WISE is the Women's Initiative for Social Entrepreneurship.

Abeer Al Fouti joined Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP) in 2018 with over 25 years of experience in the field of human development, quality management, and public relations across government, private and non-governmental organizations.

In her current role with AP, Abeer spearheads global initiatives for the organization. Some of her notable achievements since joining AP include coordinating the funding of $ 30 million to combat the global efforts to fight covid 19 in the most vulnerable countries in Africa and the Middle East and facilitating the international recognition of the first published indicator of Saudi women's participation in the economy.

Prior to joining AP, Abeer was Alf Khair’s Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO for three years. Alf Khair is a social enterprise founded by HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar to empower the professional development of Human capital in Saudi Arabia. Abeer developed Al Khair operations as a social enterprise, which resulted in a substantial impact on Saudi Society specifically by leading the Alf Darb initiative that focused on shaping the mindset for participants to explore their potential. Under her leadership, Alf Khair’s 2015 initiative 10KSA, broke the world record for creating the world’s largest pink ribbon for breast cancer. Abeer Al Fouti joined Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP) in 2018 with over 25 years of experience in the field of human development, quality management, and public relations across government, private and non-governmental organizations.

In her current role with AP, Abeer spearheads global initiatives for the organization. Some of her notable achievements since joining AP include coordinating the funding of $ 30 million to combat the global efforts to fight covid 19 in the most vulnerable countries in Africa and the Middle East and facilitating the international recognition of the first published indicator of Saudi women's participation in the economy.

Prior to joining AP, Abeer was Alf Khair’s Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO for three years. Alf Khair is a social enterprise founded by HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar to empower the professional development of Human capital in Saudi Arabia. Abeer developed Al Khair operations as a social enterprise, which resulted in a substantial impact on Saudi Society specifically by leading the Alf Darb initiative that focused on shaping the mindset for participants to explore their potential. Under her leadership, Alf Khair’s 2015 initiative 10KSA, broke the world record for creating the world’s largest pink ribbon for breast cancer.

Abeer’s career trajectory includes working with some of Saudi Arabia’s largest national medical institutions, as well as foundations and charities where she organized educational and awareness events and conferences, attended by high-level government officials. She led the Department of Education at SBAHC to win the Arab Health Initiative Award for education.

Abeer is also an active Board member of the Women in Sports Committee (WSC) since 2019, which aims to improve women’s participation and performance in sports in Saudi Arabia.

She is also the Co-Founder of Smile Entertainment, an entertainment platform dedicated to encouraging cultural dialogue through live comedy, theatre, and cultural events.
Abeer holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree of Science, in Health and Hospital Administration from King Saud University.

Dr. Nkamgang Bemo is a distinguished leader, motivational speaker, coach, and mentor, and an internationally recognized expert in global health and humanitarian response. Born and raised in Cameroon, and educated in France and Spain, Dr. Bemo has established a strong reputation as a cross-cultural connector and thought leader. Her ideas and reflections are inspired by her multicultural lived experiences, multi-lingual education, and her spirituality. With over 20 years of experience as an international development practitioner, she has worked with communities, governments, and local and international organizations to strengthen systems, and empower leaders to create lasting social change. 

On behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Bemo has worked with poor and vulnerable communities across the globe, especially those impacted by natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and conflicts.  Examples of her work include leading the Foundation’s global humanitarian response program such as Haiti earthquake, West Africa, Ebola outbreak, cyclone Idai in Mozambique, investing in programs to strengthen the capacity of local and regional humanitarian agencies to better respond to emergencies, supporting the design and implementation of sanitation and health programs for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh and Syrian refugees in Jordanian refugee camps, and co-leading interventions as part of the Foundation’s Africa response to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Throughout her work, Dr. Bemo’s approach is grounded in a commitment to and passion for solutions that will shift mindsets and remove institutional and systemic barriers to empower individuals and groups to create locally grown solutions.  She brings an abundance of optimism, energy, and authenticity to her work.  As a Life coach, Yoga Teacher, Nature Conscious, team leader, and facilitator, Dr. Bemo cultivates an atmosphere of playful creativity and innovation, a sense of adventure, and collaboration.

Dr. Bemo received her MD from the University of Cote d'Ivoire, an Epidemiology Diploma from the University of Paris, and her MPH from Madrid Autonoma University.  She is a certified trainer and coach. 

For 32 years now, Hasina has been working to provide a sustainable livelihood in a safe environment for women and children. What started out as a mission in her home state of Meghalaya has today evolved into a global program that aims to put an end to human trafficking and exploitation worldwide.

Her work stands on two pillars: the first is Impulse NGO Network, which was conceptualized in 1987 and is a significant force against human trafficking today; the second pillar is Impulse Social Enterprises which aims to promote local artisans and create a sustainable livelihood that helps prevent unsafe migration, which often leads to human trafficking.

Ms.Kharbhih created the nationally and internationally acknowledged Impulse Model (formerly known as The Meghalaya Model) a holistic method to address human trafficking. On the basis of the Model, key stakeholders from the public and private sectors work in collaboration to combat human trafficking and strengthen each other’s work by incorporating some fundamental components. Impulse Model has led to INGON receiving accolades such as the Japanese Award For Most Innovative Development Project category under its Global Development Awards and Medals Competition in 2012 from the Japanese Social Development Fund for the Government of Japan which has also supported the organisation to scale its work in Myanmar since 2013, Nepal and Bangladesh. She is a trainer, Motivational Speaker, Writer, and Poet, and published many books and articles.

Ms.Kharbhih has gained multi-sector expertise, including leadership and Institutional Management, human rights, livelihood and rural development, anti-human trafficking, migration, gender-based violence, child rights, HIV/AIDS education and intervention, substance abuse, and adolescent health. She is a Motivational Speaker at various Nationally and Internationally at various forums, both private and Public forums. She is widely covered by the media, both print and electronic, nationally and internationally. 

Nadine Richani is a fierce advocate for equity with a long-standing commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of marginalized communities across MENA. She connects a local, national, and regional perspective with a global bird’s eye view.

Nadine is the Regional Director for MENA at Porticus, an international organization that manages and develops the philanthropic programs of charitable entities established by the Brenninkmeijer family entrepreneurs. Over her tenure at Porticus, she has developed the organizational strategy for their peacebuilding engagement globally and managed a team of peacebuilding program managers in three regional offices. She also co-founded one of Porticus’ special entities called Community Arts Lab, which focuses on using the arts for social change. Since 2021, Nadine is also the Organizational Transformation Lead at Porticus.

Over the last 30 years, Nadine has built stellar skills across critical leadership and programmatic skills such as strategy development and grantmaking. Nadine has led the development of equitable and comprehensive MEL systems aiming at systemic social change focused on education, migration, peacebuilding, arts, climate change, and agriculture. She consulted several INGOs, private sector companies, and bilateral organizations on strategy development, quality control, workflow and processes optimization, organizational setup and development, leadership development, and the Middle East region. Nadine is also a certified facilitator and Deep Transformation Coach. She is a coach at the NGO academy at the University of Economy in Vienna. She speaks Arabic, French, and English.

Julie Pybus is a journalist focusing on the worldwide impact community.

She is the global editor at Pioneers Post, the independent news network for social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and mission-driven businesses.

She also trains young journalists and social entrepreneurs, speaks at events, and has written for national titles including The Guardian, The Observer, and El Pais.

As a communications specialist, she works with social enterprises and charities to hone their publications, websites, and other communications.

Natalie Rekstad leads a purpose-driven life as a Mother and the Founder and CEO of Black Fox Philanthropy, a leading fundraising firm serving international NGOs and domestic nonprofits. As a B Corp social enterprise, Black Fox Philanthropy's mission is to help worthy organizations attract significant and sustainable funding so they can drive deep and lasting social change.

Natalie helps build fundraising capacity for NGOs through a series of trainings held around the world, including as a delegate and contributor to the Skoll World Forum, Ashoka, Opportunity Collaboration, and the ecosystem of the World Economic Forum.

Natalie is a Women Moving Millions member, a gender-lens angel investor, and a member of the Founders Pledge. Further, she has been honored by Conscious Company Media as a “World Changing Woman in Conscious Business", and her firm, Black Fox Philanthropy, is proud to be selected as a B Corp “Best for the World” Honoree as a Changemaker.

As founding Executive Director of the Program on Social Entrepreneurship, she connected grassroots activists, philanthropy, academia, and the private sector through a platform for social entrepreneurs to share ideas on democracy and civil society that continue to thrive at the university.

From 1996 to 2010, Kavita served as President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women. Under her leadership, the Fund exponentially grew in assets becoming the world’s largest public foundation for women’s rights. The Fund supported women in more than 170 countries providing access to financial capital that fueled innovation, and Kavita played key roles in philanthropic and policy circles. Her vision, drive, and management skills inspired individual and institutional donors to invest in education, defend reproductive rights, end violence and ensure women’s economic independence.

Kavita complements her global experience with many years spent combatting inequality and racial injustice in the United States during her tenure as a Program Officer at the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Her work in community development and economic justice culminated in leading a delegation of community organizers to the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. She also supported population and reproductive health and rights work in India, Brazil, Mexico, and Nigeria.

Currently, Kavita serves on the boards of Grist, a non-profit independent source of journalism for climate solutions, and the board of ISEA Capital, an innovative SPAC focused on maximizing social impact.

Most recently, she completed her term on the boards of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Women’s Link Worldwide. She has previously served on the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum, the Investment Committee of the C&A Foundation, and as an Advisor to Room to Read, Trickle Up, and the America India Foundation. She is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute. Prior board tenure includes the Global Development Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the General Service Foundation, the Women’s Funding Network, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Guttmacher Institute.

A gifted communicator, Kavita has spoken at the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the World Economic Forum, TED, and the United Nations. Media appearances include NOW with the Bill Moyers Show, the PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Democracy Now!, and CNN.

An accomplished writer, she has written for the Huffington Post, Nation, Foreign Policy, and Conscience. Her numerous leadership awards include recognition by Mills College and Mount Holyoke College with the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters; the Women Deliver 100: The Most Inspiring People Delivering for Girls and Women 2010; The 2010 Legal Momentum Women of Achievement Award; and the 2010 Council on Foundations Robert Scrivner Award for Most Creative Grantmaker of the Year.