Impact Stories from Professional Growth Policy Area
Mentors inspire young students to pursue their STEM passions
Fellow(s): TechWomen delegation trip to Uzbekistan
Country: Uzbekistan
Cohort: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth, Special Report, Youth Engagement
On day five, delegates visited students at three local secondary schools, introducing them to STEM fields and fostering their interest in entrepreneurship, robotics and more through interactive dialogue and exploratory exercises. Throughout the day, students learned about new industries and were challenged to think about how can they turn their passions into sustainable careers.
At School #31, mentor Elaina Tia led students in an exercise called “My Three Alternative Lives,” which prompted girls to think about their current career aspirations, their “plan B” and the careers they would unabashedly pursue if given the chance. Initially pursuing a career in finance, Elaina shared that she chose to follow her passion for design, ultimately becoming a UX designer at LinkedIn. She encouraged the girls to follow their curiosity, reminding them that they have the ability to choose their own path despite any challenges they may face.
The activities ended with a Q&A session, during which one student asked mentors about the biggest risk they had taken in their career. Mentor Maile Smith said that she takes a series of risks every day, insisting that she is heard, respected and valued: “I take a seat at the table even if I’m not offered a seat at the table,” she said.
Report Date...: 3/25/19
Delegates share their professional journeys at STEM Career Day
Fellow(s): TechWomen delegation trip to Uzbekistan
Country: Uzbekistan
Cohort: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth, Special Report, Youth Engagement
On day four, delegates connected with secondary school students for STEM Career Day hosted at Westminster International University in Tashkent and organized by doITwomen, a tech education program for women started by TechWomen fellows in Uzbekistan. The day offered a chance for students to learn about diverse careers in STEM fields, focusing on the future of STEM careers and opportunities that the students, especially girls, may not have previously considered pursuing.
In her afternoon keynote, mentor Rebecca Biswas of Juniper Network’s spoke about her career as an engineer, stressing the importance of empowering women in the field: “We know that girls belong in STEM just as much as boys,” she said. Once the only female engineering student at her university, Rebecca emphasized that today, the STEM ecosystem is becoming more inclusive and mindful of bringing diverse voices to the table.
The panel that followed gave students candid insight into mentors’ career journeys, showing them that finding your passion is not always a linear path. In one exercise, mentor Eileen Brewer asked panelists their career aspirations when they were 18 versus when they were 30, showing students that successful careers require flexibility and exploration. In the breakout sessions that followed, 2015 fellow of Lebanon Ghana Bteich reiterated that career changes should not just be expected, but also embraced. In her group, mentor Patricia Bovan Campbell of Salesforce explained that she has always looked at new jobs as very exciting opportunities: “They give you a chance to reinvent yourself,” she explained.
In many groups, students were concerned about balancing professional and personal aspirations. Addressing her group, mentor Shachi Patel, who owns her own professional coaching business, assured students that they still had time to find their passions, stressing that professional goals often require hard work, long hours and sacrifice: “If you want to be the best at something, it is going to take some time – but it’s possible.”
Report Date...: 3/25/19
Delegation kicks off Women in Tech and Science Week
Fellow(s): TechWomen delegation trip to Uzbekistan
Country: Uzbekistan
Cohort: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth, Special Report, Youth Engagement
On day three of the delegation trip, delegates helped kick off Central Asia Women in Tech and Science Week, a week-long event organized by TechWomen fellows and hosted in partnership with Inha University. The event, attended by students, STEM professionals and government officials from across the region, consisted of mentor-led panels, breakout sessions and pitch training for young girls participating in Technovation Uzbekistan.
Throughout the day’s sessions, mentors showed students possibilities in STEM fields, encouraging them to match their talents to one of the many diverse careers that exist in STEM. In interactive hands-on STEM workshops, young children learned fundamentals of robotics, electricity and motherboards, taking turns to control robots, solder hardware and use simple materials to conduct electricity.
Later in the day, mentors and fellows joined nearly 20 Technovation Uzbekistan teams for a session on pitching. Mentors Eileen Brewer of Symantec and Erin Keeley of Western Digital led the group, supporting the girls to refine their pitches and inviting teams to join them on stage to iterate and gather feedback. The teams’ mobile apps paired real-world issues – for example, plastic pollution, teen pregnancy and bullying – with innovative solutions and free resources. Team CyberKids presented their app called “Timeshare,” a platform that suggests to children and parents activities to encourage interaction and quality time. Another team created a mobile app for young mothers, helping them care for their babies through interactive and educational resources. Addressing the girls at the end of the session, Erin congratulated all participants on challenging themselves to create apps that serve a greater purpose: “Your apps have the potential to make a difference in your communities,” she said.
Report Date...: 3/25/19
Fellow wins global UN competition for women in business
Fellow(s): Saida Yusupova
Country: Uzbekistan
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Growth
This week it was announced that 2016 fellow of Uzbekistan Saida Yusupova was a winner of SDGs & Her, a competition for women entrepreneurs working to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their business operations. The contest, sponsored by UNDP, UN Women, the World Bank Group and the Wharton School’s Zicklin Center, seeks out microenterprise owners who are increasing knowledge about the 17 SDGs addressing themes such as gender equality, clean energy and economic growth.
Saida, one of two winners out of over 1,200 applications, is a sustainable development specialist and founder of Green Business Innovation, a consultancy company established shortly after her TechWomen experience. Specializing in green and clean energy, the company focuses on curbing carbon emmissions and advancing green technologies with a mission to accelerate sustainable economies worldwide.
Saida is a co-organizer of the second annual Women in Science and Tech Week, which coincides with TechWomen’s 2019 delegation trip to Uzbekistan. TechWomen delegates will gather with STEM professionals from throughout the country, joining the Women in Science and Tech Week’s official kickoff event as well as sessions for entrepreneurs and students throughout the week.
Report Date...: 3/18/19
Fellow named a finalist for Technology Playmaker Awards
Fellow(s): Maha Ech-Chefaa
Country: Morocco
Cohort: 2016
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
2016 fellow of Morocco Maha Ech-Chefaa was recently selected as a finalist in the Community Impact category at Booking.com’s 2019 Technology Playmaker Awards. The ceremony, held this week in London, celebrates women who have transformed communities and industries through the use of technology. Maha is the country leader for Enactus Morocco, an international NGO that works with businesses and higher education to aid students in their development as entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities.
At the event, Maha was able to network with women in the global technology scene, sharing their expertise and celebrating a diverse group of leaders changing the landscape of technology. Before TechWomen, Maha co-founded the Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship. She currently manages Rabat’s local Google Business Group.
Report Date...: 3/18/19
Fellow speaks on housing innovation panel in Nairobi
Fellow(s): Peninah Mutonga
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Professional Growth
2018 fellow of Kenya Peninah Mutonga recently participated in a panel discussion addressing leading innovations in Kenya’s housing sector. The event was hosted by the ShelterTech Accelerator program, a partner of Habitat for Humanity International.
Peninah, an architect and co-founder of archiDATUM, is currently collaborating with Orkidstudio, a company that constructs high-quality and affordable buildings. Together they are working to identify, nurture and accelerate startups and early-stage companies bringing affordable shelter solutions to Kenya. On the panel, Peninah spoke about the benefits of strategic collaboration between startups and longstanding industry players, as well as the social impact of collective innovation around affordable housing.
Report Date...: 3/18/19
Fellow featured as a speaker at women in tech event
Fellow(s): Zhama Ryskulova
Country: Kazakhstan
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
This week, 2018 fellow of Kazakhstan Zhama Ryskulova was a featured speaker at an event hosted by Women TechMakers Kazakhstan, an initiative that brings together women tech professionals throughout the region. Organized by Google Developer Groups throughout Central Asia, the day’s sessions streamed globally, bringing STEM professionals together for workshops and sessions on cloud computing, marketing, tech interviewing and more.
Zhama, hosted by LinkedIn during TechWomen 2018, is currently a hackerspace coordinator and Python/Android developer at Tech Garden, an innovation cluster that provides guidance and support to startups in Central Asia. Her event session, “Digital Nomad Lifestyle,” was attended virtually by tech professionals throughout the region. She spoke about how to best leverage tech skills to find remote work, pursue remote internships and seek out other digital nomad teams for collaboration opportunities. She also shared specific job opportunities for digital nomads and information about programming competitions worldwide. This month, Zhama will travel to Uzbekistan as part of TechWomen’s delegation trip, taking part in activities encouraging women and girls to pursue STEM fields.
Report Date...: 3/11/19
Fellow takes third place in Queen Rania’s education awards
Fellow(s): Hanan Khader
Country: Jordan
Cohort: 2013
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
This week, 2013 fellow of Jordan Hanan Khader was invited to meet Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan after placing third in the Queen’s Award for Education Entrepreneruship competition. With a goal of improving education for children in the Arab World, the competition recognizes businesses that combine social impact with a sustainable and innovative business model. Hanan is the CEO of Hello World Kids, Jordan’s first educational organization that teaches computer programming to children between the ages of 6 and 12.
Hanan was awarded a $40,000 grant from the competition and, during her meeting with Queen Rania, was recognized for her work investing in low-resource environments and bridging the gap between technology and education.
Report Date...: 3/11/19
Fellow named to Forbes Middle East 30 under 30
Fellow(s): Ameni Mansouri
Country: Tunisia
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
2018 fellow of Tunisia Ameni Mansouri has been named one of Forbes Middle East’s 30 under 30 2019. The list recognizes the region’s youth who are advancing the fields of science, business, arts, culture and sports and have left a mark on the economy of their region. Amani was recognized as the co-founder and CEO of Dabchy, a leading web-based fashion marketplace used by nearly 300,000 people throughout Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. Currently, the company sees a 30% increase in transactions each month.
Last year, Dabchy was selected as a Top 100 African Startup at the Africa 2018 Forum. More recently, Dabchy was selected to take part in a one-year program with Europe’s first fashion tech incubator based in Paris.
Report Date...: 3/11/19
TechWomen community comes together at Daraja Academy
Fellow(s): Sharon Telewa, Maureen Macharia, Helen Mburu, Vanny Nicole Kayirangwa and Samantha Raniere (mentor)
Country: Kenya
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This week, TechWomen fellows visited Daraja Academy, a secondary school outside of Nanyuki, Kenya, for a day of mentorship with female students. The program was organized by Samantha Raniere, President of Bay Area-based Raniere Consulting and contributor to TechWomen’s Leadership Workshop during the U.S. program. Samantha, an expert in the CliftonStrengths StrengthsFinder assessment, helps Emerging Leaders to better understand their strengths in order to maximize individual and group success.
Samantha began working as an executive coach with Daraja founders three years ago, collaborating with academy administration, teachers and girls transitioning out of high school. This year, they organized a full day of mentorship activities, inviting all graduates from Daraja back to campus. Samantha reconnected with three TechWomen fellows of Kenya – 2018 fellows Maureen Macharia, Sharon Telewa and Helen Mburu – and 2018 fellow of Rwanda Vanny Nicole Kayirangwa. All four fellows traveled to Daraja for the mentorship day, joining 75 Daraja graduates who had returned to campus for the event. The fellows participated in panel discussions on leadership and how to excel against the odds, followed by group mentoring sessions and empowerment workshops. “The connections made were numerous,” says Samantha. “Sharon has offered to volunteer at Daraja, and others have already scheduled time with the head of school to discuss how they can partner together.”
Report Date...: 3/4/19
