💫 We're happy to announce the finalists for the Community Initiative of the Year (non-corporate) for 2025!
The Community Initiative of the Year (Non-Corporate) Award honors mission-driven organizations, grassroots movements, and volunteer-led communities that are expanding access, uplifting underrepresented groups, and driving meaningful, inclusive change across the global tech ecosystem. These initiatives represent the heart of the WomenTech community — where impact is powered by purpose, collaboration, and a deep commitment to helping others rise.
This year’s finalists span 6 continents and showcase what happens when community leadership meets innovation, education, and collective action.
⚡️ Recognized contributions: Implementing innovative programs or projects supporting women in tech, promoting diversity and inclusion, and enhancing the local or global tech community.
Below are this year’s finalists, listed alphabetically by initiative:
⭐ LaLa Castro – Founder, #LatinaGeeks
- A long-standing U.S.-based nonprofit empowering Latinas through hands-on tech workshops, entrepreneurship programs, and community-driven chapter events.
⭐ Lucie Mairychová – CEO, Czechitas
- One of Europe’s most impactful women-in-tech organizations, delivering large-scale digital upskilling programs in coding, AI, data, and cybersecurity.
⭐ Faiza Yousuf – Co-Founder, CodeGirls
- A community-funded bootcamp in Pakistan providing sponsored training, mentorship, and job placement to women launching careers in technology.
⭐ Val Racheeva – Founder & CEO, Female Founder Space
- A global learning and networking platform supporting women entrepreneurs through courses, mentorship, events, and community connection.
⭐ Shristy Joshi Thakur – Founder & CEO, Girl Up Coders
- A rapidly growing initiative offering coding bootcamps, hackathons, and open-source learning for girls and women entering the tech world.
⭐ Iana Chan – Founder & CEO, PrograMaria
- One of Brazil’s most influential diversity-in-tech communities, creating inclusive learning spaces, events, courses, and empowerment programs for women and gender-minoritized people.
⭐ Alison Simpson – Brand & Content Director, SheCanCode
- A global community providing free events, mentoring, resources, and career tools designed to help women enter, stay, and thrive in the tech industry.
⭐ Oluwaseun Oladeji – Community Associate, She Code Africa
- A continent-wide nonprofit empowering African women in tech through academies, mentorship, scholarships, and one of the largest women-in-tech communities in Africa.
⭐ Traci Gorman – Co-Founder, TechnoGals
- A global virtual platform breaking barriers for emerging women leaders through structured coaching, leadership development programs, and supportive peer communities.
⭐ Oluchi Enebeli – Founder, Web3Ladies
- Africa’s largest women-led Web3 community, equipping women with blockchain, AI, and emerging tech skills, alongside mentorship and job pathways.
⭐ Adriana Zencke Zimmermann – Co-Founder & Director, Women Coding Community
- A Europe-based initiative supporting women’s professional growth in tech through mentorship, workshops, networking, and advocacy for inclusive industry practices.
⭐ Yaamini Barathi Mohan – VP, WiCyS Austin
Women in Cybersecurity – Austin (WiCyS Austin)
- A regional cybersecurity affiliate advancing women in cyber through mentorship, thought leadership, community events, and professional development.
⭐ Maria D’Costa – Director, Women in Tech Dubai
- A volunteer-led UAE community offering free technical workshops, study groups, panels, and networking opportunities to support women pursuing tech careers.
⭐ Gabriella Uwadiegwu – President & Founder, Wetech
- A pan-African organization enabling women to thrive in technology and entrepreneurship through training, leadership development, startup acceleration, and funding opportunities.
⭐ Zoe Mackenzie – Affiliate President, WiCyS UK&I
WiCyS UK & Ireland (WiCyS UK&I)
- A fast-growing cybersecurity community delivering professional development, public speaking training, networking events, and nationwide peer support groups.
These initiatives demonstrate the incredible power of grassroots leadership — proving that when communities organize, collaborate, and uplift one another, they reshape the future of tech for generations to come.
🥁 The winners will be announced on December 4 during the Women in Tech Global Awards 2025 ceremony.
🎫 Get your ticket to join the ceremony, get actionable insights from the keynotes, and celebrate the achievements of the outstanding women in tech.