Women Who Empower | Northeastern University

Announcing the 2026 Innovator Awards Recipients

The sixth Women Who Empower Innovator Awards honor 34 individuals with one-time grants, welcoming them into a dynamic community of more than 160 lifetime recipients.

Meet the Recipients

Featured Stories

WISE 2026 Impact Report

The Women’s Interdisciplinary Society of Entrepreneurship released its first-ever impact report this spring — showcasing years of building community, launching ventures, and expanding opportunity for students across Northeastern’s Boston, London, and Oakland campuses. From mentorship pipelines to a venture capital bootcamp to an annual summit, WISE supports over 560 students annually.

WISE summit inspires female entrepreneurs to rise above challenges

The summit on Northeastern University’s Boston campus welcomed 200 participants for networking, workshops, inspiring speakers and more.

Innovator Award recipients are filling health care and marketing gaps

Northeastern alums and entrepreneurs Cynthia Orofo and Adebukola Ajao spoke about their academic journeys and careers in a moderated discussion at the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute.

TEN YEARS. REMARKABLE IMPACT. INFINITE POSSIBILITIES.

Dive into the stories that define a decade in the Women Who Empower: A Decade of Impact magazine.

Download the Magazine

Innovator Updates

Whether in the boxing ring or the business world, early stage investor Melissa Withers is up for the challenge

The founder of RevUp Capital and 2023 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards recipient recently spoke at Northeastern, where she advised young entrepreneurs to get educated about all the kinds of capital that founders can use to build businesses and to understand how...

Words to Live By: Five Insights from Women Who Empower Panelists That Engaged Audiences at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute

During the month of March, Northeastern University’s Roux Institute brought two Women Who Empower events to life. Part of Northeastern’s Women Who Empower initiative, these events were moderated by Liz Kohler, managing director of strategy, operations, and growth at...

Entrepreneurs from WISE student group take home new career perspectives after London networking trip

The leadership team from WISE in Boston visited the U.K. capital during their annual Trek to meet inspiring entrepreneurs and market-leading businesses operating in Britain.

Innovator Awards recipient Samantha Asprelli, DMSB’26, gives ‘women in need the chance to feel confident, beautiful’ with beauty product kits on Valentine’s Day

Partnering with Northeastern’s Alliance of Civically Engaged Students, Asprelli organized the preparation of 1,000 beauty product kits valued in total at $200,000. These kits will be distributed to 10 organizations serving women in need across Boston and beyond.

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Event Recaps

‘Good Trouble’ Came To Northeastern On Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The civil rights movement lost torch-bearer John Lewis six months ago, but his legacy was still very much alive yesterday as the Northeastern community remembered how the Georgia congressman’s encouraging words to stir up “good trouble” impacted their lives and their...

Northeastern Honors Six Trailblazers For Their Commitment To The University’s Global Mission

On Monday, Northeastern honored six university-affiliated leaders for their continued service toward furthering the university’s mission at the Networked For Life celebration, the annual volunteer leadership summit that recognizes exceptional trailblazers in the...

A Conversation with Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives, and Legislative Affairs at the National Hockey League

A Conversation with KIM DAVIS, Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives, and Legislative Affairs at the National Hockey League. Experience a Conversation with Kim Davis Hear from Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact,...

A Conversation with Indra Nooyi, member of the Board of Directors of Amazon and former Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo

A Conversation with Indra Nooyi, member of the Board of Directors of Amazon and former Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Experience a Conversation with Indra Nooyi Born and raised in India, Nooyi became CEO of an iconic American firm, PepsiCo, at a time when only 2%...