November 1, 2020
SAN FRANCISCO, November 1, 2020 — TechWomen, a program that empowers emerging women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to create positive impact in their fields and their communities, welcomes 108 emerging women leaders from 21 countries to their 2020-2021 virtual fall program. As more women break barriers in STEM fields across the globe, leadership and development programs can provide them with the opportunity to reach their full potential and inspire others to follow their example. Launched in 2011 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), TechWomen is managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Through a reimagined virtual program, 2020-2021 TechWomen Emerging Leaders will immerse themselves in professional development modules led by U.S-based women mentors, create community-based action plans alongside Impact Coaches and in-country TechWomen alumnae and subsequently advance new innovations in their home countries.
- Beginning in October, Emerging Leaders explored content foundational to the action planning process, engaging with topics such as women in leadership, design thinking and impact models for change in Professional Interest Groups. The groups, guided by Facilitators – many of whom are returning TechWomen mentors – completed five weeks of modules individually, followed by real-time meetings that created space for reflection and idea exchange related to the content in each module.
- Beginning November 1, TechWomen Impact Coaches will virtually guide Emerging Leader country teams through the action planning process, supporting them in identifying a socioeconomic challenge in their communities and leveraging their skills and networks to develop a solution. New this year, TechWomen alumna from each program country will serve as Peer Advisors, selected to support Impact Coaches in providing in-country, real-time support during the virtual components of the action planning process.
The current cohort of 108 women from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East was drawn from a highly selective pool of more than 3,900 applicants. More than half of this year’s 108 TechWomen Emerging Leaders have an advanced degree, and nearly half have launched an initiative or founded a business. They are leaders in STEM fields, hailing from Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. Profiles of all 108 TechWomen Emerging Leaders are available at https://www.techwomen.org/participants/2020-2021-emerging-leader-profiles
These inspiring women include:
- Damilola Asaleye of Nigeria, the COO and co-founder of Ashdam Solar Company Limited, a renewable energy service company, as well as the founder and executive director of the Girls and Women Technological Empowerment Organisation.
- Deema Ali of Jordan, head of the research department and molecular lab supervisor for the Cell Therapy Center at The University of Jordan.
- Hiba Awaysa of the Palestinian Territories, founder of Sawaed19, a volunteer matching platform and startup, as well as a strategic planning analyst at Paltel.
- Zhanara Koomanova of Kyrgyzstan, lecturer at the Math and Information Technologies Department at Issykkul State University, who focuses on the use of IT in education and modern teaching technologies.
Emerging Leaders are selected to participate in TechWomen based on educational and professional accomplishments, as well as potential and commitment to inspire and support women and girls in STEM. In the spring, IIE will match each Emerging Leader with mentors from San Francisco Bay Area companies based on their background, strengths and goals. With their mentors, Emerging Leaders will work on customized projects to enhance their professional and personal learning.
“I believe that professional exchanges are very important, as they are an opportunity to see the world, to learn from other women and change my ideas. TechWomen is a tremendous opportunity for me and for every woman no matter her age, race, religion, beliefs, and social status around the world to develop our professional experience. I am one of the luckiest women from Tajikistan.”- Manizha Khailobekova, 2020-2021 Emerging Leader of Tajikistan
Contact:
IIE: Molly Fiffer, [email protected]
ECA: [email protected]
