Meet the 2026 Mentees
The TLML program matches emerging leaders from a wide range of countries and disciplines with equally diverse established leaders in a focused, year-long process of conversation and collaboration designed to accelerate the development of high-potential leaders.
Presenting the Mentees, Class of 2026
This year’s cohort reflects the diversity, creativity, and resilience that the Tällberg Foundation seeks to cultivate in leaders who can address the complex global challenges of the 21st century. From entrepreneurs and activists to fintech innovators and environmental advocates, the 2026 mentees embody the courage, persistence, and values-driven leadership the world needs.
Lili Balogh
Hungary; Agronomical engineer and President of the Hungarian Agroecology Network Association, advancing regenerative and equitable food systems through research, advocacy, and practice across Europe
Sohini Bhattacharya
India; Senior advisor and former CEO of Breakthrough, with three decades of leadership in gender justice, philanthropy, and movement-building in South Asia
Aline Telles Coelho
Brazil; Founder and Executive Director of the Agbara Fund, Brazil’s first philanthropic fund for Black women, supporting over 4,000 women through programs in economic justice and well-being
Umama Fatema
Bangladesh; Youth leader and women’s rights advocate who helped lead Bangladesh’s 2024 student reform movement and continues to mobilize youth for social change
Samah Hadid
Lebanon; Global Executive Director of Musawah, advocating for women’s rights in Muslim countries and human rights globally
Nitesh Kumar Jangir
India; Engineer and social innovator whose medical technologies for emergency and critical care have saved thousands of lives across Asia and Africa
Surya Karki
Nepal; Global Pathbuilders Fellow and founding CEO of Christel House Nepal, transforming and leading efforts to build sustainable schools and expand access to quality education for underprivileged children
Gaurav Mehta
India; Founder and CEO of DharmaLife, a social enterprise empowering rural women entrepreneurs to deliver market-based solutions across clean energy, health, and livelihoods
Sakina Mwinyimkuu
Tanzania; Director of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Tanzanian government, co-founder of Emerging and Senior Women Leaders Tanzania, and a national mentor for young professionals
Hadijah Nankanja
Uganda; Founder and Executive Director of the Community Women’s Enterprise Network Uganda, building entrepreneurial capacity among women and youth for inclusive economic growth
Jubilian Ngaruwa
Nigeria; Documentary filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer using ethical storytelling to amplify local voices and preserve African cultural narratives
Hanna Poikonen
Finland; Neuroscientist, dancer, and founder of WiseMotion Community, pioneering cross-disciplinary research at the intersection of movement, neuroscience, and mental health
Aysha Siddiqua Tithi
Bangladesh; Student activist recognized internationally for her leadership in her country’s 2024 anti-discrimination movement and her advocacy for human rights and climate justice
Aman Tripathi
India; Automotive strategist and sustainability advocate driving business transformation at Nissan Europe and championing diversity and inclusion across global teams
Hanna Valynets
Belarus/Lithuania; Journalist and media innovator focused on human rights, disinformation, and independent media, leading a cross-border network of freelance reporters