2024 WE Empower Finalists and Awardee Booklet

The 2024 WE Empower Finalists and Awardees Booklet highlights the innovative work of this year’s women entrepreneurs and their commitment to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Lachmi (Lach) Baniya, an impact-driven media entrepreneur, began her journey in 2013 at the age of 21, driven by vision and determination. Growing up under Myanmar’s censored public education system, she understood the limitations it placed on critical thinking and the transformative power that access to information could have in shaping lives.

Tatiana Estevez is an entrepreneur dedicated to combating the climate crisis through an innovative water solution. Her journey was sparked by a profound realization during a backpacking trip in California, where she witnessed the devastating impacts of drought firsthand. Shocked by the economic and human toll, she envisioned a novel solution to address water scarcity, marking the inception of Permalution. As Founder and CEO, she now spearheads a company focused on cloud and fog water collection technology, providing solutions for both water access and climate adaptation. 

Growing up with parents who were Christian missionaries, Lina Maria Useche Kempf understood from an early age the significance of living with a sense of purpose. This principle has led to her becoming Co-Founder and Head of Institutional Relations at Aliança Empreendedor in Brazil. Kempf has made significant contributions to the entrepreneurial landscape by empowering, training, and connecting low-income micro-entrepreneurs to help them succeed.

Leigh Cassidy’s journey into the world of science and entrepreneurship began unexpectedly. At 24, as a single parent, she embarked on undergraduate studies, driven by perseverance and dedication. This decision led to the invention of DRAM technology during her PhD in Environmental Toxicology at the University of Aberdeen. In 2018, Cassidy sold her intellectual property to SEM, where she served as the lead scientist, honing her skills and opening doors to impactful ventures. The pivotal moment came in 2022 when she won the Conservation X Amazon Challenge. This achievement sparked a profound commitment to empowering women in the Amazon through sustainable technologies, leading to the founding of Nibeenabe Ltd.

Barbara Buades, co-founder and CEO of Meetoptics, embodies the spirit of innovation and leadership. With an unwavering passion for science and a profound understanding of optics and photonics, Buades has navigated Meetoptics to become a pivotal player in making photonics more accessible worldwide.

Inna Braverman founded Eco Wave Power (EWP), a company dedicated to harnessing the power of ocean and sea waves to generate green electricity. Under her leadership as CEO, EWP developed a patented, cost-efficient technology that transforms marine wave energy into sustainable electricity. The company achieved significant milestones, including the installation of its first grid-connected wave energy array, securing a project pipeline of 404.7 MW, and listing on Nasdaq US under the symbol “WAVE.”

As the Founder & Director of Wasel for Awareness & Education and the Mehnaty Portal, Lynn Malkawi has dedicated her life to dismantling barriers and fostering sustainable change through innovative educational and community programs. Established in 2018, Wasel for Awareness and Education is a Jordanian social enterprise committed to advancing social justice by bridging the gap between youth from diverse geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds. Functioning as a think tank, Wasel excels in promoting social change through the application of design thinking methodology – a core element of its programs. By eliminating the hero/victim mentality through various programming, the organization engages youth in collaborative efforts to create meaningful social change.

Esther Kimani, Founder and CEO of Farmer Lifeline, has channeled her connection to agriculture into a mission to revolutionize farming for marginalized communities. Raised in a farming community on the slopes of the Aberdare mountains, Kimani witnessed the adversities farmers face due to pests, diseases, and climate change. This exposure ignited a passion within her to bring meaningful change to these communities.

Through her work, Daniela Ancira creates awareness for the systemic lack of support for incarcerated women, often trapping them in cycles of crime and violence driven by desperation. Inspired to advocate for systemic change, Ancira leveraged her legal expertise and connections to create pathways for societal reintegration for marginalized individuals. She co-founded La Cana, a hybrid organization combining a civil association and social enterprise, dedicated to training and employing incarcerated women and developing reintegration programs within prisons.

As the Chief Medical Officer of Bioniks, Dr. Ayesha Zulfiqar spearheads a social enterprise that revolutionizes healthcare through AI-powered, affordable, and highly functional customizable bionic limbs. Bioniks is dedicated to enhancing mobility, physical independence, and the overall quality of life for individuals with limb differences, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.

Blandine Umuziranenge is the founder & CEO of Kosmotive, a social enterprise established in 2014 with the mission of improving reproductive, maternal, and child health in Rwanda and across Africa. Her personal mission, inspired by her own experiences, is to pave the way for menstrual freedom for girls and women throughout the continent.