Women Who Empower Innovator Awards 2024 | Northeastern University | TBA

When we conceived the Women Who Empower Innovator Awards, we were excited about the program’s ability to help us reach some bold objectives. Yes, we wanted to amplify the power of Northeastern’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and, yes, we sought to strengthen investments in women by providing funds, prestige, and networks to propel their efforts. But we also really wanted to honor the innovators themselves rather than simply their innovations.

Now in our third year, the Women Who Empower Innovator Awards are more robust than ever. We look forward to discovering our applicants’ myriad achievements, ventures, and impact.

2023 Winners

Student Award Winners
First Place: Rachel Domb, S’24, New Jersey, U.S., Rooted Living
First Place: Sajni Vederey, DMSB’23, India; Kenya; U.K.; Uganda, Shoerzo
Second Place: Nita Ugbedeojo Akoh, S’23, Canada; Nigeria, My Atlas
Third Place: Chloe Welch, DMSB’23, France, SOAR
Third Place: Hanna Zainab Elzaridi, DMSB’23, Kuwait, SOAR

Honors
• Kristine Aleksandrovica, DMSB’23, SSH’23, Russia
• Debpriya Das, DMSB’23, Bangladesh, Bioland
• Sima Bou Jawde, BHS’27, Lebanon, Enrich Academia
• Alexis Musaelyan-Blackmon, S’25, Khoury’25, Virginia, U.S., Dephend
• Marine Nimblette, S’23, New York, U.S., Businesses United in Diversity (BUD)

Experienced Alumnae Award Winners
First Place: Jessica Pogranyi, DMSB’13, Georgia, U.S.; Mexico City, Mexico, Cara a Cara
Second Place: Melissa Withers, S’02, Rhode Island, U.S., RevUp
Third Place: Johanna Davenport Calica, S’12, Illinois, U.S., LA PORTE Swimwear
Fourth Place: Massiel Eversley, BHS’06, Massachusetts, U.S., Nisus Life

Honors
• Shanae Chapman, CPS’12, Missouri, U.S., Nerdy Diva
• Taja Lester, Mills College, MBA’11, California, U.S., Health Equity Capital
• Ammy Lowney, SSH’05, Massachusetts, U.S., JUICYGREENS
• Helene Servillon, AMD’12, Colorado, U.S., JourneyOne Ventures

Young Undergraduate Alumnae Award Winners
First Place: Madison Rifkin, DMSB’21, Colorado, US; New York, U.S., Mount
Second Place: Dania Alnahdi, Khoury’22, Bahrain, Cora Care
Third Place: Gina-Maria Garcia, DMSB’15, California, U.S., BUYa Beauty
Fourth Place: Lilly Stairs, AMD’15, Massachusetts, U.S., The Chronic Boss Collective

Honors
• Divya Malpani, DMSB’22, India, Skinvest
• Chahhat Lakhwani Melwani, DMSB’18, Chile; London, U.K., Cleyo Beauty

Young Graduate Alumnae Award Winners
First Place: Adebukola Ajao, CPS’21, Massachusetts, U.S., For All Things Digital
Second Place: Caroline Klibanoff, SSH’18, Florida, U.S., Made By Us

Honors
• Laura Kozuszek, CPS’21,’22, Washington, U.S. Island Sustainability Solutions
• Denisse Esther Mayers Paulino, DMSB’17, Massachusetts, U.S., DEMP Agency

Innovators Powering a Better Future

Powering a Sustainable, Resilient World
First Place: Jessica Pogranyi, DMSB’13
Second Place: Kristine Aleksandrovica, DMSB’23, SSH’23
Third Place: Rachel Domb, S’24

Powering Social Impact
First Place: Debpriya Das, DMSB’23
Second Place: Gina-Maria Garcia, DMSB’15
Third Place: Shanae Chapman, CPS’12

Powering Global Change
First Place: Madison Rifkin, DMSB’21
Second Place: Sajni Vederey, DMSB’23
Third Place: Melissa Withers, S’02

Powering Diverse and Inclusive Communities of Belonging
First Place: Alexis Musaelyan-Blackmon, S’25, Khoury’25
Second Place: Marine Nimblette, S’23
Third Place: Taja Lester, Mills College, MBA’11

Powering a Healthy Tomorrow
First Place: Nita Ugbedeojo Akoh, S’23
Second Place: Lilly Stairs, AMD’15
Third Place: Massiel Eversley, BHS’06