
March 8, 2022 — On the International Women’s Day, Euclid Network (EN) reveals the anticipated Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise 2022 List featuring women leaders in social entrepreneurship and innovation.
EN’s second annual list honours women trailblazers who are helping to shape the European social enterprise ecosystem and leading it into the mainstream. The list is based on more than 500 answers from an open nomination call and an assessment by our esteemed jury, as part of the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise Initiative.
The featured women stood out as having implemented creative and sustainable solutions to create significant positive social and/or environmental impact. They demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and commitment by going beyond their role and inspiring others to channel their potential.
The recognition is not a ranking but rather a list of those who have shone for their innovative approaches and the scape of impact created. Explore the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise List below, get inspired by innovative solutions and join us in celebrating the achievements of women trailblazers.
Top 100 Women In Social Enterprise 2022
Use the buttons below to filter by category and country and tap on cards to read about each woman.
Aisling Kirwan
Occupation: Co-Founder of Positive Carbon
Revolutionary entrepreneur using AI to reduce the impact of food waste
Alba Padró
Occupation: Co-Founder of LactApp
At women's side since the beginning of their new journey
Alessandra Alonso
Occupation: Founder of WOMEN IN TRAVEL CIC
Trailblazing transforming the role of women in travel and tourism industry
Alexandra Machado
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Girl MOVE Academy * Ashoka Fellow
Strong believer of leadership as an act of love
Alison Turner
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Devon and Cornwall Furniture Reuse Project
Trailblazer in the fight for gender equality
Ana Janošev
Occupation: Managing Director of Social Impact Award
Innovative leader dedicated to empowering youth to make a difference
Ancuta Vamesu
Occupation: Founder & CEO Laboratorul de Solidaritate
Experienced leader with a significant portfolio in the civic & social sector
Angela Achitei
Occupation: Founder & CEO of UtilDeco, JobDirect and WISE travel
Strategic leader in social economy
Anja Hirschfelder
Occupation: Managing Director of Impact Hub Leipzig
Transforming collaborative action into a sustainable future
Anna Duszczynska
Occupation: Founder of A.D. new world
Leading social brands to become the champions of a purposeful world
Anna Juusela
Occupation: Founder & CEO of We Encourage
Visionary entrepreneur determined to empower women and prevent domestic abuse
Anna Lindh
Occupation: Founder & Operations Manager at Right To Play Sverige
Change leader creating a better world for children and young people.
Anne-Laure Fayard
Occupation: ERA Chair Professor in Social Innovation
Experienced academic focused on design thinking and social impact
Aoise Keogan Nooshabadi
Occupation: Co-founder of Supply Change
Creator of more inclusive, diverse supply chains that generate positive impact
Arancha Martinez
Occupation: Founder & President of Itwillbe.org and the Common Good Chain
Speaker and dreamer for a world with no poverty
Athina Fragkouli – Sakellaropoulou
Occupation: President of the Executive Committee of the SSP P. Sakellaropoulos
Pioneer of innovative models of mental health services
Betina da Silva Lopes
Occupation: Coordinator for Impact at Cartas com Ciência
Learning and (re)constructing knowledge each day.
Bianca Pouw
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Bijenhotelkopen, Impact-Spots, Impact-Ladies
Passionate entrepreneur creating social initiatives to boost biodiversity and circulair economy
Britta Schaffmeister
Occupation: CEO of Dutch Marine Energy Centre
Innovative entrepreneur specialised in strategy and organisational development
Camila Rodrigues
Occupation: CEO & Founder of Mulheres à Obra (Women at Work)
Inspired social entrepreneur with political science research
Collette Nabyonga
Occupation: Co-Founder of TechInclusionUK
Making digital inclusion happen in the education sector, while championing data privacy
Cynthia Reynolds
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Circular Regions
Driven professional in the reign of circular economy
Dita Formánková
Occupation: Founder & Chairwoman Czechitas | Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Communities Avast
Inspiring women to take on technological and entrepreneurial challenges
Djémilah HASSANI
Occupation: International Strategy Expert for Social Economy
Dedicated professional building partnership for the goals
Dorte Boddum Kronborg
Occupation: Director of Huset Venture Nordjylland
Social entrepreneur focused on job creation and business development
Ebru Metin
Occupation: Founder and CEO of Legal Design Turkey
Trailblazer for human-centered design in the legal field
Edel Lawlor
Occupation: Founder & Director of ExpressivePlay
Psychotherapist helping children of all ages to overcome difficulties
Eleanor Howie
Occupation: Founder &CEO of Valiant Lingerie
Inspiring entrepreneur turning experience into community-wide positive impact
Ellen Oetelmans
Occupation: Program Manager at Amsterdam Impact
Leader dedicated to positive impact and ecosystem building
Eri Pavlaki
Occupation: Founder of Women Do Business
Creative leader helping other women to fulfil their dreams as entrepreneurs
Evoléna de Wilde d’Estmael
Occupation: Co-founder & Managing Director at Faircado & Solidarsty
Climate & women empowerment activist and entrepreneur
Fenella Chambers
Occupation: Senior Associate of Hogan Lovells International LLP
Supporting social enterprises through sustainable growth
Filipa Pinto Coelho
Occupation: President of VilacomVida & CEO of Café Joyeux
Seeker of talent among diversity
Gina Cicerone
Occupation: CEO of the Fair Education Alliance
Leading a movement to make education fair for all
Giulia Faleri
Occupation: Co-Founder and CEO of Vezua
Transforming trade into an act to create social and environmental value
Gizem Kendik Önduygu
Occupation: Chief Marketing and Impact Officer at Toyi
Leading the way into a sustainable and playful planet
Gulnara Shahinian
Occupation: Founder & Chair of Democracy Today & Fiorment UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery
Expert on counter-trafficking, anti-slavery and forced labour
Hülya Aras
Occupation: Co-Founder & CEO of Simbiyoz Aktivite
Guiding disadvantaged groups toward economic independence through entrepreneurship
Iffat Rose Gill
Occupation: Founder & CEO of The Code to Change
Leader-activist promoting economic empowerment of women through digital inclusion
Inês Franco Alexandre
Occupation: Talent Activator Manager at GirlMOVE Academy and Movimento Transformers
Activist and entrepreneur passionate about social impact
Ingun Bol de Bock
Occupation: Founder & President Female Wave of Change
A connector, a community builder, a mentor and social entrepreneur
Isobelle Ford
Occupation: Co-Founder and Director of Anqa Collective and Skylight Ventures
Social innovator supporting refugee entrepreneurs in developing their businesses
Joanna Verney
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Umbrella Café CIC
A problem solver within social entrepreneurship
Juliet Cornford
Occupation: Senior Consultant at the British Council
Expert on development of social enterprise and social investment
Katerina Chantzi
Occupation: Founder and CEO of BinFree/Cleantech Estonia
Contributes to the raising and empowering of women entrepreneurs
Katharina Mayer
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Kuchentratsch GmbH
Living the spirit of intergenerational work
Kelly Keodara
Occupation: Founder of Bloom ry
Advocate of empowerment through education and communication
Kelly Robin
Occupation: Project and Development Director of PULSE
Pioneer for social impact and partnerships in France
Larissa Gleich
Occupation: Founder & CEO of LG - Beratung & Organisation
Startup and Business Consultant helping ideas become reality
Laura Di Santolo
Occupation: Co-Founder & Managing Director at Forward·Inc
Inspired changemaker helping newcomers pursue their entrepreneurial dreams
Laura Gallo
Occupation: CEO of Il Giardinone Cooperativa Sociale
Serial entrepreneur dedicated to circular economy
Laura Guerra-Arias
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Redpanti
Biochemist providing women more comfortable and more sustainable choices
Laura McDermott
Occupation: Director of Academic Experience & Innovation at IE Business School, Madrid
Designing impactful experiences through sustainable innovation
Liene Reine-Miteva
Occupation: Founder & Director of LLC Ligero
Advocate for strong social impact through strategic communication
Lígia Gomes
Occupation: Co-Founder & COO at Peggada
Changemaker providing awareness and tools to live a sustainable life
Liliana Ribeiro
Occupation: CEO of IRIS Social Innovation Incubator
Developer of innovative and collaborative projects
Liz Gleeson
Occupation: Director of Shapes Of Grief
Bereavement therapist provide invaluable support during the grieving process
Luísa Ferreira
Occupation: Head of Social at European Investment Bank Institute
Leader seeking to build people’s skills, leadership and confidence
Margarita Albors
Occupation: Founder & President of Social Nest Foundation
Innovator passionate about entrepreneurship, technology and investing for impact
Marie-Luise Meinhold
Occupation: Founder & CEO of ver.de Projektgesellschaft AG
A champion in the sector of sustainability
Martina Ferracane
Occupation: Founder & President of FabLab Western Sicily
Bringing positive change through creative education
Michelle Smith
Occupation: CEO at Mpower People CIC
Serial entrepreneur helping people improve their lives
Milena Glimbovski
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Original Unpacked and a Good Publisher
Pioneer in the ecological entrepreneurial world
Monique Maissan
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Waste2wear
Dutch entrepreneur and sustainable textile engineer
Naomi Butters
Occupation: Co-Founder & Director of ICENA Ltd
Entrepreneur proving training and consultancy to help create safe and equitable (work)spaces
Neusa Sousa
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Afro Beauty Tea
Teacher and inspiration for women across the world, helping them achieve their dream lifestyle
Nicolina Fransson
Occupation: Founder & CEO at Ommej
A visionary leveraging tech to help children tell their own story
Özge Efendi
Occupation: Co-Founder of bli bla blub & CoLab - Das Community Labor e.V.
Creative nanoscientist bringing discovery to you
Pamela Benitez
Occupation: Founder & CEO of The Virtual Events Experience
Pioneer of social causes through virtual events
Petra Rahn
Occupation: Founder and CEO of Bildungsprofis
Integrating refugees in the labor market since 2015.
Pirkko Valge
Occupation: CEO at Heateo Sihtasutus & Good Deed Foundation
Leader supporting the launch and scaling of high-impact initiatives
Rosa Arias
Occupation: CEO & Founder at Science for Change
Chemical engineer bringing science closer to society for a real impact
Rosie Ginday
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Miss Macaroon
Ispirational innovator ready to conquer society with her sweet tooth
Sabrina Konzok
Occupation: Managing Director of Kiron Digital
Driver and innovator in EdTech and social entrepreneurship
Sam Thomson
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Ardagh Community Trust/Horfield Common CIC
Leader, academic & creative, social entrepreneur. Champion of public parks and green spaces for community wellbeing.
Sára Pásztor
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Jamba in Hungary
Creative and assiduous interdisciplinary professional
Siobhan Cafferty
Occupation: Criminal Justice Sector Social Enterprise Project Manager
Trained facilitator of social enterprise and employment strategy
Sofia Gonzalez Chiraux
Occupation: Founder & CEO of Ahimsa
Manufacturer of an equal gender narrative within organizations
Stephanie Darvill
Occupation: Cofounder & COO of Aline
A skilled communicator and researcher creating more equitable opportunities for learning
Suzanne Noble
Occupation: Co-founder of Advantages of Age & Startup School for Seniors
Supporting people aged 50+ to manifest the life they desire, turning an idea into a business
Tatiana Glad
Occupation: Executive Director of Impact Hub Network
Leader driven by passion and purpose to nurture entrepreneurial innovations
Tatjana Vučić
Occupation: Executive Director of Philanthropy Forum
Strategist. Visionary. Changemaker.
Tebogo Nimindé-Dundadengar
Occupation: Co-founder & CEO of Tebalou
Author, speaker and entrepreneur supporting you to support the next generation.
Temitope Kamson
Occupation: Founder & CEO of GT Scholars CIC
Educator building impactful online programmes, that help young people connect with global corporations, and achieve their academic & career aspirations
Uta Deutschländer
Occupation: President of EuCIE | CEO of Alexianer Textilpflege GmbH
Exceptional innovator developing inclusive enterprises into an essential model
Veronika Samokovliyski
Occupation: Co-Founder & CFO of Can You Association
Investing in people to create a better future
Ylva Lundkvist Fridh
Occupation: CEO of Mikrofonden Sverige
Organisational developer and economic historian with expertise in social finance & social entrepreneurship
Yonca Braeckman
Occupation: Founder & CEO Impact Shakers
Mission-driven entrepreneur and investor in underrepresented founders
Yoon-Joo JEE
Occupation: Co-founder of Snowball Effect
Visionary entrepreneur spreading impactful solutions through replication
Yvonne Cvilak
Occupation: Managing Director of AfB Group
Innovative entrepreneur giving second life to discarded hardware
Learn more about the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise Initiative and explore last year’s list HERE. Stay tuned as we will be featuring interviews with women trailblazers from the Top 100 list in the following weeks!
Euclid Network (EN) is the European Social Enterprise Network. Founded in 2007, EN has been a frontrunner in shaping the European impact ecosystem in the past decade. The global community of changemakers is growing and so is our network: our members represent over 100,000 organisations in 21 countries throughout Europe and beyond.
Together with its members, EN strives towards an economy that works for people and the planet in support of all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, making impact its daily business. Our vision is to see social entrepreneurship and social innovation pave the way for a new green and just economy.