Farhana Hasan
IWF Georgia

Idea: Redefining Global Equity in the AI Economy

What if the next AI innovator isn’t in a classroom at Stanford, but in a refugee camp in Syria, or working two jobs as a new immigrant in Canada, or a first-generation college student in Georgia? Farhana Hasan, Founder and CEO of HerWILL Inc., is redefining global equity in the AI economy by removing systemic barriers that exclude marginalized women and youth from shaping our digital future. Her idea addresses global inequity in AI access through a virtual, borderless model, working across the U.S., Canada, Syria, Egypt, Bangladesh, and beyond, to deliver elite, hands-on training in AI, data science, and digital leadership.

HerWILL was founded on the radical belief that talent is borderless, even if opportunity is not. Starting with a few laptops and an open Zoom room, Farhana created a movement that now spans six countries, has trained 5,500 women and youth, and has led to the creation of innovative projects tackling some of the world’s most critical issues, including breast cancer detection and language bias. 

Connie Stacey
IWF Canada

Idea: Powering Possibility: Ending Energy Poverty

The world doesn’t run without energy, and for billions of people, that means the world doesn’t run at all. Connie Stacey, CEO of Grengine Inc., addresses energy poverty, one of the most profound but overlooked global injustices. Over one billion people live at energy tier zero, without access to electricity of any kind. Another 2.3 billion cook using solid biomass, often burning garbage or animal waste. The result? Toxic smoke inhalation kills an estimated 3.8 million people per year, more than malaria, tuberculosis, and homicide combined. These are not just statistics. They represent lost lives, lost opportunities, and a silent barrier to progress that disproportionately impacts women and girls.

Connie’s idea offers a global solution with a scalable, localized approach: safe, autonomous, and easy-to-use battery technology that requires no technical training. It adapts to diverse environments, from Arctic conditions to rural villages, enabling clean energy access everywhere.

Carika Weldon
IWF Bermuda

Idea: Caribbean DNA for Global Healthcare Solutions

The Caribbean Genome Program (CGP), founded by geneticist Dr. Carika Weldon, addresses a critical global health challenge: 85% of the world’s population, particularly women and people of non-European descent, has been historically excluded from clinical trials and genetic research. As a result, many medications remain less effective or even harmful for these underserved groups.

The CGP is uniquely positioned to help close this gap because the Caribbean’s genetic diversity encompasses connections to mostly all regions around the world such as Africa, Europe, Central America, South America, China, India, the Middle East and Indonesia. Through CariGenetics, the CGP is building the first-ever Caribbean genetic database. Unlike traditional research models, the program is community-led, locally grounded, and designed to return benefits directly to the people it studies. By combining scientific innovation with equity and inclusion, the CGP sets a new standard for ethical genomics research. It contributes vital data to global health while empowering Caribbean communities to shape the future of medicine, locally and worldwide.