Our alumni
The Ashoka Visionary Alumnae*i Network provides alumni with the opportunity to stay connected, to contribute to the program and to deepen their experience in follow-up events and projects. Ultimately, our alumni expand their network within the social entrepreneurship scene and keep finding solutions. Read more at “Our network“. Also, here you can view all Ashoka Fellows (speakers & participants) at one glance.
Meet our 300 visionaries from three continents, in the regions: Central and Eastern Europe, Mediterranean and East Africa. Click on the photos to learn about their stories
All
Alumni
Ashoka Fellows
Ashoka Staff
Central-Eastern Europe Region
East Africa Region
Experts+Speakers
Foundations
Mediterranean Region
NGOs
Participants
Private sector
Public sector
Julia Culen
Managing Partner, Culen Mayrhofer Partner
Nicole Nassar
Project Management SOS Children’s Villages International
Astrid Lendel
Communications and Marketing Expert
Abraham Gossaye
Head of Country Office, Austrian Red Cross in Ethiopia
Andrew Spyrou
Changemaker from Greece, Consultant Costas M. Lemos Foundation
Karanja Nduta
Social entrepreneur in EdTech, Future of Work Strategist & Trainer
Jana Krajcovicova
Private Sector Development Specialist at the World Bank
Alice Emasu
Founder and Executive Director,The Association for Rehabilitation and Reorientation of women for Development-TERREWOD, Ashoka fellow Uganda
Magdalena Lima
Project assistant & communication manager, Ashoka Italy
Gil Tsabari
CEO GTS - Technologies Ltd (Israel)
Abebaw Abebe
Ethiopia Program Manager at African Disability Forum
Jihad Shoja'eyeh
Founder of “Youth without Borders Network”
Monika Hrochova
Program Manager, Educhange Foundation
Alexandra Nitzlader
Senior Project Manager HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank
Angelika Bartholomäi
Director of the coordination office, StartNet Italy
Andrej Fric
Director at Kino Zona, Croatia
Milan Medić
President of LEADER Network Croatia
Carina Linzer
formerly: Communications for Ashoka Austria
Harliet Njenga
Founder, Think Opal
Clarissa Rhomberg
Co-Leader of EU-funded ERASMUS+-project “Society in motion”
Ojok Okello
Founder and CEO of Okere City
Clemens Mulokozi
Ashoka Fellow, Founder & CEO of the NGO NGO Jambo Bukoba
Natalia Peryazeva
Doctor of Social Work and Business Administration
Klára Rundová
Project Managar Česká spořitelna foundation
Emmanuel Tamakloe
Founding President and CEO of Atomic Gateway Sporting Academy
Sebastian Fagarazzi
Co-founder, Venezia Autentica
Manuela Achitz
Blühendes Österreich
Radoslav Pittner
Co-Country Representative Czech and Slovakia, Facilitator & coach for social impact
Amanda Sundell
Co-Director of Ashoka Nordics
Walter Emberger
Ashoka Fellow, Founder & CEO´of Teach For Austria
Tomasz Pruszynski
Founder of Captain‘s Nemo Foundation
Niki Griller
Managing Director, Griller Kabel
Ahmed Abdelgalil
VP alumnus & Gender and Economic Empowerment Specialist
Mustapha Jazar
Founder and Director, Lebanese Association for Scientific Research (LASeR)
Daniela Herneth
Leadership Coach / People & Business Developer
Katja Teuchmann
Founder Safa East Venture e.U. (Austria)
Josep Maria Miró Pascual
Social Innovation Consultant JovesLab (Spain)
Ilya Yacevich
Founding Director, Global Trauma Project (GTP); Ashoka Fellow
Samuel Chambi
Coordinator – Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), CARE International in Tanzania
Zeina Awaydate
Assistant to VIP & Exhibitor Relations
Agnes Schillhuber
Communications neunerhaus; formerly: Ashoka Austria
Irit Zviely Efrat
Chief Operations Officer at Hillel
Dan Driscoll
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of The Anou Cooperative
Guy Beigel
CEO Midot, promoting impact (Israel)
Katharina Markovics
Professor of Musicology at New England Conservatory in Boston
Karin Haselböck
European Integrator, Ashoka
Raluca Cocuz
Sustainability Specialist Enel Romania
Martin Hollinetz
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of tech2people GmbH & myAbility Social Enterprise GmbH
Valeria Duflot
Co-founder of Venezia Autentica
Ruba Warwar
TV host The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation
Lenah Gideon
Grant Administrator, Porticus Nairobi
Haron Wachira
Ashoka Fellow, Akili Holdings
Evans Njoro
Director, Futures Infinite
Isaya Yunge
Ashoka Fellow, Executive Director of the SomApp Foundation
Rana AlZoubi
National Director, SOS Children's Villages Jordan
Diana Ninsiima
Director for Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) Tanzania
Giuseppe Nigro
Consultant on Project Design & Project Evaluation, also: Ashoka Italy
Sumita Kunashakaran
Project Manager at the Zero Project
Hanna Ahere
Special Assistant & Regional Director, Ford Foundation office, Eastern Africa
Elisabeth Siencnik
Startup Coach; Co-founder & CFO reha buddy
Klara Michel
Co-Founder, Michel Foundation; Yoga teacher & Coach
Christof Gruber-Harrich
Consultant, Austria
Johanna Kerber
Co-Founder and CEO, DreiKreis Consulting GmbH
Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková
Ashoka Fellow, Chairwoman of the Czech Expert Society for Inclusive Education
Nikole Stolz
Head Of Department Development at SWISSAID
Silvia Silvozzi
Manager Bottega Terzo Settore - Fondazione Carisap
Claire de Lafarge
Founder and CEO, Dialogue Social Enterprise; Ashoka Fellow
Ondřej Zapletal
Executive Director, Depositum Bonum Foundation Prag
Michael Marchetti
Founder of wetransformpilots®
Andrea Babčanová
HR Manager, Visegrad Fund
Petra Wűnschová
Founder Centrum LOCIKA, Czech Republik
Christina Kauer
CONCORDIA Sozialprojekte
Gregor Demblin
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of tech2people GmbH & myAbility Social Enterprise GmbH
Federico Garcea
Ashoka Fellow, Co-Founder of Treedom
Susan Muchemi
Business Development Manager, TRACE Eastern Africa
Pavel Hrica
Founder, Cesta von; Ashoka Fellow
Selene Orellana
Communications Lead at Planeterra Foundation
Livio Scalvini
Founder & CEO, Venture4Impact
Agnieszka Franeczek
Head of Consumer Lending Processes at UniCredit Bank Austria
Simona Sinesi
Ashoka Fellow, Founder & Vice President NEVER GIVE UP Onlus
Rosa Bergmann
Co-founder of Vienna Hobby Lobby
Abla Al Alfy
Ashoka Fellow, Founder & President of the Egyptian Members Association of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Adnane Addioui
Ashoka Fellow, Co-Founder of the Moroccan Center for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
Masha Djordjevic
Program Manager Open Society Foundations
Florin Stoican
Ashoka Fellow Romania
Markus Rhomber
Managing Director of the International Association of Lake Constance Universities
Niels Hansa
Community and partner Manager at talentify.me
Armand Colard
ESG Plus GmbH
Andreja Rosandic
Lecturer at Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Zagreb
Br. Dr. Jonas Yawovi Dzinekou
Director, Institute for Social Transformation Tangaza University College
Rebekka Dober
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of YEP – Voice of the Youth
Matthias Weichhart
Austrian Research Promotion Agency
Maria Raczynska
Co-founder, "The Noon" project
Claudia Lingner
Managing Director Ludwing Boltzmann Gesellschaft
Julia Obereder
Founder and Executive Director of BRAVE Aurora
Anastasia Noskova
Founder of "SWOP market - Let's swop"
Francesca Cavallini
Professor, Founder of Tice
Mikhail Rodin
Project Lead Developing Neighborhood Institute
Sonja Betschart
Walter Odhiambo
National Director, SoS Children's Villages Kenya
Katharina Kruppa
Ashoka Fellow, Founder and Chairwoman Grow Together
Sarah Deckenbacher
Social Responsability Specialist at Sparkasse Oberösterreich
Susan Mugera
Manager in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Public Sector Group
Andreas Papp
Emergency Response Director SOS Children’s Villages International
Abdikadir Dakane
National Director SOS Children’s Villages Somalia
Ole Kassow
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of Cycling Without Age and Copenhagen Cycling
Babu Edton
Acting Manager Livelihoods, CARE Uganda
Charlotte Steenbergen
COO of the European Forum Alpbach
David Hudelist
Project Coordinator at Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation - 'fairplay initiatve'
Michael Kowatschew
Initiator of NOVID20
Ulla Riedle
Co-Team Leader of the Youth&ICT4D department in SOS Children´s Villages International
Christoph Soukup
Senior Project Manager HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank
Sylvia Kaawe
Manager, Women Economic Empowerment Program ,CARE International in Uganda
Benjamin Dragolj
Founder of Igramo Zajedno Inicijativa – IZI
Franziska Wizany
Cultural advisor
Andra Slaats
Founder of Younited Cultures
Nilton Rubio
Innovation and Sustainability Coordinator, S.C.S. Armonia Work Onlus
Pascal Kayiranga MD
Rwanda Red Cross Society
Giannis Vikas
Social Entrepreneurship Development Officer Athens Development and Destination Management Agency
Hisham El Rouby
Ashoka Fellow, MENA Regional Director The Synergos Insitiute
Wellington Nogueira
Marcelina Biro
CEO, Kijana Jasiri-Resilience Organization
Charles Karimbu Kimathi
Head of Corporate Affairs & Partnerships The Standard Group PLC
Johannes Gärtner
CEO Respekt.Net GmbH, Austria
Astrid Saxl
Head of Information & Reporting in SOS Children's Villages International
Klaus Candussi
Ashoka Fellow, Co-Founder of atempo
Knight Muteti
Founde & Executive Director, Daughters of Kenya (DoK)
Mani
Human Rights Lawyer
Anikó Cserjes
Country Representative of Ashoka Hungary
Ferdinand Pelzlmayer
Human Rights Lawyer, Switzerland/Austria
Marie Ringler
Member of Ashoka's Global Leadership Group, Leading Ashoka's work in Europe
Pascal Wambua
Regional Fund Development Director, SOS Children's Villages International, Eastern & Southern Africa Region
Torsten Engelage
Risk Management and Compliance for the PwC Advisory
Kristina Kroyer
Program Coordinator at HORIZONT3000
Artur Nadcrinicinii
Changemaker from Greece, Founder Artos kai Agapi
Desiree Li Bassi
Executive Assistant and head of the Hospitality department, Museo Diffuso dei 5 Sensi di Sciacca
Christiane Holzinger
Managing Partner, 360° Business Planner GmbH, Start-Up Stars GmbH
Johanssen Obanda
Executive Director, Jabulani Youths for Transformation
Veronica Pistyur
Co-Founder and CEO of Bridges Budapest Ⅰ General Partner at Oktogon Ventures
Emilie Romon
Partnership Manager Ashoka
Stefanie Kirwald
Consultant Alumnae*I Network
Danijel Baturina
Assistant professor in University of Zagreb
Michael Hilbert
Head of Business Unit Banking
Joana Breidenbach
Hélène Menapace
Founder, WeLovePinkPlanet - SanFem
Abbass Abbass
Ashoka Fellow, Founder and Director of AlManarah
Heidrun Gruber-Größwang
Marketing expert; Founder, Gruber-Größwang Consulting
Sonja Nita
European Commission/Centre of Thematic Expertise on Civil Society Support
Maurizio Bergia
President of the social & agricultural cooperative I TESORI della TERRA in Cervasca
Tanja Tamse
Project Manager of Center Noordung
Muthoni Kanga
Tangaza University
Christina Matuschka-Baumann
Head of Projects at YEP Youth Empowerment Participation
Weirong Li
Founder and CEO of Raw Culture
Jose Morales
Founder & Manager; Aurora Coworking Network, Lincoln Island Initiatives, European Rural Coworking Project
Christophe Cuny
Individual Giving Department Lead, SOS Children's Villages International
Jindra Marešová
Director, Albatros Foundation
Alicia Rodriguez
Youth and ICT4D Project Coordinator at SOS Children’s Villages International
Lesley Pennington
Founder of multiple social initiatives
Zahra I. Lethome
Office Manager, Ashoka East Africa
Francesca Vannini Parenti
Co-founder and Product manager, Addiopizzo Travel
Karolina Kartus
Co-Founder of Social Held
Stefan van der Swaluw
Program Director at SOS Children's Villages The Netherlands
Maribeth Aquino
Founder of Coding School for Underserved Women
Nicola Fraccaroli
Consultant for marketing strategies & business model changes
Ninon Ndayikengurkiye
CARE USA Impact and Innovation Team
Katerina Bursikova Jacques
Executive Director, Educational and business centre Sněmovní 7
Markéta Pěchoučková
Head of Social Innovation Unit at Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Czechia
Stella Parris
Account Manager at RxWare
Eman Bsoul
Changemaker from Israel, Assistant General Director Municipality of Nazareth
Khalila Mbowe
Founder and CEO of Unleasehd Africa Social Ventures
Flavian Majenga
Senior Project Manager CARE Tanzania
Andrea Martens
Andrea Martens
Anna Greil
Co-Founder & COO at Minimist, an award-winning social entrepreneur in the field of circular economy
Sheila Alumo
CEO & Founder, Eastern Agricultural Development Company LTD (EADC)
Andrea Mörike
Social Business Consultant, Alumna of the Visionary Program
Tomas Reminek
Member of the board of directors, Eduzměna foundation fund
Martin Lupa
Founder of Young Public Affairs Leaders Academy
Melek Pulatkonak
Founder of the Turkish Women's International Network & BinYaprak
Sabine Pümpel
Initiator & Head of aws Sustainable Food Systems Initiative
Heidemarie Messnitzer
Senior Expert Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport
Gabriele Hampson
Managing Director at W*ORT
Harald Gründl
Managing Partner / Chairman EOOS Design, IDRV - Institute of Design Research Vienna
Stefanie Kotrba
OPEC Fund for International Development
Tamara Höfer
Prison Research Consultant at United Nations
Veronica Marin
Founder and Vice President of De-a Arhitectura Association Ⅰ Ashoka Fellow
Corinna Geissler
Head of Advocacy & Child Rights, UNICEF Austria
Elena Gabriela Ardelean
CEO & Founder of AI4 DevelopmentAgency
Svetlana Nalepova
Founder and Manager of the Social Enterprise for the Elderly Creative Workshops "Silver Years"
Gabriela Vondrusova
Change Manager and Community Mobilizer at Ashoka Czech Republic
Gregor Ruttner-Vicht
CEO of Lower Austrian entity of Sindbad
Gernot Jochum-Müller
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of Zeitpolster
Vera Penêda
Director of Programmes European Journalism Center (EJC)
Elisabeth Campestrini
CEO of Progressive Health Consulting
Danny Mucira
Eastern Africa Managing Director of Trace
Bas van Abel
Founder, Fairphone
Elena Tanase
Founder, Mousse Pamplemousse
Joan Mwachi
Regional Director East Africa at World Reader
Andrea Kretschmer
Manager Accenture
Milica Aksentic
Head of Communications and CSR at Western Union International Bank
Bernhard Hofer
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of talentify.me
Katharina Jeschke
Austria Secretary General at IMZ International Music + Media Centre
Caroline Chege
Municipality Director, Kajiado County Kenya
Irene Drodzowski
Landschaftspflegeverein Thermenlinie-Wienerwald-Wiener Becken
Jeremy Druker
Ashoka Fellow, Founder and Executive Director of Transitions (TOL)
Walburga Frölich
Arianna Tripodi
Child and Youth Participation Advisor, SOS Children’s Villages International
Diana Filimon
President Forum Apulum, Ashoka Fellow
Christina Purrer
Project Manager at Hil-Foundation gGmbH
Goran Medakovic
Senior advisor at the National Foundation for Civil Society Development, Croatia
Maike Kauffmann
Founder at Purpose Foundation, Germany
Aziza Khabbush
Senior business analyst for public health
Cornelia Sima
Account Director at Ketchum
Mikhail Krivonos
Co-Founder, Rabota-i LLC; Chief Executive Officer, RAOUL charity foundation (till Feb '23)
Vadim Poluga
"i3" (I-Cube) Information Engineering Incubator
Nikolay Mihaylov
CEO & co-founder of CastFolio (Bulgaria)
Claire Wavamuno
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of Hill Preparatory School
Simone Pies
Business Angel & Mentor
Birgit Radl-Wanko
Managing Director of younus Mentoring
Elik Almog
Changemaker from Israel, VP Dualis social investment fund
Violeta Philippitsch
Leitung Kundenbereich EU & International, Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria
Elisabeth Mayerhofer
Managing Director, Julius Raab Foundation
Ursula Miller
Partnership Expert at Light for the World
Teresa Agovino
CEO Faroo, Environmental Engineerand Sustainable Tourism Consultant
Father Charles Chilufya
Director of the Justice and Ecology Office of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM)
Diana Mwai
Program Director at Educate!, Kenya
Krzsytof Rutkowski
Director Magovox
Helmut Rauth
Head of Finance & Service, Österreichische Caritaszentrale
Kerstin Dohnal
Founder of destination: development
Orsolya Ifi-Valde
Anti-corruption and human rights lawyer, Founder Jazzpiknik, Hungary
Eszter Harsanyi
Ashoka Fellow, Owner of Nestingpplay
Yumi Tsoy
Head of Operations at Bethnal Green Ventures
Paulina Braun
Founder Intergenerational Dancing Poland
Cornelia Faisst
Senior lecturer and co-academic Director at the University of Liechtenstein
Madeleine Pawlowicz
Project Lead Saving Angel, Germany
Asetila Koestinger
Founder of the GoodStartup School
Rachel Onyango
Development Specialist fpr NGOs
Edit Schlaffer
Ashoka Fellow, Founder and Executive Director of Women without Borders
Tina Eckert
Founder and Managing Director of Karmalaya
Anna Schaden
former Operations Manager Ashoka CEE
Jane Waithera
Founder Positive, Exposure Kenya
Karsten Ottenberg
Former CEO of BSH Home Appliances Group and Innovater and Purpose-driven leader by heart
Markus Raffer
CEO of Tec-Innovation GmbH
Raphaela Toncic-Sorinj
Co-Director Ashoka Austria and Nordics; Director Ashoka Visionary Program
Katarina Banicevic
Teamleader South East Europe, Austrian Red Cross
Ernest Namanya Rwendeire
Executive Director, Latek Stay Alliance Uganda
Barbara Mayrhofer
Regional Manager for the Institute for Inclusive Education
Samya El Mousti
National Director SOS Children’s Villages Morocco
Aris Tufexis
Educator and project manager, AG Di Donato
Michal Sadeh Goldvasser
Director of the Employment and Economic Program in the village of Jisr al-Zarqa (Israel)
Stefan Kainz
Co-founder and Managing partner of Growth Ninjas
Lynn Ngugi
Humanitarian and human rights specialist
Walburga Fröhlich
Ashoka Fellow, Co-Founder & CEO of atempo
Verena Riedler
Initiator, "Steady Steps";Organisational Consultant, Coach
Radek Hábl
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of the Institute for Debt Prevention and Resolution in Prague
Julian Juen
Founder of One4One Social Business
Karin Ondas
Sozialwirtschaft Steiermark
Elodie Ravion
Finance Manager Ashoka Austria, Visionary Program Manager & Communication
Clara Conrad-Billroth
Venture Creation Lead University of Vienna
Johannes Guger
Head of the department of social affairs and volunteering at the Red Cross
Fabian Scholda
Regional director of the social enterprise Sindbad
Peter Herreiner
Financial Advisor & Supervisory Board Member
Eleonora Cadone
Community Integrator, Ashoka Italy
Elin Baranyai-Ulvestad
Project Manager, Austrian Red Cross
Sabrina Stepanian
Founder, STEPANIAN CONSULTING e.U.
Verena Ahne
Head of Knowledge Transfer & Dissemination, Complexity Science Hub Vienna (on educational leave)
Kirsten Tangemann
Managing Director of Social Business Hub Styria
Dagmar Kotzmuth
Co-Founder & CEO DAHIR
Michael Lorz
Managing Director at EnableMe Foundation
Monika Ségur-Cabanac
Regional Manager Central & West Africa and Latin America at Missio Austria
Margarita Rebetskaya
Choreographier, Ballet dancer & Performance Director
Eghosa Erhumwunse
National Director SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria
Katharina van Zeller
Founder & CEO DreiKreis
Elisabeth Pipic
Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF)
Eva Petrová
Head of Implementation Unit Ministry of Justice, Czech Republik
Georg Schön
Co-Director Ashoka Austria
Stefan Lilischkis
Senior consultant, empirica Gesellschaft für Kommunikations- und Technologieforschung mbH
Urška Starc-Peceny
Chief Innovation Officer, lead Tourism 4.0 at Arctur
Ricardo Parger
Founder of PHÖNIX - Training For Life
Kseniia Stepanenko
CEO of ANO “Territory”, founder of “Social Lab: city for life” Novokuznetsk, Russia
Beata Jaczewska
Managing Director, Visegrad Fund
Linda Stucbartova
Partner ATAIRU company, Founder Diversio
Katharina Okulski
Head of scholarship program, NOW: International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
Nazareth Seferian
CSR and Social Entrepreneurship trainer, educator & consultant
Cecilia Toncic-Sorinj
Finding sustainable solutions in gastronomy.
Birgit Straka
Managing Director at Viva con Agua Österreich
Magda Pohec
Co-Funder Feminist Fund, Ashoka Fellow, Poland
Simon Rutar
Founder Moonshot Pirates
Lisa Binderberger
Founder of Boom Creative Lab
Abubaker Musuuza
Ashoka Fellow
Magdalena Dul-Komosinska
CEE Director, Climate KIC
Amira Saber
Changemaker from Egypt, Member of the Egyptian Parliament
Susanne Gahleitner
Co-founder Parola, Austria
Obayda Abo Asbeh
Founder Sanad Yoth Association (Israel)
Karina Lackner
Founder & Project Director for Kicken ohne Grenzen
Matěj Bulant
Director of Department National Pedagogical Institute, Czechia
Alexander Wostry
Social Entrepreneur & Co-Founder, Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT)
Manisha Joshi
Account Director at ketchum Publico
Eva Pavlikova
CEO of Česko.Digital
Marsha Forbes
Global Lead Funding Advisor at Joining Forces Initiative by World Vision
Judith Schneider
Cultural advisor
Ahmad Abdelgalil
Changemaker from Egypt, Staff Ashoka Arab World
Maurizio Ramonda
SAI (Sistema Accoglienza Integrazione) project for the integration of refugees
Tina Deutsch
Co-founder and Board Member, Klaiton; Strategic Advisor, CoachHub
Ole Kassow
Ashoka Fellow, Founder of Cycling Without Age and Copenhagen Cycling
Oleg Belezhenko
Founder
Ori Shoham
Program coordinator atidim ("home ground", Israel)
Mariella Gebhardt
Founder, Babyou
Eduard Trampusch
Head of International Programmes, Austrian Red Cross
