This is the third article in my series of People to follow from One Young World 2025. You can view my first article here and my second article here
This article will focus on delegates at One Young World who have founded their own company, are One Young World staff, or are One Young World coordinating ambassadors.
If you prefer, you can view a video summary of the article here: (to be included)
Title: Founder and Chairman of StritGRAD Academy NPC and Executive Director of StritGRAD Market Solutions.
Based in: Soweto, South Africa
Expertise: CEO of StritGRAD Academy
Joseph Khoza is a Johannesburg-based entrepreneur and social impact leader, serving as Founder and Chairman of StritGRAD Academy NPC and Executive Director of StritGRAD Market Solutions. He is a One Young World (OYW) Ambassador who champions township and rural economic development through entrepreneurship support, alternative income prospects, skills development, financial literacy, and youth empowerment initiatives.
Through StritGRAD, Joseph leads programmes that support youth, women, entrepreneurs, and underserved communities with practical tools for economic participation. Operating from Soweto, StritGRAD delivers hybrid learning, enterprise development support, compliance guidance, innovation-driven challenges initiatives, such as Youth Entrepreneurship Week and School Exit Programmes that prepare learners and young graduates for life and work readiness.
StritGRAD Academy is a nonprofit organisation focused on sustainable livelihoods, township enterprise growth, and digital and omnichannel business capabilities. Joseph’s work has included media features, conference speaking, school and community workshops, and collaborative campaigns linked to financial inclusion and entrepreneurship development. His broader mission is to build scalable, community-rooted models that unlock opportunity and strengthen local economies.
Title: CEO FarmerLifeline
Based in: Nairobi , Kenya
Expertise: Empowering underrepresented Groups
Esther is the CEO and founder of FarmerLifeline Technologies, a Kenyan agritech startup dedicated to empowering underrepresented smallholder farmers by providing early detection and management of crop pests and diseases. Growing up in a rural farming community in the Nyandarua region, Esther witnessed firsthand how pests and delayed treatment destroyed significant portions of farmers’ yields each season. Combining her passion for agriculture with computer science, she developed an innovative solar-powered device that uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics to monitor crops and send real-time notifications and treatment recommendations to farmers, helping them protect their harvests and increase productivity.
Under Esther’s leadership, FarmerLifeline has made a significant impact by improving crop yields by approximately 40% and reducing losses by over 30%, boosting food security and livelihoods in rural Kenya and beyond.
The company’s climate-smart approach also promotes sustainable agriculture by recommending carbon-negative chemicals and encouraging responsible pesticide use. Esther’s vision is ambitious—aiming to support one million farmers by 2030 while creating inclusive growth and resilience against the challenges posed by climate change. Her work has earned accolades such as the 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation and strong support from global development partners.
Title: Coordonnateur national U-Report Côte d’Ivoire
Based in: Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
Expertise: Healthcare
Kouassi is the national coordinator of U-Report in Côte d’Ivoire, a platform driven by UNICEF that empowers young people and communities to engage directly on key issues affecting health and well-being. In Côte d’Ivoire, U-Report plays a vital role in expanding access to healthcare services, particularly sexual and reproductive health rights, through youth-led surveys, digital engagement, and advocacy campaigns. Kouassi has been instrumental in mobilising young people via digital platforms to raise awareness, report challenges, and contribute to policy discussions surrounding healthcare accessibility and quality.
Under his leadership, U-Report Côte d’Ivoire has supported the government’s initiatives to improve universal health coverage and social protection, especially for marginalised populations.
The platform’s activities include health worker capacity-building, HIV prevention programmes, and maternal and child health projects that leverage real-time data to inform decision-making.
Kouassi’s work aligns with national health priorities such as reducing maternal mortality, expanding HIV testing and treatment, and enhancing the delivery of community health services, helping transform healthcare through participatory, inclusive approaches.
Title: Co-Founder of The Offline Club
Based in: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Expertise: Mental Health
Illya is the co-founder of The Offline Club, based in the Netherlands. The Offline Club is a movement founded as a response to the increasing digital overload and social isolation affecting many people today. It creates physical, phone-free spaces where members can disconnect from their digital devices and engage in genuine human interaction. Founded in Amsterdam, the club hosts digital detox events, offline community hangouts, and weekend retreats that encourage people to “swap screen time for real-time,” promoting mental well-being and combating the loneliness epidemic.
The club’s core principle is mandatory disconnection from online devices, fostering environments conducive to meaningful social connections and mindfulness. The Offline Club has rapidly grown in popularity, attracting a diverse international membership and expanding beyond Amsterdam to other Dutch cities.
Illya’s vision is to inspire a global cultural shift towards valuing face-to-face interactions over digital distractions, helping people slow down, build meaningful relationships, and improve their overall quality of life.
Title: Co-Founder & CEO of Solinas Integrity
Based in: Chennai, India
Expertise: Climate Change
Divanshu is the co-founder and CEO of Solinas Integrity, an Indian company based in Chennai that develops robotic and artificial intelligence solutions for the water and sanitation sector with a focus on climate change impacts. His company creates innovative technologies like robotic septic tank cleaners and pipeline inspection robots to eliminate manual scavenging, improve water quality, reduce leakages, and prevent urban flooding. Driven by a personal commitment to public health and safety, Kumar aims to revolutionise sanitation infrastructure management through automation and smart analytics, making operations safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable.
Under Divanshu’s leadership, Solinas Integrity has deployed its systems in over 15 cities across India, working with municipal corporations and major private companies to modernise sanitation services.
The company has raised significant funding from investors and aligns its mission with national initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission, which seeks to provide clean tap water to rural households. Kumar envisions scaling the business to impact over 100 cities and several countries by 2030, with a strong commitment to eliminating manual scavenging and promoting sustainable urban water management.
Title: CEO of STREAM Technologies
Based in: New York City, New York, USA
Expertise: Inclusive Education
Jaloree is the CEO and founder of STREAM Technologies, a US-based bilingual STEM e-learning platform dedicated to inclusive education. Her company focuses on empowering neurodiverse, disabled, and underserved students by providing culturally responsive content, gamified learning tools, and adaptive technologies that make STEM education accessible to all learners. Jaloree’s background as a speech-language pathologist and game developer informs her innovative approach, combining assistive technology with educational best practices to overcome barriers faced by students with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Under her leadership, STREAM Technologies has gained recognition for its impact on expanding digital learning opportunities and preparing students for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
Jaloree was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Education list in 2024 for her work in transforming education through technology. She actively advocates for integrating AI, inclusive design, and assistive tech into national education systems worldwide, partnering with schools, NGOs, and global organisations to scale access and improve outcomes for marginalised communities
Title: Co-founder and CEO of Pinkcollar Employment Agency
Based in: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Expertise: Empowerment of underrepresented groups
Zenna is the Co-founder and CEO of Pinkcollar Employment Agency, a pioneering ethical recruitment firm based in Malaysia dedicated to empowering migrant domestic workers, particularly women from underrepresented groups. Motivated by personal bonds with Filipino caregivers and witnessing exploitation during volunteering in Moscow, Law launched Pinkcollar in 2017 after originally having the idea it at a UN-affiliated Unleash program and winning the World Bank Youth Summit pitch. The agency eliminates illegal fees, debt bondage, and trafficking risks through tech-enabled direct sourcing, rigorous vetting, and zero-placement-fee policies, successfully placing over 500 Filipino and Indonesian workers while saving RM500,000 in debt.
Pinkcollar’s women-led model (90%+ female workforce) aligns with Women’s Empowerment Principles, offering transparent matching, community support, and grievance channels to improve conditions for over 250,000 migrant workers in Malaysia. Recognised in Tatler Asia Gen.T and ESG forums, Law drives systemic change against forced labor, enhancing dignity and gender equity via ethical practices. Her resilience, honed in unfamiliar settings, fuels innovation in a traditionally exploitative sector.
Title: Executive Director at Aide aux Trans du Québec • Board Member at Égides • Member of the UDA
Based in: Québec, Canada
Expertise: Empowering LGBT+ Communities
Victoria F. Legault is the Executive Director of Aide aux Trans du Québec, one of Canada’s oldest trans-led community organisations, supporting, advocating for, and empowering trans and non-binary people across Quebec. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Board of Égides, the international Francophone LGBTQI+ alliance, and is a member of the Union des artistes (UDA).
With an unconventional professional path — including previous experience as a deputy clerk at the Quebec Ministry of Justice — Victoria brings a cross-sector perspective to her leadership. She combines community-rooted expertise with strategic governance, institutional engagement, and financial stewardship. She is currently completing the Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business program at Harvard Business School Online.
Victoria is recognised not only for her advocacy but for strengthening trans-led organisational infrastructure, expanding access to psychosocial and employment support services, and advancing representation in decision-making spaces. She has spoken on international stages, including One Young World, about inclusive leadership and governance. In 2025, she became the first trans woman featured on the cover of Les Affaires, a leading Quebec business magazine
Title: Founder of Neurodiverse Network Asia
Based in: Minila, Philippines
Expertise: Empowering people with disabilities
As the Founder of Neurodiverse Network Asia, Noa is based in Manila, Philippines and dedicated to empowering people with disabilities across the region. Drawing on my lived experience as a neurodivergent person with a disability, she focuses on creating more inclusive systems, narratives, and opportunities so that disabled and neurodivergent people can thrive in education, work, and community life. Her expertise spans social innovation, community building, and digital communications, and she uses these skills to connect stakeholders who are committed to disability inclusion and equity.
Alongside her work with Neurodiverse Network Asia, she serve as a Senior Associate for the Gender Platform at AVPN, where she contributes to programmes that advance gender and disability justice.
Noa brings an academic grounding in psychology from Ateneo de Manila University and is currently completing a Master’s in Women and Development at the University of the Philippines in Diliman
This strengthens her intersectional lens on gender, disability, and development. As a 2024 Youth Leader Awardee of Global Citizen and the inaugural Youth Ambassador of the Asian Development Bank, Noa uses her voice and platforms to champion meaningful participation of young people with disabilities in shaping policies and solutions that affect their lives.
Title: Youth & Climate Leader
Based in: Savai’i, Samoa
Expertise: Climate
Sufia is an engineer and beekeeper from Savai’i, Samoa, is a prominent youth and climate leader championing sustainability and human rights. Employed at the Electric Power Corporation, she advances renewable energy while running Pollinate Samoa, her beekeeping venture addressing declining bee populations critical for pollination and biodiversity amid climate threats. Named Samoa’s Young People Human Rights Champion for 2025 by the Ombudsman and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, she represented Samoa as the first Pacific Island Davos 50 Delegate at WEF 2025, engaging leaders on trade, digital jobs, and women’s innovation in developing regions.
At international forums like UN Climate Talks in Bonn (SB62), Sufia advocated for Pacific vulnerabilities alongside peers, pushing ocean protection and just transitions. Her “SHE LEADS” profile highlights resilience—enduring 20 daily stings—to promote eco-friendly practices and youth voices in global policy.
Through WEF and OYW networks, she bridges local action with worldwide solutions for climate-resilient communities.
Title: Co-founder/Managing Director-MAHLASELI ENERGY
Based in: Maseru, Lesotho
Expertise: Climate Change
Matsepiso is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Mahlaseli Energy, a renewable energy company based in Lesotho focused on providing solar off-grid solutions for rural electrification, solar thermal, and water supply. Her company has pioneered an innovative pay-as-you-go solar business model that removes upfront costs and makes sustainable energy accessible to low-income households in rural areas. Matsepiso’s mission is to electrify half of Lesotho’s rural communities while promoting job creation, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability, employing young Basotho and dedicating 50% of the workforce to women.
Driven by her firsthand experience of energy poverty in rural Lesotho, Matsepiso has focused on scalable and inclusive solutions that contribute to the clean energy transition by reducing carbon emissions and improving living conditions, including educational environments for children. Despite challenges such as limited access to finance and a male-dominated industry, she has built strategic partnerships, won awards like the OneYoungWorld Lead2030 SDG7 award, and uses her platform to champion youth leadership and sustainable development in Southern Africa.
Title: Founder and Development Advisor of Masana Group
Based in: New York, USA
Expertise: Development Aid
Shudufhadzo Musida is a South African mental‑health advocate, author, and former Miss South Africa 2020 who uses her platform to advance the rights and well-being of women, girls, and children. As the first contestant whose first language is Tshivenda to win the Miss South Africa crown, she has redefined beauty norms and channels the visibility of her title into substantive advocacy on mental health, education, and economic inclusion.
She is the Founder of the Shudufhadzo Foundation, which supports a school for children with disabilities and delivers programmes on mental‑health education, food and water security, period‑poverty response, and orphan‑care in disadvantaged communities across South Africa. In addition, she serves as a UNFPA Regional Champion for East and Southern Africa and a Global Champion for Women and Girls, advocating for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and mental‑health support; she has also been appointed as a Global Surgery Foundation goodwill ambassador, further underscoring her commitment to health equity and youth leadership
Title: CEO of Batoka Hospitality Group
Based in: London, UK
Expertise: Empowering underrepresented groups
Matsepiso is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Mahlaseli Energy, a renewable energy company based in Lesotho focused on providing solar off-grid solutions for rural electrification, solar thermal, and water supply. Her company has pioneered an innovative pay-as-you-go solar business model that removes upfront costs and makes sustainable energy accessible to low-income households in rural areas. Matsepiso’s mission is to electrify half of Lesotho’s rural communities while promoting job creation, youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability, employing young Basotho and dedicating 50% of the workforce to women.
Driven by her firsthand experience of energy poverty in rural Lesotho, Matsepiso has focused on scalable and inclusive solutions that contribute to the clean energy transition by reducing carbon emissions and improving living conditions, including educational environments for children.
Despite challenges such as limited access to finance and a male-dominated industry, she has built strategic partnerships, won awards like the OneYoungWorld Lead2030 SDG7 award, and uses her platform to champion youth leadership and sustainable development in Southern Africa.
She has been honoured on Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list and is an active advocate for mental health awareness and youth leadership, sharing her inspiring journey of overcoming personal challenges.
Title: CEO of Batoka Hospitality Group
Based in: London, UK and Cape Town, South Africa
Expertise: Empowering underrepresented groups
Vimbai is the Chief Executive Officer of Batoka Hospitality Group, a pioneering hospitality company based in the UK and Southern Africa. She co-founded Batoka Africa in 2020 with her mother, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, establishing the first Black African female-owned safari lodge group in sub-Saharan Africa. Under her leadership, Batoka operates luxury eco-friendly lodges such as Zambezi Sands River Lodge and Gorges Lodge near Victoria Falls. The company focuses on sustainable luxury tourism with a strong commitment to community empowerment, employing many local people, especially women, and investing a portion of revenue into local health, education, and infrastructure projects. Vimbai’s vision is to leverage tourism as a catalyst for social and economic growth in African communities.
Vimbai is recognised for challenging the traditional male-dominated safari industry by promoting African ownership and women’s leadership.
Her work merges entrepreneurship with social impact, focusing on creating inclusive economic ecosystems that uplift underrepresented communities through jobs, skills development, and entrepreneurship.
Title: Co-founder and executive director of DéfPhys Sans Limite.
Based in: Québec, Canada
Expertise: Empowering Underrepresented Groups
Maude is the co-founder and executive director of DéfPhys Sans Limite, a non-profit organisation based in Montreal, Canada. DéfPhys Sans Limite works to make active social participation possible and accessible for adults living with physical limitations, by promoting social inclusion, access to sports and cultural activities, and personal development.
The organisation manages, among other things, the “Workshops Without Limits” program, which offers multidisciplinary workshops in visual arts, performing arts, music, photography, and dance. This program aims to break social isolation, develop leadership skills, and foster inclusive spaces where adults with disabilities participate alongside young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Maude’s work aims to eliminate barriers to participation in cultural and sporting activities for people with physical disabilities.
The project pairs adults living with physical limitations with trained volunteers to support them, encourage their participation, and foster their social engagement.
Through its actions, it addresses the needs of diverse marginalised communities, including racialised minorities, refugees, and at-risk youth, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on partnerships and social inclusion. Its leadership is rooted in an inclusive vision aimed at creating accessible, caring, and equitable environments that promote the full citizenship of persons with disabilities in Canada.
Title: Political Podcaster, Influencer and Bundeswehr Officer
Based in: Munich, Germany
Expertise: Politics
David is a German Bundeswehr officer and political podcaster known for engaging with younger audiences on security and political issues. He is an active-duty soldier with a focus on bridging the gap between the military and Gen Z through social media and podcasts. David has been recognised as a political influencer in social media in 2024, and his content covers in-depth political discussions, security policy education, and the complexities of military service. He also appeared on German talk shows discussing military service and the role of the Bundeswehr in modern Germany, where he emphasised democratic values and the importance of deterrence in national security.
David speaks openly about the challenges, controversies, and polarising views surrounding military service in Germany, aiming to provide a balanced, informative perspective.
He regularly discusses contemporary security threats, including European defence, hybrid warfare, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, using his platform to make complex topics accessible and engaging.
Title: Community Director of One Young World
Based in: London, UK
Expertise: Community Development
Dan is the Community Director at One Young World, based in London in The United Kingdom. He has been with OYW since 2018 and has progressed through several roles leading up to his current position. Dan manages a global community of over 18,700 young leaders, facilitating connections, engagement, and collaboration among changemakers worldwide. He brings expertise in community development and international relations to his role. Dan focuses on fostering a supportive, impactful environment for young leaders to amplify their social and environmental goals.
Dan is recognised for his community building within the nonprofit sector. He has experience as an Impact Manager and Analyst at OYW2025 and has previously volunteered internationally in countries like Burkina Faso and Germany. His work includes creating events and initiatives that empower youth globally. Dan is actively involved in building psychological safety and promoting diverse voices through digital platforms and live engagements that mobilise young leaders for positive change in areas such as climate action, social justice, and sustainable development.
Title: Belfast City Council Equality Officer and Belfast legacy ambassador
Based in: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Expertise: Equality and Inclusion
Stephen serves as an Equality Officer for Belfast City Council and acts as a Belfast Legacy Ambassador for OYW2025. His expertise lies in equality and inclusion, with active involvement in promoting social justice and community cohesion within the city. As a Belfast Legacy Ambassador, he contributes to initiatives aimed at preserving the legacy and fostering understanding of Northern Ireland’s history, particularly in the context of reconciliation after the Troubles. Stephen also holds board membership with Arts & Business Northern Ireland, supporting cultural engagement and diversity.
Through education, advocacy, and collaborative efforts, Stephen bridges community divides, supporting peacebuilding legacy projects like integrated education and cross-community dialogues. He engages with schools, youth groups, and forums to build mutual respect, drawing from personal experiences in Belfast’s troubled history to champion a harmonious future. As part of broader movements such as the Shared Future agenda, his work strengthens social cohesion and prevents regression amid ongoing tensions.
Title: Founder of Golden Isle
Based in: New York, USA
Expertise: Empowering underrepresented groups
Marcus is the founder of Golden Isle, a strategy studio based in New York USA, that supports ventures, institutions, and ecosystems to build impactful work and scalable movements. Marcus is the founder of Golden Isle, a digital studio that supports clients from diverse industries with their project, program operations and creative-marketing stack. He is also the founder of The Isles, a partnership- driven platform which aims to scale projects and movements by/for underestimated founder communities and ecosystems. He has a focus on empowering underestimated groups, especially in tech, culture, and social innovation sectors. Marcus is recognised for his expertise in building “network capital”—creating meaningful relationships and value that help underestimated entrepreneurs break systemic barriers related to privilege, access, and financing.
Title: Rare Diseases Specialist
Based in: Zagreb, Croatia
Expertise: Rare Diseases
Ida is a Rare Diseases Specialist based in Croatia, where she serves as an expert associate and secretary of Rare Diseases Croatia. She also holds the position of vice-president of the Croatian Neurofibromatosis Association, focusing her efforts on advocacy, research, and community support for those affected by neurofibromatosis and other rare conditions. As a social worker and PhD student in Social Work and Social Policy, she draws inspiration from her family’s personal experiences to champion psychosocial support, inclusive healthcare, and evidence-based policies that address the unique challenges faced by rare disease patients and their families.
Ida actively participates in international initiatives, including the Rare Diseases International Youth Leadership Programme and AstraZeneca’s Youth Health Programme as an Impact Fellow. Her work emphasises amplifying youth voices, promoting equitable access to care, and fostering mental health support within rare disease communities across Croatia and beyond. Through collaborations with global networks, she advocates for improved diagnostics, awareness, and strategies for adult-onset rare diseases, ensuring that patient needs are prioritised in health systems.
Title: Founder and CEO of GirlCode
Based in: Johannesburg, South Africa
Expertise: Education
Zandile Mkwanazi is the Founder and CEO of GirlCode, based in South Africa, where she spearheads initiatives in education to empower young women and girls through technology. With a background in actuarial science and a pivotal shift into tech following an internship at Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, she recognised the stark gender imbalance in the industry after attending conferences and noticing few female developers. This insight led her to launch GirlCode in 2014 as a women-only hackathon, which evolved into South Africa’s largest women-in-tech educational organisation, impacting over 60,000 girls through coding clubs, skills programmes, and learnerships for matriculants and unemployed graduates.
Her expertise centres on bridging the tech gender gap by providing computer literacy, coding, design skills, and job placement via GirlCode Talent, an AI-driven platform connecting women to employers across Africa.
Zandile aims to train 10 million women and girls by 2030, with ambitious plans like hosting hackathons in 10 African cities simultaneously. Awards such as Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans (2020), Santam Social Entrepreneur of the Year (2021), and Mail & Guardian Women of Power (2022) affirm her impact on diversity and digital inclusion.
Zeynab is a London-based freelance beauty journalist specialising in beauty, wellness, lifestyle, and identity-related topics. Her journalism explores the intersection of identity and culture with a particular focus on marginalised communities. Zeynab’s work frequently addresses how beauty shapes personal and cultural identities, and she has contributed to prominent UK publications such as British Vogue, ELLE, Who What Wear, Stylist, and Marie Claire. She also offers editorial and copywriting services across print and digital media, covering a wide range of topics related to beauty and lifestyle.
Beyond her journalistic work, Zeynab is known for her thoughtful reflections on the cultural and social dimensions of beauty. She often highlights stories that emphasise inclusivity and representation within the beauty industry, shining a light on experiences and perspectives that are underrepresented.
Based primarily in the UK, she is an active voice in discussions about beauty standards, wellness, and self-care, engaging deeply with issues that matter to diverse audiences and communities.
Title: Youth education advocate
Based in: Caracas, Venezuela
Expertise: Education
Noris is a sociologist based in Venezuela with expertise in social project management, evaluation, and monitoring. She has five years of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating social and educational projects. Noris is a graduate of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) and is actively involved in youth education advocacy, particularly within Afro-indigenous communities, focusing on transforming experiences marked by social challenges into commitments to educational empowerment.
Her work emphasises advancing educational opportunities and social change for marginalised groups in Venezuela. She is recognised for her dedication to community development and education through strategic social projects and advocacy. Noris also engages with organisations and initiatives aimed at improving access to education and fostering youth empowerment in her country.
Title: Research Analyst and Accessibility Advocate
Based in: London, UK
Expertise: Research and Accessibility
Emily Muller is a UK-based Research Analyst and Accessibility Advocate who focuses on championing local expertise to create sustainable development solutions. She has experience working with OYW2025 as an Impact Research Analyst, where she supports young leaders in building capacity for sustainable and inclusive development. Emily advocates for disability rights, representation, and self-determination, actively promoting accessibility in various forums, including public discussions and events, such as moderating sessions on disability leadership.
Her work combines research, data analysis, and advocacy to address barriers faced by disabled people, aiming to foster equitable access to education, housing, transportation, and healthcare. Emily emphasises the importance of allyship, intersectionality, and community-driven approaches to accessibility, and is involved in initiatives that elevate disabled voices and promote systemic change.