Throughout the Vital Voices Global Fellowship, we’ve had the privilege of working with 52 exceptional leaders in social entrepreneurship and public leadership. To amplify their impactful work, we’re spotlighting a few of our fellows, sharing their stories, achievements, and reflections.
Keep reading to explore their journeys and the change they are driving in their communities.
Anu Bhardwaj
Anu is the Founder & CEO of SHEQONOMI, the world’s first and only multi-platform, multi-lingual, multi-device podcast listening app built by women targeting the bottom billion. SHEQONOMI has already reached over 350,000 women on low-cost mobile devices across 175 countries in 65 languages who have been traditionally marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented. They are developing podcast listening apps on inclusive, accessible, and affordable technologies to reach half the world’s population who otherwise could not afford expensive data plans or smart phones. They specifically are targeting women and girls where digital connectivity remains a distant luxury. SHEQONOMI is making a positive impact by curating content on women’s health, entrepreneurship, and leadership and rewarding their listeners for their engagement on Android, iOS, KaiOS, and Cloudphone technologies.
Anu’s inspiration for founding SHEONOMI came from her daughter, who donated her college fund to develop the prototype for their WEB3 based podcast listening app. Created at the onset of COVID-19, the app educated women and girls about the global pandemic. In collaboration with her team in India, they built the app on 2G & 3G low-cost mobile devices that generated rewards for listening to their podcast. During this time, Anu applied for numerous COVID Innovation Competitions where SHEQONOMI won close to two million dollars in grants, mentorship and technical support. Reflecting on the inception of her social enterprise Anu shares, “I architected SHEQONOMI for the bottom billion who did not have access to smart phones and expensive data plans during the pandemic, with a focus on inclusive deep tech designed especially for marginalized and underserved women and girls.”
Anu sees being a women leader and entrepreneur as the greatest opportunity to make our world more equitable, mindful and inclusive. Along her journey, she has learned valuable lessons including listening to diverse perspectives, failing fast and making time for strategic planning and unexpected growth and challenges. To other women entrepreneurs, she offers the advice to lean on grace under pressure, embrace your why and what you stand for as you build and grow, select advisors who have complementary skill sets across different geographies, and make sure to thank everyone critical to your success- embracing kindness, creativity, and empathy.
Looking ahead, Anu is prioritizing collaboration, strategic partnerships, financing and measuring SHEQONOMI’s success to ensure their transformational technology scales and reaches the women and girls it’s designed for. “Vital Voices has helped us figure out how to manage our growth given all of our activity over the past year with outstanding mentors and peers who are facing similar challenges.”
Reflecting further on her time in the Vital Voices Global Fellowship, Anu shares, “Vital Voices has supported me with excellent faculty, curriculum, and peers throughout this fellowship who I continue to learn and grow with since we all started our journey together several months ago. I am learning so much by being surrounded by these brilliant, tenacious, and resourceful women through both shared challenges and opportunities.”
Learn more about Anu’s social enterprise here.
And connect with Anu on social media:
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Jovia Kisaakye
Jovia is the Founder and Executive Director of Bulamu Bridge AI, a health technology social enterprise dedicated to improving access to maternal and reproductive healthcare in underserved communities. Their mission is to bridge healthcare gaps using innovative AI solutions, including the My FemiHub app and WhatsApp chatbots, which provide personalized health information, pregnancy tracking and transalation of medical prescriptions in underrepresented local languages like Luganda and Swahili. Their work empowers women and teenagers with the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions about their health, fostering healthier and more equitable communities.
The inspiration for Bulamu Bridge AI stemmed from a deeply personal experience for Jovia with her younger sister, who was 13 years old when schools were closed due to COVID-19 lockdowns. During this period, her sister discovered she was pregnant—a heartbreaking revelation, later surfaced, given the challenges young girls face in accessing antenatal care due to stigma and fear associated with early pregnancies. During this time, travel restrictions made it nearly impossible to seek medical support, and despite their best efforts, her sister tragically miscarried at six months. Her story was not unique; Jovia later learned that 90% of her classmates were experiencing similar struggles. This painful reality opened her eyes to the urgent need for accessible, youth-friendly reproductive healthcare. With support from partners like UNFPA Uganda, Bulamu Bridge AI has provided youth-friendly sexual and reproductive healthcare services to over 20,000 teenage girls in and out-of-school, empowering them with knowledge and resources to make informed health decisions. They’ve supported more than 2,700 women and mothers with safe antenatal and postnatal care, distributing hundreds of maternal kits to improve hygiene and reduce risk during childbirth.
Jovia’s long-term plan is to scale Bulamu Bridge AI across Sub-Saharan Africa, reaching millions with accessible maternal and reproductive healthcare. The company also aims to scale its translation services to integrate more underrepresented African languages into their AI platform and expand partnerships with governments, NGOs and healthcare providers to strengthen healthcare systems. By addressing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), they plan to reduce maternal mortality, empower women, and improve health outcomes in underserved communities.
To Jovia, being a woman leader and entrepreneur means breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and inspiring others to do the same. As a leader, she has learned the importance of resilience, adaptability, and collaboration. Building Bulamu Bridge AI has taught her that impactful innovation comes from listening to the needs of the people they serve and co-creating solutions with them.
Jovia describes joining the Vital Voices Global Fellowship as a “life-changing decision”. As the program draws to a close, she shares “one of the most profound lessons she has learned is that leadership isn’t just about driving change—it’s about empowering others to be part of the solution. As I return to my community, I see so many opportunities to apply what I’ve learned. The fellowship equipped me with tools to strengthen Bulamu Bridge AI’s reach, refine our strategies, and build meaningful partnerships. But more importantly, it reminded me that the greatest impact comes from collaboration. The fellowship gave me the courage to dream bigger—and now, it’s time to act.”
Learn more about Jovia’s social enterprise here.
And connect with Jovia on social media:
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Martyna Zastawna
Ten years ago, Martyna founded the first circular startup in Europe, woshwosh, a shoe renewal company based in Poland with a global impact. Since its founding, woshwosh has given a second life to more than a half a million pairs of shoes, set up 11,000 pick-up points for shoes and reduced the carbon footprint by seven million tons. When Martyna was starting the company, the concept of zero waste was virtually unknown. Not only did Martyna make it widely recognized, but she also successfully integrated it into the strategies of other companies and brought it into the media spotlight.
In February 2025, Martyna is stepping down from the company, setting her sights on growing in the sustainability field on an international level. Her goal is to inspire and empower communities beyond borders, working on initiatives that address systemic challenges while promoting sustainable practices. By collaborating with international organizations and leaders, Martyna aims to create scalable solutions that benefit both people and the planet.
Currently, she works as a climate expert at the European Investment Bank and is the founder of Leadership for Sustainable Future, a foundation that educates leaders in the field of sustainability. She collaborates with EU institutions and international organizations, providing advisory services around sustainability.
To Martyna, being a woman leader and entrepreneur means embracing the unique opportunity to challenge stereotypes, inspire others and create meaningful change. It’s about demonstrating resilience, empathy, and strength, while using her platform to empower others—particularly women—to realize their potential and pursue their dreams.
During her time as a Vital Voices Global Fellowship Fellow, she has learned to embrace her unique leadership style and has been challenged to think beyond local impact, pushing her to consider how she can create change on an international scale.
“It has provided me with a powerful platform to refine my vision, expand my skills, and connect with a global network of inspiring leaders. Vital Voices has not only reinforced the importance of leading with purpose but has also equipped me with the tools to implement sustainable solutions and amplify my influence in ways I never imagined possible. It’s been a transformative experience, shaping me into a more resilient, innovative, and impactful leader.”
Connect with Martyna on social media:
Karissa Fetalvero-Paronia
Karissa is a visionary leader currently serving her third and final term as the first female Mayor of Sison. Under her leadership, the Local Government Unit of Sison is dedicated to preserving and enriching the community’s culture, promoting health and safety, ensuring ecological balance and supporting the development of scientific and technological capabilities. Her administration is focused on fostering economic prosperity, social justice, peace and order and the well-being of all residents.
Karissa’s leadership journey has been marked by a series of remarkable achievements. She has been recognized as a recipient and scholar in several prestigious leadership programs, including as a fellow of Young Leaders for Good Governance (YLGG), Leaders of Excellence and Public Service (LEAP), Mayors for Good Governance, and Angat Bayi Inc. She also completed a Special Capacity Training on Smart City Planning in South Korea and recently graduated from the Development Academy of The Philippines as a government scholar under the Public Management Development Program – Local Government Executives and Managers Class.
Driven by her passion for empowering youth and women, Mayor Karissa is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of her constituents. Through her vision and commitment, she has become a catalyst for change, encouraging the people of Sison to dream bigger and work harder for a brighter, more prosperous future. Under her unwavering leadership, Sison continues to reach new heights of success, as she works to sustain and build upon efforts for peace and development, forging stronger linkages that will elevate the socio-economic well-being of the community.
In reflecting on her time in the Vital Voices Global Fellowship, Karissa shared how the program enabled her to connect with women leaders from around the world, particularly those from similar regions. The fellowship equipped her with essential skills and strengthened her global network, while also boosting her self-esteem.
Karissa expressed, “I am interested to know other women leaders, to be inspired by their unique but same stories and challenges and establish linkages with one another,” and that’s exactly what she is most grateful for from the fellowship. She is now eager to share and apply the concepts, knowledge, and insights she learned within her organization and community to continue making a positive impact.
As Karissa reflects on her leadership journey, she believes in the unique qualities of women leaders:
“Women lead differently, uniquely and by example. As a woman leader, knowing oneself is the greatest weapon I could ever have. We worked hard and vigorously, taking risks for universal, collective rewards. We serve with a heart, with a purpose and with deep authenticity. We build bridges across ages and cultures. Women leaders have better ways of doing things.”
Learn more about Karissa’s work here.
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Mukamana Claudette
Mukamana Claudette has a rich background in public service, having served as Vice Mayor for Social Affairs in Local Government in Rwanda for six years. In this role, she was responsible for the Social Protection, Education, and Health Units, playing a crucial role in advancing women’s development and representing their voices in various stakeholder discussions. Additionally, she took on the responsibility of addressing gender-based violence and working to resolve family conflicts. Currently, Claudette serves as the Chairperson of the Rwanda Patriotic Front at the cell level, where she advocates for women, youth, and other stakeholders, amplifying their voices in community affairs. She is also the Deputy Manager at Needy Voice Foundation Organization. In 2022, she participated in a leadership empowerment workshop in Sweden, where she developed a project focused on training and advocating for women to start small businesses, helping them access capital. This initiative has already benefited over 500 women, making a significant impact on their lives and livelihoods.
Mukamana’s inspiration stems from her commitment to empowering women and addressing poverty in the Nyamasheke District of Rwanda. She’s making a positive impact by offering vocational training, financial literacy, and micro-loans to help women start businesses. By partnering with local markets and cooperatives, she’s creating opportunities for women to sell their products. Additionally, Mukamana is establishing mentorship and support groups, helping women build resilience, share experiences, and grow their businesses. Mukamana remains dedicated to expanding her work and ensuring long-term impact through a comprehensive sustainability plan where participants will form savings groups to fund future business activities, while successful graduates will mentor new participants to foster a cycle of empowerment. She acknowledges the role of the Vital Voices Global Fellowship in empowering her through training, and she aims to expand her efforts by securing capital to further enhance her program’s reach and sustainability.
To Mukamana, being a woman leader has revealed the strength in navigating the powerful intersection of motherhood, womanhood, and leadership. She recognizes the profound and transformative role women play in shaping society, and her ability to balance these “triple roles” strengthens her confidence and resilience. Reflecting on her journey, Mukamana is deeply grateful for the Vital Voices Global Fellowship, which has not only boosted her confidence but also equipped her with essential tools to lead her own organization, mobilize resources and leverage media for greater visibility. Mukamana’s leadership is a testament to the power of women’s voices, and she is determined to continue breaking barriers, driving change and inspiring future generations of women leaders.
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