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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A personal question to our community from Ingmar Rentzhog, Founder of We Don’t Have Time: The Bigger Question Behind the Aviation Debate Ingmar Rentzhog wearing the “Make Science Great Again” hat while speaking on the “Decarbonising Businesses” stage at Economist Sustainability Week in London on March 3. Climate solutions require open dialogue and a science based approach to replacing fossil fuels with better alternatives. Photo: The Economist. Last week, I shared a story about flying with my family after ten years of avoiding flights. It was a very personal and somewhat fragile story for me to share publicly. The discussion that followed reveals a deeper question facing the climate movement today: how do we accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels while still allowing people the freedom to travel, connect, and explore the world? For this trip, we chose a non-fossil alternative by purchasing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) that matched the flight’s full fossil fuel use. On We Don’t Have Time, the discussion has been constructive, thoughtful, and respectful. Many people have also written very encouraging messages, saying they appreciate that I dare to talk openly about solutions that already exist in aviation, even if they are not yet perfect. On social media, outside our platform, some reactions have been much harsher. There has been strong criticism, and in some cases, personal attacks directed not only at me, but also at my family. That kind of tone does not move the climate conversation forward. At We Don’t Have Time we believe in dialogue. Solving the climate crisis will require many perspectives, honest conversations, and the ability to respectfully disagree while still working toward the same goal. At the same time, the intensity of the reaction tells us something important. When discussions about real solutions create strong emotions, it often means we are touching on one of the defining questions of the transition. Most people who care about the climate agree on the destination. But we do not always agree on the best path to get there. Different people who care deeply about the climate often come to different conclusions about the best path forward. The transition away from fossil fuels is not a simple or black-and-white question. That is exactly why open dialogue matters. So instead of talking past each other, let us ask the question openly. What do you think is the best way forward? 1. Reduce first We should sharply reduce consumption and mobility across society, phase out fossil fuels as fast as possible, and accept major lifestyle changes and sacrifices in the short term. Only once fossil fuels are largely eliminated should we scale technologies that allow higher levels of consumption again. ­ Vote ­ 2. Technology first We should focus primarily on scaling clean technologies as fast as possible. Innovation and markets will replace fossil fuels without requiring major limits on people’s lifestyles. ­ Vote ­ 3. Both together We should phase out fossil fuels while at the same time embracing and scaling non fossil solutions, even if they are not perfect yet. Regulation and innovation should move in parallel. ­ Vote ­ Vote and share your reasoning in the comments. We will publish the results next week. The goal is not that everyone agrees on every step. The goal is that we move forward together toward the same destination: a prosperous and fossil free future where humanity has learned to live within the planetary boundaries. Thanks for being part of the We Don’t Have Time community. This Debate Didn’t Start Last Week Neste, the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), has started producing SAF at its renewable products refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The refinery has been modified to enable Neste to produce up to 500,000 tons of SAF per annum. As a result, Neste’s global SAF production capability has increased to 1.5 million tons (around 1.875 billion liters) per annum. Six months ago I wrote an op-ed in Sweden responding to a column celebrating record levels of air travel in Europe. My argument then was simple: the problem is not that people want to travel. The problem is that we still travel on fossil fuels. We don’t need to stop travelling. We need to stop travelling on oil. That requires phasing out fossil fuel subsidies while scaling fossil-free alternatives such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel, e-fuels, and electric aviation. You can read the English version of that article here: “Should We Really Celebrate Aviation’s Fossil Record?” Looking back, the debate we are having today is really about the same question: How do we replace fossil fuels fast enough while maintaining the freedom to travel and connect with the world? ­ Read the op-ed ­ ­ Join the campaign #MoveTheTravel ­ Energy Security Is Incompatible with Fossil Fuels Israeli fighter jets on their way to attack Iran in mid-June 2025. Photo credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit/Wikimedia Commons The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has unleashed chaos on the global energy market. Historically, such shocks have triggered a rush to stockpile fossil fuels and backsliding down the energy ladder. On a longer timescale, however, they have pushed world leaders toward greater investment in energy independence. This latest crisis comes at a unique time for climate diplomacy:  André Corrêa do Lago, following up on commitments made during COP30, has just called for stakeholder contributions to the much anticipated roadmap for a transition away from fossil fuels. It is expected that these contributions will feed directly into the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, to be held in Colombia this April. We’ve seen many energy shocks before but this time a diplomatic infrastructure exists that could guide the world to the only long-term solution to the never-ending energy crises: leaving fossil fuels for good. Click below to read our full analysis. ­ The Last Energy Crisis ­ ­ COP30 Presidency Consultations on Roadmaps ­ ­ First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels ­ Centering Women’s Voices to  End the Fossil Fuel Era Speakers at the WECAN Press Conference “Indigenous Women from the Amazon: Calls for Urgent Action on the Path to COP30” held at COP29 in Baku, 2024.  Photo Credit: Katherine Quaid / WECAN International As the world lurches toward a reckoning with fossil fuels, the question of who shapes that transition will determine how just it proves to be. With that in mind this International Women’s Day, we are thrilled to be part of a vital convening of women’s climate leadership. On March 31, the Women’s Momentum Assembly for a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout will bring together over 20 global leaders, including former Irish President Mary Robinson, Indigenous Brazilian congresswoman Célia Xakriabá, and youth climate leader Mitzi Jonelle Tan, in a free virtual gathering to build momentum ahead of the Colombia conference. With real-time interpretation in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, it’s a truly global conversation open to all. The need for women’s leadership at this moment couldn’t be clearer. The UN estimates that by 2050, climate change could push 158 million more women and girls into poverty. Historically, multilateral negotiations have underrepresented the communities bearing the greatest costs of fossil fuel dependence. And research consistently shows that climate policies shaped by those most affected produce stronger, more durable outcomes. Women aren’t waiting to be invited into this conversation. They’re organizing it. ­ Learn more about the Women’s Momentum Assembly ­ ­ Register to attend for free ­

­ Some highlights from last week:    Why 99% of glass eels are gone and how we can save them When the far-right governs, climate risk rises – 2026 French Municipal Elections  Sodium ion batteries: Right facts, wrong conclusion!   Greece approves Prinos CO2 storage project  EU codifies 90% decarbonization goal Scotland legalises water cremation   Portugal fined £8.7 million for failing to protect biodiversity Blackwater lakes in the Congo Basin are emitting ancient stored carbon Take a deep breath Events & Broadcasts    Mar 10–12: The Launch of the Nature for Life Hub Learning Journeys  Mar 11–25: Klimatsoffan – election interviews with all Swedish parties  Mar 31: Women’s Momentum Assembly for a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout

­ Follow us ­ ­ © 2026 We Don’t Have Time, PO Box 141, SE-118 72, Stockholm, Sweden www.wedonthavetime.org info@wedonthavetime.org ­ We Don’t Have Time is the world’s largest media platform for climate action—with a mission to democratize knowledge about climate solutions and inspire and mobilize global action toward a prosperous, fossil-free future. Boasting a community of 100,000+ climate professionals and influencers in 180 countries, and partnerships with 350+ companies, government- and civil society organizations, We Don’t Have Time reaches 200 million people each month on social media. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with offices in Washington, D.C., and Nairobi, Kenya. ­ This email was sent to paul.sladkus1@gmail.com. Read our integrity policy.

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The response to the Fundamentals of Prenatal Yoga Teaching workshop invitation has been incredible. Thank you for being drawn to support, guide and inspire pregnant students and new moms. I want to understand where you are on your teaching path now, so I can support you better in the workshop. Do you have a minute to answer one question?   If a pregnant person asked you to teach them a 20-minute practice right now, what would be your biggest worry or question? You can reply with a sentence, a few words, or whatever comes to mind. I read and reply to every email. And if you’re busy, no pressure to respond. I’m looking forward to connecting with you. With gratitude and support, Jessica Fundamentals of Prenatal Yoga Teaching 02/12/2026 09:00 9-10:30am PT / 12-1:30pm ET Zoom link for your calendar: https://mayoga.zoom.us/s/82665959292

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Liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army, January 1945.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, is an international memorial day on 27 January that commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of one-third of the Jewish people along with countless numbers of individuals of other minority groups, by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945: an attempt to implement its “Final Solution” to the Jewish question. The choice of 27 January for the annual commemoration aligns with the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army in 1945.

The day commemorates the systematic extermination of 6 million Jews, representing two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population, alongside the deaths of millions of others perpetrated by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.^[1][2] It was designated by United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/7 on 1 November 2005.^[3] The resolution was developed following a special session convened on 24 January of that year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps and the conclusion of the Holocaust.^[4][5][6][7]

Many countries have instituted their own Holocaust memorial days. Many, such as the United Kingdom’s Holocaust Memorial Day, also fall on 27 January; others, such as Yom HaShoah (27 Nisan on the Hebrew calendar), the commemoration day observed by the State of Israel and much of the broader Jewish community, are observed at other times of the year.

Resolution 60/7, adopted by the General Assembly on 1 November 2005, established 27 January as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution urges every member nation of the UN to honor the memory of Holocaust victims, six million Jews, “one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities,” and encourages the development of educational programs about Holocaust history to help prevent future acts of genocide. It rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an event and condemns all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief. It also calls for actively preserving the Holocaust sites that served as Nazi death camps, concentration camps, forced labor camps and prisons, as well as for establishing a UN programme of outreach and mobilization of society for Holocaust remembrance and education.^[3]

Resolution 60/7 and the International Holocaust Day was an initiative of the State of Israel. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, Silvan Shalom, was the head of the delegation of Israel to the United Nations.^[8]

The essence of the text lies in its twofold approach: one that deals with the memory and remembrance of those who were massacred during the Holocaust and the other with educating future generations of its horrors.

The International Day in memory of the victims of the Holocaust is thus a day on which we must reassert our commitment to human rights. […]

We must also go beyond remembrance, and make sure that new generations know this history. We must apply the lessons of the Holocaust to today’s world. And we must do our utmost so that all peoples may enjoy the protection and rights for which the United Nations stands.

— Message by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the second observance of the Holocaust Victims Memorial Day on 19 January 2008^[9]

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Answer – When it rains , it rains equally on stone and on sand. *The rain doesn’t discriminate between stone and sand.* But the water washes away from stone , and seeps in and enriches the sand. Similarly , *grace and blessings are showered on everyone.* Where people are like stone , it washes away. *Where people are like sand, the blessings manifest. Blessings are given unconditionally.*

It depends how ready are we to receive them…!??

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I hope everyone is sheltering safely during this extraordinary time of a world pandemic.

Kudos to WXXI Public Broadcasting for airing “Asian Americans,” a five-part series to take us back in time from the 1800s to present. Knowing and learning history lessons will teach us to make better decisions today and for our future. Below is a description of each episode. We have partnered with WXXI to spotlight local Asian Americans from Rochester, New York. Please tune in and feel free to forward to your families, friends and networks!

Episode 1 – Breaking Ground

Monday 5/11 at 8 p.m.

In an era of exclusion and U.S. empire, new immigrants arrive from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and beyond. Barred by anti-Asian laws they become America’s first “undocumented immigrants,” yet build railroads that dazzle on the silver screen, and take their fight for equality to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Episode 2 – Question of Loyalty

Monday 5/11 at 9 p.m.

An American-born generation straddles their country of birth and their parents’ homelands in Japan and Korea. Those loyalties are tested during World War II, when families are imprisoned in detention camps, and brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the battle lines.

Episode 3 – Good Americans

Tuesday 5/12 at 8 p.m.

During the Cold War years, Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a Model Minority, and targeted as the perpetual foreigner. It is also a time of bold ambition, as Asian Americans aspire for the first time to national political office and a coming culture-quake simmers beneath the surface.

Episode 4 – Generation Rising

Tuesday 5/12 at 9 p.m.

During a time of war and social tumult, as young generation fights for equality in the fields, on campuses and in the culture, and claims a new identity: Asian Americans. The war’s aftermath brings new immigrants and refugees who expand the population and the definition of Asian America.

Episode 5 – Breaking Through

Tuesday 5/12 at 10 p.m.

At the turn of the new millennium, the national conversation turns to immigration, race, and economic disparity. As the U.S. becomes more diverse, yet more divided, a new generation of Asian Americans tackle the question, how do we as a nation move forward together?

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“A wise man can learn more
from a foolish question,
than a fool can learn
from a wise answer.”

~ Bruce Lee

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