Women entrepreneurs building fast-growing businesses were recognized at the Empretec Women in Business Awards 2026, held during the 9th World Investment Forum in Doha, Qatar.
Organized under the theme “Women-led businesses and the art of scale”, the awards honour women entrepreneurs in four categories: Leadership, sustainability, innovation and technology.
The awards attracted 52 entrepreneurs nominated by Empretec centres, which had provided them with training and business development services.
The ceremony brought together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and business leaders to celebrate their achievements and connect them with the finance, markets, expertise and networks they need to grow.
2026 award winners
Leadership Award
Sandra Letio (Uganda), Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Pelere Group Limited, was recognized for building a successful agribusiness that works with more than 5,000 smallholder farmers and creates opportunities across the shea and oilseed value chain.
Sustainability Award
Paula Gianserra (Argentina), Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Reforest Latam, was recognized for advancing forest restoration through artificial intelligence, biotechnology and drone seeding.
Innovation Award
Aisha Albinali (Qatar), Co-Founder of Wafir, was recognized for turning traditional savings practices into an innovative financial technology solution.
Adriana Fernandes (Brazil), Chief Executive Officer of Mátrika Special Foods, was also recognized in this category, for building an innovative food business that makes safe, high-quality food accessible to people with food allergies and dietary restrictions.
Technology Award
Biobele Oyibo (Nigeria), Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Earlybean, was recognized for using technology to promote financial literacy and inclusion among young people.
What’s needed for women-led businesses to scale
Women entrepreneurs are creating jobs, introducing new technologies and developing solutions to economic, social and environmental challenges. Yet starting a business is often only the first hurdle. Expanding it can be even more difficult.
Growth requires access to finance, investment, new markets, skilled workers, mentors and business networks. These resources can help entrepreneurs move from local success to opportunities in regional and global markets.
The Women in Business Awards recognize entrepreneurs who have demonstrated the ability to build and grow their businesses. They also help connect women founders with investors, venture capital firms, mentors and organizations that support entrepreneurship.
Accelerating women's economic empowerment
The awards formed part of a broader World Investment Forum agenda to foster women's entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
During the forum, UNCTAD and the Qatari Businesswomen Association signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in support of women entrepreneurs and women's economic empowerment.
The Forum also hosted the session “Women who invest: Mobilizing female capital for the future”, bringing together ministers, investors, family offices, business leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how greater participation by women in investment can create opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and growth.
Together, these initiatives highlighted a wider shift from supporting women entrepreneurs as beneficiaries to recognizing them as founders, innovators, investors and builders of the future economy.
Women entrepreneurs are building some of the world's most innovative and dynamic high-growth businesses, expanding into regional and global markets and driving transformation across sectors ranging from technology and digital services to manufacturing, agribusiness and the green economy. Through innovation, leadership and resilience, they are creating jobs, unlocking new opportunities and contributing to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The 9th Empretec Women in Business Awards celebrates exceptional women entrepreneurs who are leading fast-growing enterprises and demonstrating excellence in four categories: Leadership, Sustainability, Innovation and Technology. The Awards recognize women whose vision, determination and entrepreneurial drive are translating ideas into successful businesses with strong growth potential and tangible economic and social impact.
Women entrepreneurs are being recognized in four categories:
Innovation:
- Adriana Fernandes, CEO, Mátrika Special Foods (Brazil)
- Aisha Albinali, Co-Founder, Wafir (Qatar)
- Silvana Louro, CEO, Equal Moda Inclusiva (Brazil)
Leadership:
- Chan Mendy, Co-Founder, Ida's Ideas Fashion Design Institute (The Gambia)
- Milky Mamo, Founder and General Manager, Efoy Nanny and Housekeeping Training Center (Ethiopia)
- Sandra Letio, CEO and Managing Director, Pelere Group Limited (Uganda)
Sustainability:
- Milagros Romano, CEO, Vexxel, Argentina
- Paula Gianserra, Co-Founder and COO, Reforest Latam (Argentina)
- Yezichalem Tessema, Founder and CEO, Theday Agroindustry PLC (Ethiopia)
Technology:
- Andreyna Silva, Founder, Coostura Hub (Brazil)
- Biobele Oyibo, Co-Founder and CEO, Earlybean (Nigeria)
- Paula Dalla Vecchia, Founder and Director of Operations and R&D, Zeit Artificial Intelligence Solutions (Brazil)
The ceremony will bring together senior government representatives, business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and international organizations to celebrate entrepreneurship excellence and the growing contribution of women-led enterprises to economic transformation.
The programme will feature high-level opening remarks, a fireside conversation between two accomplished entrepreneurs sharing insights from their entrepreneurial journeys, the presentation of the Awards, and an interactive exchange between the award winners and distinguished prize sponsors.
Recognized as one of UNCTAD's flagship entrepreneurship initiatives, the Women in Business Awards provide a prestigious global platform for outstanding women entrepreneurs whose achievements serve as an inspiration to current and future generations of business leaders. More than a celebration of individual success, the Awards showcase how women entrepreneurs are driving innovation, building competitive businesses, creating employment and shaping a more prosperous and sustainable future.
Statements are made available in the language and form in which they were received from the respective delegations or organizations.
