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