17 Women from the 2018 World Economic Forum 100 Young Leaders
HALF of the World Economic Forum 100 Young Leaders of 2018 are women! Many are from emerging economies. We’d like to introduce you to a few of the inspiring women who earned this notable recognition.
Women from every corner of the world are finding innovative ways to fill the gaps they see in their marketplaces. Leaders like these women create opportunities or themselves and others, instead of waiting for someone to tell them what they can or should do. Many paths lead to success. These women have been recognized as problem solvers, innovators, social entrepreneurs, programmers, media tycoons, real estate brokers, venture capitalists and medical doctors. Each of their careers is as unique as the women who own them. Your journey is just as important. Your story is just as powerful.
Get inspired by these 17 World Economic Forum 100 Young Leaders of 2018:
Elaine Kim
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trehaus, Singapore
Recognizing the challenges in balancing being a present parent and successful entrepreneur, Elaine Kim co-founded Trehause – a workspace equipped with childcare needs, including an early education program, that allows working parents the freedom to pursue a meaningful career while being present for every milestone. Elaine Kim, or Dr. Kim as her colleagues would address her, is a medical doctor who specializes is hospice care. Kim also co-founded a luxury bridal boutique, Trinity Gallery and Trinity Bridal, and works with other female entrepreneurs who are working mothers through her Singapore-based social enterprise CRIB.
Vivy Yusof
Founder, dUCK, Malaysia
A Young Enterpreneur Award recipeint by the Queen of Malaysia, Vivy Yusof, is a fashion entrepreneur and advocate for women empowerment. Yusof wanted to show women that wearing scarves should be celebrated, whether a woman is Muslim or not.
Ipek Ilicak Kayaalp
Chairperson, Rönesans Holding, Turkey
She heads a group of companies specialized in construction, real estate investment, energy, health and education. She is Founder and Board Member of Ronesans Education Foundation, Executive Board Member in Creative Children’s Association, Member of SAHA Association supporting Turkish contemporary art, and Sponsor of the KANÇODER Society for Supporting Children with Cancer.
Miroslava Duma
Co-Founder and Chief executive Offier, Future Tech Lab, Russian Federation
An entrepreneur who is commercialising new technologies and sustainable innovation for the fashion industry. Her influence spans the apparel industry and beyond including founding an investment company, experimental fashion tech lab, lifestyle digital platform, and a women and children’s online store.
Carol Yu
Producer and Host, Phoenix TV, Hong Kong SAR
She is the host of “Visionaries” which airs on prime time television, reaching over 400 million viewers in Asia alone. She is also a broadcast journalist, columnist, television host, and media executive.
Li Jia
Head of R&D at Google Cloud AI, Google, People’s Republic of China
The former Head of Research at Snapchat and lead innovation scientist at the Visual Computing and Learning Group at Yahoo! Labs. She now heads the Google AI China Center and is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Medicine of Stanford University.
Mi Wenjuan 
Founder and Cheif Executive Officer, VIPKID, People’s Republic of China
She is one of China’s foremost experts of child education, with specialization in real-time online English language instruction. Her education platform reaches over 300,000 students and with a network of 40,000 teachers in the US and Canada. She is also the first entrepreneur to receive global investment in education from Kobe Bryant.
Wang Wen
Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), People’s Republic of China
Wang’s work aims to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications. Her goal is to enable easy access to technology. Currently, her work is influencing a new product application in cancer therapy, molecular medicine and creating sustainable biofuels from waste.
Yang Huiyan
Chairwoman, Country Garden Holdings, People’s Republic of China
Yan Huiyan is majority shareholder of Country Garden, China’s largest property developer by sales. She is currently the richest woman in China, a title she earned when she was just 25. Yang also chairs Bright Scholar Education Holdings, which is the largest operator of international and bilingual K-12 schools in China. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2007.
Lu Zhang
Founder and Managing Partner, Fusion Fund, People’s Republic of China
Lu Zhang is one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30, and a world renowned venture capitalist and tech investor. As Founder of Fusion Fund, Zhang is focused on early stage healthcare and technology, making investments in innovative technologies. One of her most noteworthy accomplishments is the medical device company she founded that focused on non-invasive technology for early diagnosis of Type II Diabetes.
Sarah Al Suhaimi
Chief Executive Officer, NCB Capital, Saudi Arabia
Sarah Al Suhaimi is the CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of NCB Capital, the investment arm of the National Commercial Bank, the largest bank is Suadi Arabia. She is also the first Saudi woman to chair the Saudi Arabian stock exchange, the largest stock market in the Middle East.
Bhairavi Jani
Executive Director, SCA Group of Companies, India
Bhairavi Jani is the Chairperson and Founder of IEF Entrepreneurship Foundation and Executive Director of SCA Group of Companies founded in 1896. Bhairavi is a firm believer in entrepreneurial ecosystems that create livelihood opportunities. India Today listed her as one of the 30 most Powerful Women in India.
Kanika Tekriwal
Chief Executive Officer, JetSetGo, India
Highlighted by the Women Economic Forum, Kanika Tekriwal, founded JetSetGo, a customer-centric venture aimed at revolutionizing the private aviation business in the region by re-defining the experience for private charter customers.
Rhea Mazumdar Singhal
Chief Executive Officer, Ecoware Solutions Private Limited, India
Rhea Mazumadar Singhal is the CEO of Ecoware Solutions Private Limited, an eco-friendly food packaging copany with 3 simple aims: to better the health and well-being of consumers; to reduce and remove pollution caused by synthetic disposables; and to produce locally so that their products are easily affordable. She is also engaged in educating young people about environmental awareness, while persuading large distributors to shift away from non-biodegradable packaging materials.
Fatoumata Ba
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Janngo, Senegal
Fatoumata BA is the Founder & CEO of Janngo, the #1 tech for good platform in Africa. Janngo builds, grows and invests in pan-African digital champions with proven business models and inclusive social impact. She is included in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 and is a Choiseul 100 Africa – Leaders of Tomorrow.
Karabo Morule
Managing Director, Personal Finance, Old Mutual Emerging Markets, South Africa
Karabo Morule has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry and currently serves on Old Mutual Emerging Market’s executive committee. She is also a fellow with the Actuarial Society of South Africa and serves on the Roedean Trust.
Natalie Payida Jabangwe
Chief Executive Officer, EcoCash Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Natalie runs the second largest mobile financial service in Africa, managing the operation and financial transactions for six million customers. Jabangwe is a computer engineer, and has over a decade experience in financial technology.
