New York, NY, November 20, 2024 — The Institute of International Education (IIE) is proud to announce the inaugural members of its Global Community for Women’s Leadership (GCWL). GCWL is a first-of-its-kind initiative that leverages IIE’s unique position at the forefront of international education and exchange to support the advancement and retention of women in professional leadership positions worldwide.
In light of projections by the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, which forecast that gender parity in the workforce will not be achieved for another 150 years, GCWL represents a critical step towards closing the leadership gap globally. By connecting past participants from more than 200 IIE-administered international exchange programs, the community empowers and equips emerging and established leaders from diverse professional fields, regions, and career stages. This unprecedented global network provides mentorship, resources, and skills development opportunities to help women step into and thrive in positions of leadership worldwide.
The inaugural GCWL cohort reflects the program’s broad reach. Women hailing from all world areas and career phases will receive support to pursue leadership development activities unique to their professional trajectories while participating in networking and community-building activities with the cohort at-large. The inaugural group will serve as resources and supports to future cohorts as the community expands its membership and programmatic offerings. Sixty percent self-identify as established leaders while 40% identify as emerging leaders in their fields. They represent 30 countries of origin and disciplines across the professional spectrum, including:
- Architecture and Urban Design
- Business
- Communications
- Economics
- Education
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Health Tech
- Human Rights
- Journalism
- Law
- International Development
- International Relations
- Public Health
- Public Administration
- Social Work
- Software Engineering
- Visual Arts
Meet the inaugural Global Community for Women’s Leadership Cohort:
| Name | Country of Origin | Previous Exchange Program |
| Aditi Ghosh | India | International Fellowships Program |
| Ana Tuiketei | Fiji | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Ari Jones | USA | Fulbright U.S. Student Program |
| Ayaka Yamashita | Japan | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Bengi Gumrukcu | Türkiye | Scholar Rescue Fund |
| Busayo Durojaiye | Nigeria | TechWomen |
| Camille Bismonte | USA | David L. Boren Scholarship |
| Chiamaka Ukachukwu | USA | Fulbright U.S. Student Program |
| Cierra Powell | USA | David L. Boren Fellowship, Fulbright U.S. Student Program, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship |
| Cortney Sanders | USA | Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship |
| Dimitria Pereira Silveria | Brazil | Cargill Global Scholars |
| Dorothee Danedjo Fouba | Cameroon | TechWomen |
| Ela Arul | India | IFP Alumni Tracking Study |
| Elizabeth Lightfoot | USA | Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program |
| Elja Sharifi | Afghanistan | Artist Protection Fund |
| Elly Carolina Torres Maradiaga | Honduras | Centroamérica Adelante |
| Eman Alhajji | Saudi Arabia | KAUST Gifted Student Program |
| Eris Hanson | USA | Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship |
| Faten Khalfallah Ep Hamouda | Tunisia | TechWomen |
| Flavia Gwiza | Rwanda | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Furough Shakarmamadova | Tajikistan | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Gabriel Winnie Hugot | Haiti | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Hanan Fael | Türkiye | Scholar Rescue Fund |
| Heather Bandeen | USA | Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program |
| Henna Mohammed | UK | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Ivania Esperanza Galeano Barralaga | Honduras | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Jade Fong | USA | Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship |
| Jill Humphries | USA | Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program |
| Keesha St John | Guyana | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Kia Melchor Hall | USA | IIE Centennial Fellowship, Fulbright U.S. Student Program |
| Krizia Lopez | USA | IIE Centennial Fellowship, Fulbright U.S. Student Program |
| Mariyeni Matariro | Zimbabwe | Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program |
| Mneesha Gellman | USA | IIE Centennial Fellowship, Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program |
| Mona Attia | Egypt | Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship |
| Nahima Hoque | USA | David L. Boren Fellowship |
| Nina Raghunath | Singapore | Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program |
| Olena Protsenko | Ukraine | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Sara Sajer | USA | Fulbright U.S. Student Program |
| Sarah Kanee | Saudi Arabia | KAUST Gifted Student Program |
| Shabnam Granzooy | Afghanistan | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Sharmila Seyyid Ahamed | Sri Lanka | Artist Protection Fund |
| Shatha Altowai | Yemen | Artist Protection Fund |
| Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir | Iceland | Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program |
| Tabhata Zavaleta Medrano | Mexico | ExxonMobil Scholarship for Research |
| Tanvi Kumar | India | Cargill Global Scholars Program |
| Victoria Bikowski | Canada | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
| Wen-kuni Ceant | USA | Fulbright U.S. Student Program |
| Wevyn Muganda | Kenya | IIE Visa Sponsorship |
| Winfred Kyobiika Naigaga | Uganda | Hubert Humphrey Fellowship |
| Zehra Farooq | Pakistan | Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
Join the GCWL in closing the gender gap in leadership. Get involved by signing up to be a volunteer, speaker, partner, or supporter. Learn more at www.iie.org/GCWL.