UpNext: Emerging Leaders

Who’s UpNext? Aliyah Qayum! She is a participant in the Emerging Young Global Leaders Accelerator program 2020 North American edition. She is also someone who is passionate about coding and empowering women through technology.

Having coded three apps in the past years, Aliyah wishes to take on her next endeavour to tackle the important issue of period poverty. She believes that all women and girls in the world should have access to sufficient sanitary products to fulfill their basic needs. It was surprising for her to find out that so many women and girls don’t have access to sanitary products due to poverty, causing them great inefficiency in participating in daily activities such as going to school.

Aliyah plans to launch an app to help in solving this issue. This educational trivia app will donate sanitary products to local women’s shelters for every correct answer to questions about period poverty. All the profits from the advertisement will also be used to ensure that sanitary products can be provided to those who need the most.

How did Aliyah find out about this program? What was her most valuable session? Is there any way you can help her to make this project come to life? Learn more about Aliyah and her experience by listening to this week’s UpNext episode: Code for Change with Aliyah Qayum. Available on Spotify.

It’s time for UpNext! This week, we had the pleasure to speak with Ashley Hall, a participant of the Emerging Young Global Leaders Accelerator Program 2020 North American edition. 

17-year-old Ashley said that she took a leap of faith when she signed up for the YGL program and was thrilled to be immersed in this inspirational and supportive environment of the 10-day accelerator program. She describes herself as someone who has an ambition brighter than the stars. She told us that the YGL program helped her to gain a more comprehensive perspective into entrepreneurship. 

Not only the YGL program supported her in ameliorating the current business strategies of her own brand, but it also gave Ashely inspiration in her future personal and professional development journey. She was inspired by both the professionals and her fellow participants in the program as they introduced fresh perspectives to her world. One of the most memorable moments for Ashley is when she bravely stepped out of her comfort zone and delivered the business idea pitch to all other participants in the program. This experience helped Ashley to gain more confidence in herself and in her pitch idea. She wants to support black and brown girls in receiving a quality education that they deserve.

What to learn more about Ashley and her journey at the YGL program? Dive into this week’s episode: Crushing the Walls with Ashely Hall. Available on Spotify.

This episode was hosted by Echo Jiang. It was edited by Zola Mirenge and engineered by Zenga McCurdy.