Impact Stories from Professional Growth Policy Area
Fellow offers advice to future TechWomen participants
Fellow(s): Zeina Sadeddin
Country: Palestinian Territories
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Professional Growth
In a blog post written for Medium, 2018 fellow Zeina Sadeddin of the West Bank offered words of wisdom and advice for future TechWomen participants. Through 30 tips, Zeina gave guidance to Emerging Leaders on how to maximize their TechWomen experience, expand their network and become inspired to bring positive change to their communities. “The most important part of the program is your mission after the program,” she said. “You’ll want to maintain focus on creating impact once you return by giving back to your community.” Since the conclusion of TechWomen 2018, Zeina has organized workshops with local schools, teaching students JavaScript Functional Programming.
Zeina’s post coincides with the launch of the 2019 TechWomen program application, which is now open through January 16, 2019. For the upcoming cohort, TechWomen will select 108 women from 21 countries, including Libya, which returns as a program country for the first time since 2014.
Report Date...: 11/19/2018
Fellow wins Young Entrepreneur Award
Fellow(s): Nomso Kana
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2013
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Growth
This month, 2013 fellow of South Africa Nomso Kana was awarded the Young Entrepreneur Award by the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum. The annual conference brings together 1,200 female leaders with a mission to empower, educate and encourage sustainable economic development throughout Africa.
Nomso, selected out of 450 nominees, was recognized for Sun ‘n Shield Technologies, the telecommunications company she founded. Sun ‘n Shield provides fiber optic manufacturing services, bringing internet accessibility to South Africa and the greater African continent. “This award is amazing encouragement,” says Nomso. “It will help us forge forward and continue to put up broadband infrastructure in Southern Africa and Africa, ensuring essential seamless internet access for all Africans.”
Report Date...: 11/19/2018
Fellow leads motivational seminar at university
Fellow(s): Iqra Hameed
Country: Pakistan
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Professional Growth
In collaboration with the National Commission of Interfaith Harmony and Human Rights Pakistan, 2018 fellow Iqra Hameed participated in a motivational seminar at the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore. Iqra spoke about her journey in tech, reflecting on her TechWomen experience and the skills she gained at her host company, Salesforce.
“It was a day to speak about motivation,” Iqra said. “Where there’s hope, there’s a way.” After the seminar, the commission gave Iqra a certificate that recognizes her contributions to the tech community in Pakistan.
Report Date...: 11/19/2018
Fellow recognized as advocate for women in Tunisia
Fellow(s): Amel Ghouila
Country: Tunisia
Cohort: 2014
Policy Area(s): Education Diplomacy/Mentoring, Empowering Women and Girls, Professional Growth, Youth Engagement
This month, 2014 fellow of Tunisia Amel Ghouila was recognized as a leading advocate for women by Orange, one of the world’s largest telecom operators. Their magazine, DigitAll, recognizes entrepreneurs and thinkers behind advances in education, healthcare, energy and more in Africa and the Middle East. After participating in TechWomen, Amel launched the Tunisia chapter of Technovation, the global technology entrepreneurship program for girls, and has been a regional ambassador since. In the magazine, she spoke about her work mentoring the young women: “We already see the difference between the girls when they sign up and start the programme and when they reach the end, full of enthusiasm, energy and self-confidence.” Currently, Amel is a bioinformatician at Institut Pasteur de Tunis.
Read More »Report Date...: 11/12/2018
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
