understand the current business economy, describe common pitfalls for first-time investors, and make recommendations for prioritizing localization investment.” Its panelists were 2015 fellow from South Africa Barateng Miya, 2014 fellow from Nigeria Binta Moustapha and 2014 fellow from Kenya Sylvia Mukasa. Mentor Janice Campbell moderated “The Path to Entrepreneurship for Women in Africa” in which 2019 fellow from Kenya Chepkemoi Magdaline, 2017 fellow from Cameroon Mpara Faith Muwar and 2013 fellow from Kenya Josephine Ndambuki discussed their own trajectories and successes in entrepreneurship. And finally, mentor Melissa Biggs and 2012 fellow from Algeria Ouafa Benterki collaborated on the session “Out of Africa: The North Africa Translation and Technology Hub Reveled,” which highlighted, “opportunities for enterprises and localizers to engage with a vibrant North African hub that provides both technologies as well as cultural and language support services that reach far beyond the North Africa region.”

Report Date...: 5/23/2022

Fellow wins twice at East Africa Com Awards

Fellow(s): Chao Mbogho

Country: Kenya

Cohort: 2017

Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement

Dr. Chao Mbogho, 2017 fellow of Kenya, recently received the top individual honor awarded at the 2022 East Africa Com Awards, part of Africa Tech Festival. Chao was named Inspiring Leader of the Year for her accomplishments as “a Founder, Mentor, Innovator, Educator and one of the few Kenyan women with a PhD in Computer Science.” East Africa Com praised her achievements by saying “Her prowess in all these areas has made her one of the most inspiring role models of our generation.”
Chao is also founder and CEO of KamiLimu, which itself was also honored at East Africa Com with the 2022 Changing Lives Award. East Africa Com describes why KamiLimu was selected by saying: “Up to 80% of Kenyan tertiary-level students do not receive mentorship outside the classroom, which leads to insufficient expertise in 21st-century skills. KamiLimu, an award-winning non-profit organization, addresses this. Their mission is to bridge the skills gap between classroom learning and global competitiveness for tertiary-level tech students in Kenya.”

Report Date...: 5/16/2022

Mentor(s): Paria Rajai

Company: ModelExpand

Mentor Type: Impact

Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth

Mentor Paria Rajai served as a keynote at the Virgin Pulse Thrive Summit and served on a panel, “The Wellbeing Case for DEI” alongside executives from Virgin Pulse, Headspace and Moody’s. The group discussed diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and strategies for their achievement with an audience drawn from leaders and executives in the human resources and benefits industries.
Paria, founder and CEO of ModelExpand, shared her experience as a changemaker in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion industry with hundreds of live and virtual attendees and highlighted actionable ways in which companies can not only recruit top talent from diverse backgrounds, but also boost retention and advancement for all employees.

Report Date...: 5/16/2022

Fellow initiatives named BOOST Women Innovators by UNDP

Fellow(s): Elena Chigibaeva, Elena Selezneva and Saida Yusupova

Country: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan

Cohort: 2016, 2018

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

Social impact accelerator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiative BOOST recently announced its list of champions selected for participation in the Women Innovators program. Among those selected are two initiatives led by TechWomen fellows: Weincrypto DAO, co-founded by Kyrgyz fellow Elena Chigibaeva (2018), and Tech4Impact, founded by 2016 Uzbek fellows Elena Selezneva and Saida Yusupova. BOOST: Women Innovators will support Tech4Impact and Weincrypto DAO in their work to bridge the gender digital divide alongside 42 other women-led organizations in Europe and Central Asia that work in the realms of data, digital access, digital economy & STEM and tech innovation among women and girls.

Weincrypto is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) founded in 2022. It is dedicated to fostering a crypto community for women, NFT collections, online training modules and support for Web 3.0 startups, stating their mission is “to help women as newbies in crypto to explore and unleash the potential of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies for financial growth and freedom.” Tech4Impact is an NGO founded in 2019 “to join efforts and carry on the activities in the field of development of innovations, information technologies, startups, human capital, green technologies, youth and women’s entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region.”

Report Date...: 5/16/2022

Fellow co‐organizes diversity dinner at blockchain conference

Fellow(s): Eman Herawy

Country: Egypt

Cohort: 2022

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

2022 fellow Eman Herawy, the founder of Arabs in Blockchain, co‐organized a diversity dinner for women and BIPOC Web3 Builders, NFT artists, investors, supporters and allies at last month’s Bitcoin 2022 conference in Miami. A self‐described “blockchain geek,” Eman founded Arabs in Blockchain to strengthen
the Arab blockchain community by connecting international experts, increasing Arabic content and supporting entrepreneurs who are building blockchain solutions. She is also a Devcon Scholar alumni at the Ethereum Foundation, and co‐founded Arab Blockchain Week, a community event meant to educate
individuals and businesses passionate about blockchain technology. The event was hosted by BLK@, an initiative that addresses equity in Web3. The dinner featured partner presentations, elevator pitching and networking opportunities. “The best moment was when people start asking me about the Arab community in blockchain,” said Eman. “We started to form potential opportunities that the Arab community can leverage, like how they can support the second version of Arab Blockchain Week.”

Report Date...: 5/9/2022

Fellow launches Girls in STEM Mentorship with alumnae support

Fellow(s): Ines Umuhoza, Emma Marie Ndoringoma, Solange Tuyisenge, Marie Claire Murekatete, Christa Uwamahoro, Nadine Uwizeyimana and Felicie Nyinawabali

Country: Rwanda

Cohort: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022

Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement

Fellow launches Girls in STEM Mentorship with alumnae support

Before the start of TechWomen 2022, fellow Ines Umuhoza set a goal to leverage her TechWomen mentorship to inspire and mentor young girls in Rwanda. During the program, Ines collaborated with her mentor, Tawish Naqvi of Microsoft, to build out Girls in STEM Mentorship, a project she created of before TechWomen. Shortly after she returned from the U.S., Ines held her first session for 120 girls from Maranyundo Girls School, hosting them for an introductory session about mentorship and how they can benefit from the six‐month Girls in STEM Mentorship project. Ines is the director of programs for Girls in ICT Rwanda/Rwanda Women in Tech, an initiative whose mission is to inspire women and girls to pursue STEM careers. Rwandan fellows Emma Marie Ndoringoma (2013), Solange Tuyisenge (2015), Marie Claire Murekatete (2014),Christa Uwamahoro(2018), Nadine Uwizeyimana (2022) and Felicie Nyinawabali (2022) have joined the mentorship program, serving as advisors and co‐organizers; the program will also receive support from Girls in ICT Rwanda. Solange and Ines are collaborating to create career fair sessions, invite guest speakers and deliver training on soft skills and career guidance. At the Maranyundo Girls School introductory session, the girls were encouraged to ask questions about STEM careers and learn about their choices within STEM fields. “We designed this program to create awareness of different STEM careers by conducting STEM Career Fair days with different women in STEM professions to inspire the girls,” said Ines. “Not only are we inspiring more girls to be part of the women in STEM movement, but we are also going to be providing career guidance, self‐confidence and other soft skills needed to succeed in their future.”

Report Date...: 5/9/2022

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