Northeastern University Celebrates Women Who Empower, Awards $500,000 to Innovative Entrepreneurs

BOSTON, MA (May 9, 2024) – Northeastern University today announced the winners of its fourth annual Women Who Empower Innovator Awards, recognizing thirty-three remarkable women from across the Northeastern community for their groundbreaking work. The awards ceremony, a highlight of Northeastern’s commitment to fostering female entrepreneurship, saw a diverse group of students and alumnae awarded a total of $500,000 in funding to further their impactful ventures.

This year’s awards bring the program’s total investment to over $1.32 million, supporting over one hundrd changemakers since its inception. The Women Who Empower Innovator Awards are uniqe in their direct investment in the individual entrepreneur, rather than their venture. This approach underscores the program’s mission to nurture the next generation of female leaders by providing them with crucial financial resources and an invaluable network of support.

“The passion, creativity, and dedication of these women are truly inspiring,” said Diane Nishigaya MacGillivray, Northeastern’s Senior Vice President for University Advancement and founder of Women Who Empower. “They embody the spirit of innovation and impact that defines Northeastern, and we are incredibly proud to invest in their journeys.”

The cohort represents a microcosm of Northeastern’s global reach and academic diversity. Hailing from locations as varied as the United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Hong Kong, Nicaragua, and Vietnam, these women represent every college at the university. Their ventures span a wide range of industries and disciplines, reflecting the program’s commitment to empowering women from all backgrounds and fields of study.

A Flourishing Network of Support for Women Entrepreneurs

This year’s program saw a record number of applications, exceeding one hundred, as it expanded to include participants from the Roux Institute Founder Residency program and the Lab of Inclusive Entrepreneurship. Betsy Ludwig, Executive Director of Women’s Entrepreneurship at Northeastern, emphasized the importance of community alongside financial support:

“The network and connections fostered through this program are invaluable. They provide a platform for collaboration, mentorship, and shared learning that is crucial for entrepreneurial success.”

The rigorous selection process involved a distinguished panel of judges, including parents of current and former students. Jill Bornstein, a judge since the program’s inception, remarked:

“Witnessing the evolution of this program and the caliber of applicants each year has been incredibly rewarding. These women are not just building businesses; they are creating solutions for a better future.”

This sentiment was echoed by fellow judge Julietta Dexter, who expressed her gratitude for being part of the Women Who Empower community. Sharon Wong, another parent on the judging panel, highlighted the significance of courage in entrepreneurship:

“These women exemplify the courage it takes to pursue your vision, trust your instincts, and believe in your own potential. Their determination is truly inspiring.”

Asha Chandra, a parent judge, commended the awardees:

“The ingenuity, perseverance, and passion evident in your work is remarkable. You are an inspiration to us all.”

Women Who Empower Innovator Awards: Celebrating Trailblazers Across Industries

The Women Who Empower Innovator Awards recognized winners across a variety of categories, celebrating the breadth of impact these entrepreneurs are making:

Leadership Award for Empowering Creative Communities

Winner: Marissa Mullen ’15 (College of Arts, Media and Design) – That Cheese Plate: A global community for cheese plate inspiration, pairings, recipes and tutorials.

AI Powering Innovation and Impact Award

First Place: Calypso Newman ’21 (Northeastern University London) – Rock Badger: An innovative consultancy leveraging AI, AR, and VR to help clients harness the power of emerging media.
Second Place: Rachel Cossar (Roux Institute at Northeastern University) – Virtual Sapiens: Utilizes AI to help professionals and teams enhance their communication skills and build trust in the evolving workplace.
Third Place (tie):
- Becky Mashaido ’22 (Khoury College of Computer Sciences) – KiAsili: Revolutionizing the beauty industry through inclusivity, powered by science and AI.
- Mariana Charakopoulou Travlou ’19 (College of Science) – Nous Health: A digital platform leveraging AI to improve access to mental health support and enhance treatment outcomes.

Powering Diverse and Inclusive Communities of Belonging Award

First Place: Ashley Cummings (MBA ’09, D’Amore-McKim School of Business) – Natural ASH: An all-natural skincare line catering to women in their reproductive years.
Second Place: AJ Addae ’20 (College of Science) – SULA LABS: A B2B beauty innovation lab addressing inclusivity gaps in product development.
Third Place: Samantha Asprelli ’26 (D’Amore-McKim School of Business) – Give n’ Glow: A non-profit empowering underprivileged women through donations of new and gently used beauty products.

Powering Global Change Award

First Place: Cheuk Yan Tse (Kat) ’24 (College of Arts, Media and Design) – Terms and Conditions: A fashion and wellness magazine fostering deeper conversations in the creative world while supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Second Place: Violetta Skittidi ’19 (Northeastern University London) – Formulaw: A platform simplifying contract management for SMEs, making legal processes more accessible and efficient.
Third Place: Claudia Tobar (Ed.D. ’20, College of Professional Studies) – Kamina: A financial wellbeing platform empowering women and unbanked individuals through advisory, access, and assessment tools.

Powering a Healthy Tomorrow Award

First Place: Meaghan St. Marc ’10 (College of Arts, Media and Design) – Rev’d: A transformative fitness experience focusing on individual growth and empowerment.
Second Place: Muskaan Gill ’26 (College of Engineering) – Zor: A non-invasive, portable device for predicting epileptic seizures.
Third Place: Naomi Rajput ’26 (College of Science) – CareWallet: Streamlining healthcare information exchange between patients and providers through a point-of-sale system.

Powering Social Impact Award

First Place: Kadesh Simms (’01, MBA ’08, D’Amore-McKim School of Business) – Wishing Well: A mobile app promoting financial resilience in underserved communities through group economics and shared goals.
Second Place: Michelle DeBlois (Roux Institute at Northeastern University) – ReMo: A web-based platform fostering a love for reading and strengthening student-teacher connections.
Third Place: Hayley Oleksiak ’18 (College of Social Sciences and Humanities) – Open Space Sandbox: Empowering communities to co-design their parks and open spaces through a gamified website tool.

Powering a Sustainable, Resilient World Award

First Place: Melissa LaCasse (Roux Institute at Northeastern University) – Tanbark: Providing eco-friendly, plastic-free solutions through innovative molded fiber designs.
Second Place: Debbie Madueke ’19 (D’Amore-McKim School of Business, College of Social Sciences and Humanities) – Replast: A recycling company tackling plastic pollution in Nigeria.
Third Place (tie):
- Darrel Schreiner ’22 (Khoury College of Computer Sciences) – Cake Denim: Merging sustainability and inclusivity to redefine the denim industry.
- Dominique Schreiner ’22 (Khoury College of Computer Sciences) – Cake Denim: Merging sustainability and inclusivity to redefine the denim industry.

From Budding Innovators to Seasoned Entrepreneurs: Recognizing Excellence Across Cohorts

Beyond the specific industry categories, the Women Who Empower program acknowledges the unique journeys and contributions of entrepreneurs at different stages of their careers. This year, awards were given to current undergraduate and graduate students, as well as alumnae with varying levels of experience. These awards highlight the program’s commitment to fostering talent and supporting women at every step of their entrepreneurial path.

Undergraduate Students

First Place: Samantha Asprelli
Second Place: Cheuk Yan Tse (Kat)
Third Place: Naomi Rajput
Honorable Mentions: Muskaan Gill, Nicole Guadagno, Aleena Jacob, Manvi Kottakota, Sofia Urrutia, Emily Zeledon

Graduate Students

First Place: Mary DeVega
Second Place: Hannah Kim
Third Place: Kerrian Johnson
Honorable Mentions: Linh Dinh, Rama Doddi

Experienced Alumnae

First Place: Kaitlin McCarthy
Second Place: Marissa Mullen
Third Place: Meaghan St. Marc
Honorable Mentions: Ashley Cummings, Kadesh Simms

Graduate Alumnae

First Place: Becky Mashaido
Second Place: Claudia Tobar
Third Place (tie): Darrel Schreiner, Dominique Schreiner, Fatema Janahi

Undergraduate Alumnae

First Place: AJ Addae
Second Place: Violetta Skittidi
Third Place: Debbie Madueke
Honorable Mentions: Calypso Newman, Hayley Oleksiak, Mariana Charakopoulou Travlou

A Decade of Empowerment: Looking Ahead to the Future of Women Who Empower

As the Women Who Empower program prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2025, the energy and enthusiasm surrounding its mission are palpable. Organizers are already busy planning for the fifth cohort of innovators, with a renewed focus on expanding the program’s global reach and amplifying the impact of its awardees. The future of Women Who Empower is bright, fueled by the passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication of the women it supports. With a growing network of mentors, investors, and changemakers, the program is poised to continue its legacy of empowering women to transform their ideas into impactful realities.

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July 22, 2024
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