World region: Asia Pacific

Monika Shukla
CEO and Co-Founder, Humble Bee
India

Monika is the CEO and Co-founder of Humble Bee, a mission-driven enterprise transforming scientific beekeeping as a pathway to climate resilience, women-led entrepreneurship, and ecological regeneration across India. An IIT Kharagpur silver-medalist, a Liberal Arts Post-graduate, a Humboldt Fellow and a social entrepreneur, Monika works at the intersection of sustainability, livelihoods, and digital innovation. Under her leadership, Humble Bee has empowered women from rural and forest-fringe communities to become scientific beekeepers, while restoring pollinator populations vital to food security and biodiversity. Monika is also spearheading BEEKIND, an AI-powered platform that makes beekeeping and pollination intelligence accessible to farmers and beekeepers, turning invisible ecosystem services into measurable value. Her work challenges extractive systems by building inclusive, grassroots economies rooted in nature. Recognized by NITI Aayog and the UN as one of India’s leading women entrepreneurs, Monika envisions a “Golden Revolution”, where regenerative livelihoods, tech for good, and grassroots leadership shape a sustainable future of food.

Monika’s business supports the following SDGs:
SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 13: Climate Action

World region: Latin America & Caribbean

Jessica Jacob
Founder & CEO, SURECO & Partners
Panama

An economist with over 20 years of experience, Jessica Jacob is the Founder and CEO of SURECO & Partners, a climate consulting firm advancing inclusive, gender-equitable sustainability projects across Latin America, the Caribbean, and other developing regions. Under her leadership, the firm has provided professional development opportunities to more than 200 individuals and mobilized over $500 million in climate finance, benefiting millions worldwide. Jessica previously served as Regional Manager at the Green Climate Fund and held senior roles including Director of Social and Environmental Responsibility at Findeter (Colombia’s Infrastructure Development Bank) and Vice-Chair of the Environmental and Climate Change Committee at Latin American Association of Development Financing Institutions (ALIDE). Her leadership in sustainability and climate action has earned international recognition, including the ESG GRIT Sustainability Champion Award (2024). Jessica holds multiple master’s degrees in business, political science, and development economics.

Jessica’s business supports the following SDGs:
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 5: Gender Equality

World region: Middle East & Northern Africa

Lynn Malkawi
Founder & Director, Wasel for Awareness & Education
Jordan

Lynn Malkawi is the Founder and Director of Wasel for Awareness & Education, an organization advancing sustainability, peacebuilding, and civic engagement across the Levant by empowering youth and promoting cross-border collaboration. Since Wasel’s launch in June 2018, she has led the delivery of over 1,950 hours of programming through 1,230 sessions, directly engaging 3,448 participants (ages 9 to 73) in six core development programs. Lynn serves on multiple boards, including the UN Global Compact Jordan and the Jordanian Economic Forum, and advises the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers network. Internationally recognized for her leadership in sustainability and community resilience, she is an Enterprise for Peace Scholar, One Young World Ambassador, and recipient of the Jacqualyn A. Fouse Community Service Award. Lynn holds degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Lynn’s business supports the following SDGs:
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG 4: Quality Education

World region: North America & Europe

Guðný Nielsen
Founder and CEO, Katla Carbon (formerly SoGreen)
Iceland

Guðný Nielsen is the founder and CEO of Katla Carbon, a pioneering Icelandic climate tech company that creates the world’s first carbon credits generated through ensuring girls’ education in low-income countries. Her work tackles the urgent need to connect climate finance with gender equality, empowering the communities most affected by climate change to lead in solving it. Her journey began with the Red Cross Movement, where she worked with local societies in low income countries on sustainable development programs. Witnessing the funding struggles of grassroots actors, she assembled a team of experts to develop a rigorous methodology to unlock global climate finance for girls’ education. Guðný holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and completed further studies at the United Nations University in Japan. She has also received advanced training from UN OCHA and the Red Cross Movement. Her work is rooted in climate justice and a just transition.

Guðný’s business supports the following SDGs:
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 13: Climate Action

World region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Juveline Ngum
Founder & CEO, BleagLee
Senegal

Juveline Ngum is the Founder and CEO of BleagLee, a circular economy enterprise transforming waste into opportunity across three African countries. Leveraging the internet-of-things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced recycling technologies, BleagLee has diverted over 230,000 tons of waste from landfills and created thousands of green jobs—80% held by women. Juveline has empowered more than 15,000 women and youth through entrepreneurship training, microfinance access, and sustainable employment. Her projects advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals by mitigating 300 million tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually, eliminating over 95% of harmful waste-related emissions, and increasing the net income of low-income communities by 40%. A recipient of the Lipman Family Prize (2025) and Global Climatech Award (2022), she actively collaborates with policymakers to strengthen circular economy legislation across Africa. Juveline holds degrees in environmental science and public policy.

Juveline’s business supports the following SDGs:
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 13: Climate Action