In global development, few professionals have seen the system from as many vantage points as Hermina Johnny. A former United Nations specialist in partnerships, sustainable development, and gender equality, Johnny built her career navigating complex institutions designed to shape the future.

But it was a simple, recurring question—one she found herself asking in meeting after meeting—that ultimately changed her path:

Where are the women and youth?

“I sat in rooms focused on solutions for women and young people,” Johnny says. “Yet they were often missing from the decision-making spaces themselves.”

That disconnect—between intention and inclusion—became the catalyst for Aspire Artemis Foundation, the global nonprofit she founded to bridge the gap between policy and access.

From Global Frameworks To Ground-Level Impact

Johnny’s work across the UN system, the European Parliament, and international organizations placed her at the center of high-level coordination on issues ranging from climate change to human rights.

Her mandate was clear: build partnerships and design solutions.

But over time, she began to see a structural flaw.

“Too much of the system is built around conversation,” she says. “Not enough is built around access.”

Despite widespread commitments to gender equality—including global targets for parity by 2030—Johnny observed that representation in leadership remains uneven, particularly for women and youth from underserved communities.

Her response wasn’t to push for incremental reform—it was to build a parallel pathway.

Building A Pipeline, Not Just A Platform

Aspire Artemis Foundation operates at the intersection of education, workforce development, and innovation—with a focus on underserved youth, especially girls and communities across the Global South.

Its mission is both ambitious and pragmatic: equip, empower, and educate the next generation of leaders in a digital economy that is rapidly leaving many behind.

“At Aspire Artemis, we don’t just talk about opportunity—we structure it,” Johnny explains.

The organization delivers programming across STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), combining technical training with mentorship, leadership development, and real-world exposure. Its initiatives range from AI and digital literacy to entrepreneurship, policy engagement, and cultural innovation.

Central to its model is what Johnny calls the EMI framework—Educate, Mentor, Intern—a three-part system designed to move young people from potential to placement.

“We’re not just preparing young people to participate in the future,” she says. “We’re preparing them to shape it.”

The Mentorship Gap—and Why It Matters

One of Johnny’s key insights is that talent is universal—but access is not.

“Mentorship is one of the most underestimated drivers of success,” she says. “It’s often the difference between someone seeing a possibility and actually achieving it.”

For many young people, particularly in underserved communities, that access is limited or nonexistent.

“In places where youth unemployment is high, internships and unpaid opportunities are not realistic options,” she notes. “You can’t build a career pathway if you’re focused on survival.”

Aspire Artemis addresses this gap by connecting young people with global mentors, creating pipelines into industries where representation has historically been low.

The model is already showing results—from students gaining international exposure to young leaders advancing into professional roles and leadership positions.

Rethinking Women’s Leadership In The Digital Economy

Johnny is particularly focused on the future of work—and who gets left out of it.

In the tech sector, the disparities are stark: only 2% of venture capital funding goes to women-led startups, with even fewer resources reaching women in developing markets.

“That’s not a pipeline problem—it’s an access problem,” Johnny says.

Her solution is to rethink how talent is identified, trained, and supported—starting earlier and scaling faster.

Aspire Artemis integrates arts and creativity into STEM, promoting a more holistic approach to innovation—one that prioritizes emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and human-centered design.

“The future of technology isn’t just about code,” she says. “It’s about context. It’s about who is building—and who it’s being built for.”

Why Representation Requires Action—Not Rhetoric

While global conversations around diversity and inclusion have gained traction, Johnny is clear-eyed about what’s still missing.

“We’ve moved past awareness,” she says. “Now it’s about execution.”

That includes measurable commitments to representation across business, government, and industry—and a broader cultural shift in how leadership is defined.

She also emphasizes the role of men in accelerating change.

“The most effective progress happens when men are active participants in advancing gender equality—not just observers.”

A Founder’s Mindset: Resilience, Speed And Vision

Johnny’s leadership style reflects the environments she’s worked in: fast-moving, high-pressure, and outcome-driven.

Her guiding principle?

“Think of yourself as falling into oncoming traffic—get up, dust yourself off, and move forward at great speed.”

It’s a mindset rooted in resilience—but also urgency.

In a world shaped by rapid technological change, Johnny believes the cost of inaction is too high.

“We can’t afford to wait for systems to evolve,” she says. “We have to build new ones.”

The Bigger Picture: Inclusive Innovation At Scale

With a growing global network of partners spanning governments, corporations, and multilateral institutions, Aspire Artemis is scaling its impact while maintaining a focused mission: create equitable access to opportunity in the digital age.

Its flagship initiatives—including high-level summits held during the United Nations General Assembly—bring together policymakers, technologists, and young leaders to drive cross-sector collaboration.

But for Johnny, the real measure of success isn’t attendance—it’s outcomes.

“We’re creating pathways,” she says. “Real, tangible pathways for people who have historically been excluded from them.”

The Bottom Line

Hermina Johnny isn’t just building an organization—she’s building infrastructure for inclusion.

Her work sits at a critical intersection: where global policy meets local reality, and where the future of work will be defined not just by innovation—but by who has access to it.

“We don’t just want young people to have a seat at the table,” she says.
“We want them to build the table.”

About Hermina Johnny

Hermina Johnny is a humanitarian and global development leader specializing in gender equality, human rights, and sustainable development. She has worked across the United Nations system, the European Parliament, and the International Organization for Migration, as well as in the private sector.

She is the Founder of Aspire Artemis Foundation, a global nonprofit advancing equity through STEAM education, mentorship, and inclusive innovation.

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The digital economy loves to talk about innovation. It talks far less about access.

As artificial intelligence accelerates, tech valuations soar, and governments race toward digital transformation, one question sits uncomfortably beneath the headlines: Who is being prepared to participate—and who is being systematically left out?

Hermina Johnny is not interested in incremental change. She is interested in structural correction.

Born in Saint Lucia and shaped by years of living and working across the United States and Europe, Johnny has positioned herself at the intersection of education, economic strategy, and gender equity. As Founder and Executive Director of the Aspire Artemis Foundation, she is working to redesign the pipeline into science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM)—with a deliberate focus on girls and underrepresented communities.

And she is unapologetic about the stakes.

“Digital transformation without intentional inclusion doesn’t close gaps—it widens them.”

From Global Policy To Ground-Level Access

Johnny’s academic background spans international relations, economics, anthropology, and international law. She earned her undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and completed an LL.M. in International Law and International Relations in Brussels, later pursuing research in constitutionalism and fundamental rights.

But rather than remaining in policy circles, she moved toward execution.

Global development frameworks routinely articulate commitments to equity. Yet implementation often stalls at the structural level. Johnny saw that disconnect firsthand.

So she built an institution designed to close it.

Education As Economic Infrastructure

Through the Aspire Artemis Foundation, Johnny develops STEAM-focused leadership programs, global symposia, and digital literacy initiatives that go beyond exposure. The organization integrates arts into STEM disciplines—not as decoration, but as strategic design—training young people to think adaptively in a workforce defined by rapid change.

Her framing is deliberately economic.

STEAM education, she argues, is not a social side project. It is workforce architecture.

“If education isn’t treated as infrastructure, we shouldn’t be surprised when opportunity collapses under pressure.”

Under her leadership, the foundation has convened programming connected to international development discussions and United Nations–related venues, reinforcing a simple but disruptive thesis: innovation ecosystems that exclude women are economically inefficient.

The conversation, she insists, must shift from representation optics to structural preparation.

Encouragement is not a strategy. Infrastructure is.

Small States, Global Systems — And Female Leadership

Johnny’s work also challenges geographic bias in global innovation narratives. Participation in forums linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN General Assembly, and the ECOSOC Science, Technology and Innovation Forum places her within high-level policy discussions.

At the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), debates centered on resilience and connectivity. For Johnny, the message was direct: small island nations cannot diversify their economies without digital capability.

And digital capability does not appear spontaneously. It is built—intentionally.

As a woman leader from a small island state, Johnny’s presence in these arenas disrupts two assumptions at once: that innovation leadership belongs to large economies, and that systems change is driven primarily by traditional power centers.

“Geography should not determine destiny. Neither should gender.”

Strategy Meets Execution

Before founding her nonprofit, Johnny built experience in business strategy and legal advisory work, including corporate and intellectual property matters. That foundation shapes her leadership style—analytical, cross-sector, and systems-focused.

But she refuses to operate solely at altitude.

She continues to teach and develop educational materials, maintaining direct engagement with learners. The result is rare: a leader equally fluent in boardroom strategy and classroom realities.

In conversations about women in technology, she pushes back against surface-level diversity narratives.

Representation without preparation, she argues, sets women up to enter systems that were never designed for them to succeed.

Structured pathways, market-aligned skills, mentorship networks, and institutional accountability are non-negotiable.

The Real Leadership Test

The digital economy disproportionately rewards early exposure and sustained access. Johnny’s work is built around intervening before exclusion calcifies into inevitability.

By positioning STEAM education as both an equity imperative and an economic growth strategy, she reframes inclusion not as charity—but as competitiveness.

In her view, the most dangerous myth in innovation culture is that talent naturally rises.

Talent rises when infrastructure supports it.

“The question isn’t whether women can lead in technology. The question is whether systems are willing to evolve fast enough to make room.”

In the expanding landscape of women in leadership, Hermina Johnny represents a category of leader that is increasingly impossible to ignore: not symbolic, not peripheral—but systemic.

She is not asking to be included in the digital economy.

She is helping decide who gets to build it.

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#ClimateChange

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Dhaka, Bangladesh –— The World Talent Economy Forum Institute (WTEFI) proudly announces its official launch as a pioneering global platform dedicated to advancing education, entrepreneurship, and innovation-driven economic development. Founded by Professor Dr. Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana, the Institute serves as a hub for thought leadership, policy dialogue, and talent development to address 21st-century challenges in business, technology, and sustainability.

Building upon the success of the World Talent Economy Forum, the Institute aims to connect global experts, policymakers, and young innovators to co-create actionable solutions that promote inclusive growth and equitable opportunities. Its programs include leadership development, CEO training, startup incubation, and international collaboration on frontier technologies such as AI, renewable energy, and digital finance.

“The World Talent Economy Forum Institute is committed to transforming talent into action. We believe that education and innovation are the twin engines for creating a sustainable and equitable global economy,” said Professor Rana, Founder and President of the Institute. “Through global partnerships and research-based initiatives, we seek to empower future leaders to drive meaningful change.”

The Institute also plans to host annual global dialogues, leadership summits, and innovation bootcamps across Asia, Europe, and North America. Its collaboration with universities, governments, and private enterprises will accelerate research and capacity-building for emerging economies.

About the World Talent Economy Forum Institute
The World Talent Economy Forum Institute (WTEFI) is a global initiative dedicated to fostering innovation, leadership, and sustainable economic transformation. Its mission is to empower individuals and institutions with knowledge, skills, and networks to build resilient, inclusive societies.

https://www.youtube.com/@wteforum1212/streams

https://wteforum.org/

https://wtefi.org/

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Dhaka, Bangladesh – 22 August 2025 – The World Talent Economy Forum Institute (WTEFI) is proud to announce the launch of its Center of Excellence in South Asia, a groundbreaking initiative designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership development across the region and beyond.

 Watch the announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlMYsIpnqMM

The Center of Excellence will serve as a global hub for research, training, and capacity building, advancing WTEFI’s mission to connect talent with opportunity and accelerate sustainable economic growth. By leveraging cross-sector partnerships and global expertise, the center will empower youth, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and educators to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Key strategic partners joining this initiative include:

Blab Japan – advancing international collaboration and innovation.

Tando Institute – spearheading climate leadership and sustainability education.

PRBC (Pacific Research & Business Council) – driving policy and industry integration.

PRCC (Pacific Regional Cooperation Council) – fostering cross-border cooperation.

Africa Youth Kingdom – empowering young leaders across the African continent.

International Longevity Alliance – promoting global health, aging research, and longevity innovation.

iByond USA – delivering cutting-edge intelligent interoperability and quantum-driven solutions.

Climate Innovation – leading initiatives on sustainability, resilience, and green technologies.

Daffodil International University, IUT Bangladesh, CUET Business Incubation, ADUST Bangladesh

In addition, the Center of Excellence will integrate expertise and networks from all global partners of the World Talent Economy Forum, creating an inclusive platform for dialogue, research, and solution-driven programs.

“The launch of the Center of Excellence in South Asia is a milestone in our journey to build a knowledge-driven, inclusive global economy. By uniting our diverse partners from Asia, Africa, and beyond, we are shaping a new model of talent development and global cooperation,” said Dr. Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana, President of the World Talent Economy Forum Institute.

The South Asia Center of Excellence will focus on:

Innovation & Research – advancing applied research in AI, technology, and sustainable development.

Leadership Development – training the next generation of leaders in governance, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

Climate & Sustainability – driving inclusive solutions for climate adaptation and resilience.

Global Collaboration – connecting academic, industry, and government leaders worldwide.

The initiative reflects WTEFI’s belief that global partnerships are essential for tackling today’s complex challenges — from climate change and digital transformation to economic inclusion and education reform.

For more information, partnership opportunities, or media inquiries, please contact:

World Talent Economy Forum Institute

 Email: presidentwteforum@gmail.com

 Website: wteforum.org

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We are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership between the World Talent Economy Forum Institute and 400 leading human resource corporations in Japan — a bold step forward in research and innovation collaboration.

Cutting-edge research

Talent mobility programs

Innovation-driven education

Sustainable development goals (SDGs)

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Protesters in New York City in September joined thousands of others around the world in urging governments to act on climate change. Credit: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

The past year has given many of us reason to pause. We are losing in a race to prevent planetary tipping points — the climate is changing faster than expected, and humanity has already breached six of the nine sustainable planetary boundaries (for biodiversity loss; climate, freshwater and land-system change; biogeochemical flows; and novel entities)¹. Summer Antarctic sea ice shrank to its lowest recorded extent in 2023 (see go.nature.com/4f86req), a year that is on track to be the warmest on record (see go.nature.com/4f9ykdj).

People around the world recognize that life is not getting any better. As wars rage, runaway inequality and political polarization are eroding societies’ sense of cohesion. Eight individuals owned more than the poorest 50% of the world’s population, according to an Oxfam report in 2017². Levels of anxiety, depression and burnout are rocketing. Full-time employees are unable to pay rent and must turn to extra part-time work to make ends meet, while employers cut staff and increase workloads.

Crises are now normal in this global economic system that depletes natural and social capital, energy and time in the name of economic growth at all costs.

But, looking to 2024, I’m hopeful that the world can turn in a better direction. For example, a meeting I attended in May on sustainable prosperity particularly buoyed my spirits — and, in my view, signalled a tipping point in thinking and governance. The Beyond Growth conference at the European Parliament attracted more than 2,500 participants in person, as well as 2,000 online. It was sponsored by the European Commission and the Club of Rome (a non-profit organization fostering research and action around pressing global issues).

In a stirring opening address, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said that governments must stop misusing growth of gross domestic product (GDP) as their goal and instead move swiftly and urgently to sustainable well-being within planetary boundaries. She got a standing ovation. Agata Meysner, the young leader of Generation Climate Europe, a coalition of climate and environmental networks across the bloc, concluded the event with a call to join the “movement of movements” to create a new economy based on sustainable prosperity, justice and sufficiency. Everyone rose to their feet.

And an increasing number of organizations and movements dedicated to overcoming our addiction to GDP growth are working together to do just that, including through networks such the Wellbeing Economy Alliance (which also supported the conference). The pursuit of GDP growth at all costs is an outdated paradigm that claims that all people want is more income and consumption with no limits. It assumes that the market economy can grow forever, that massive inequality is justified to provide incentives to promote growth, and that efforts to address climate and other environmental and social problems must not interfere with growth. It supposes that growth is the solution to all ills. It isn’t.

As the European conference emphasized, GDP was never designed to measure societal well-being — only market production and consumption. GDP says nothing about the distribution of income, unpaid work or damages to natural or social capital. The misuse of GDP as a policy goal is driving societies towards an unsustainable future that benefits an increasingly small proportion of the population while impoverishing the vast majority².

Researchers must help to provide alternatives. Here’s how.

Design better measures of societal well-being

Hundreds of indicators of societal well-being are already in use, including by the United Nations, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), non-governmental organizations, countries and academics. Examples include the Genuine Progress Indicator; the OECD Better Life Index; and annual surveys of life satisfaction³. To become a societal goal used by all, and to displace GDP, the world must settle on a new indicator. Broad consensus is needed on what should be included.

For example, it is not just income that matters, but also the ways in which it is distributed. The costs of environmental and social degradation must be included, as should contributors to well-being that are unconnected to income — such as our relationships and communities, good governance, the ability to participate in decision-making and ecosystem services provided by the natural environment. Several research initiatives are beginning to address these issues (including one I am involved with, called MERGE, which is funded by the European Union).

Model the complex dynamics of the economic system

Interactions between social, economic and natural elements of societal well-being must be better modelled and future projections developed to assess their sustainability. National examples include the EUROGREEN model, which has been applied to France, and the LowGrow model of the Canadian ecological economy.

The Earth4All model of the Club of Rome takes a global perspective. It explores two scenarios towards 2050. The first — known as business as usual, or too little too late — looks at what will happen if the world continues current trends of increasing inequality, climate disruption and decreasing well-being, even as GDP continues to rise. By contrast, the second scenario, called giant leap, shows how investing in five areas — renewable energy, regenerative food, reducing inequality, eliminating poverty and enabling empowerment — could ensure sustainable, prosperous and equitable well-being for humans and the rest of nature.

For example, rather than rewarding the fossil-fuel sector with enormous subsidies to maintain economic growth at the expense of climate and social disruption, new policies would focus on moving away from fossil fuels. At the same time, policies to achieve the other four turnaround areas would be implemented to enable sustainable well-being, regardless of the effects on GDP.

Develop policies to support sustainable well-being

The EU and the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo) group that includes Scotland, New Zealand, Wales, Finland, Canada and Iceland have begun to implement measures of sustainable well-being and policies to achieve them. Researchers need to analyse these plans and offer lessons to help other nations adopt them. What are these policies? There are many versions, but an open letter I signed in May — together with more than 400 leading economists, scientists, policymakers and activists — provides starting points in four areas. These are biocapacity (protecting the planet), fairness (a more equal society), well-being for all (basic services and rights) and active democracy (see ‘Beyond growth policies’ and go.nature.com/47z3v6s).

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· https://www.theaquaponicsource.com/what-is-aquaponics/

· www.pausetheworldforpeace.org

· Rob Enderle•11:45 AM

https://www.nal.usda.gov/farms-and-agricultural-production-systems/aquaculture-and-aquaponics

· David Smith•11:46 AM

https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/agricultural-productivity-and-innovation/

#agribusinessinnovation #aroundtheworld #wteforum #sharifuddinahmedrana #robenderle #davidsmith #pausetheworldforpeace

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New York –

SDG Global Group (SDG) and Sustainable Alliances and Initiatives for Africa (SIA-Africa) are pleased to announce a strategic collaboration for driving investment into sustainable projects in Africa.

The initial focus of the collaboration is on the agriculture, fintech, digital finance and related sectors. These are key areas where investment, technology and expertise are required for promoting sustainable economic growth and development and where international businesses and investors can add value and participate in the continuing rapid growth.

SDG and SIA-Africa are developing a digital platform to serve investors, businesses, entrepreneurs and specific communities in Africa. The platform will provide data on projects, markets, businesses, and other information to enhance the understanding of the rising opportunities in Africa, and bridge the gap between businesses and investors from around the world and their counterparts in Africa.

Simon Littlewood, CEO of SDG, said: “There is increasing interest in investing in and conducting business in Africa, and from Africa businesses in finding international partners and markets. Currently there is a lack of trusted information, which is hampering business and investment. Our collaboration aims to address that gap.”

Nene Kodjoe, Founding Chair and CEO of SIA-Africa, said: “Sustainable impact investments in Africa is very key to our mandate. We are delighted to partner with SDG Global, their vision and reach is to be commended and we look forward to a successful campaign.”

About SIA-Africa: sia-africa.org
SIA-Africa’s mission is to support initiatives that impact education, health, city planning, trade and economic investments, by matching resources with needs and opportunities. Their goal is to facilitate the delivery of direct impact investments and encourage the youth of Africa to embrace ethical governance, entrepreneurship, science, ICT, technology, engineering and electrical connectivity.

It facilitates action by helping partners connect, collaborate, and invest resources in the communities. We ensure that the projects we support can sustain themselves financially and environmentally. SIA-Africa Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on developing sustainable global alliances to transform education, healthcare, technology, economy and policy across Africa.

About SDG Global – www.sdgglobalgroup.com
SDG is an investment, consulting and advisory group that focuses on investing in and building scalable business in the sustainability sector. The SDG management team has been operating in the sustainability sector and Emerging Markets since the 1980’s. The team has a track record in direct investment, fund management, advisory and capital markets globally, across a wide range of industry sectors. It is highly experienced at bridging the gap between the requirements and expectations of international investors, organizations and businesses, and the realities and difficulties of operating in emerging markets.
In order to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, SDG is building a global network of funding platforms, investment products and partners to meet the urgent need to address climate change by providing the know-how to access unprecedented levels of capital globally for sustainable investment with positive development and returns.

For additional information, please email info@sdgglobalgroup.com

1.) Who is Nene Kodjoe and why did you start SIA-Africa?

2.) What are some initiatives you have going and future events do you have planned for SIA- Africa?

3.) Who benefits from the work SIA-Africa does?

4.) The U.S Africa Leaders summit starts next week in DC, what do you want to see come out of it?

#nenekodjoe #sia-africa #africa #sia #siaafrica #sustainable #alliances #initiatives #projects #investment #technology #expertise #growth #development #bridgethegap #simonlittlewood #globalgroup #education #health #cityplaning #healthcare #economy

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Expo 2020- Invitation 25 October2021

EXPO2020 DUBAI- Energising Sustainability

Open Dialogue-PublicPrivate Collaboration for Climate Change for Water Security

14.00 to 15.15 DubaiTime ( 6 PM Malaysia Time)

PLEASE SHARE OURCONTENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA

AUDIENCE-GOVERNMENT,CORPORATIONSAND MEDIA

Opening Remarks-AznieRahim, Principal Assistant Secretary of Climate Change, Ministry of Environmentand Water of Climate Malaysia,

Moderator: SharifUddin Ahmed Rana ( President-World Talent Economy Forum)

WEEK-4-25 October2021

Climate Resilienceand Sustainable Infrastructure

www.wteforum.org

Youtube-WTE ForumYoutube

Facebook- WorldTalent Economy Forum

Registrationcontact-+60173489486

Best Regards

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana

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