Under the Sisterhood (2025)

11/08/2025

NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED! ✨
We’re thrilled to announce 2025 Sisters of the Year Nominees — extraordinary women transforming the future across six powerful categories. A number of this year’s nominees come directly from our Under the Sisterhood community, making this moment even more meaningful.

🌍 Women’s Rights
Fatima Hassan
Anuradha Koirala

🩺 Women’s Health
Dr Paulina Cecula
Dr. Ru-fong Cheng
HolmesMD

Tanya Leake
Dr. Barbara Levy

Dr. Elena Rueda

🧠 Mental Health and Wellness

@ Kirthikapg

💡 FemTech Innovation

🐝
Rebecca Lynn Lyons

💞 Community Leadership
Teyonna Bowman
-Nichols

🌱 Sustainability

Join us in celebrating these incredible changemakers at the Sisters of the Year Awards on Tuesday, August 26th at 5 PM EST.

It’s virtual and free!
Register here: https://www.underthesisterhood.com/events

10/08/2025

Nomination Spotlight: Malene Hegenberger – Sister of the Year for FemTech Innovation

Malene Hegenberger is a visionary nurse midwife, author, and entrepreneur dedicated to transforming women’s postpartum care. As the founder of the Hegenberger Medical - Transforming postpartum suturing. she brought innovation to a long-overlooked area of women’s health—birth-related injuries—improving treatment, comfort, and dignity for new mothers.

Her work bridges the worlds of femtech and female entrepreneurship, demonstrating how women-led innovation can break taboos, address neglected health issues, and reshape the standard of care particularly in childbirth. By tackling a critical yet under-innovated aspect of maternal health, Malene is not only improving clinical outcomes but also sparking global conversations that prioritize new mother’s voices, needs, and recovery.

Malene's impact is measurable, and her commitment to restoring women’s health after childbirth through innovation makes her an inspiring force in the maternal care space.

Inspired by Malene's story? Share your thoughts or reflections in the comments.

09/08/2025

Nomination spotlight: Ikram Guerd – Sister of the Year for Women’s Health

Meet Ikram Guerd, Chief Marketing Officer & General Manager – US at Aspivix, a pioneering femtech company transforming gynecological care with compassion, innovation, and a patient-first approach. Modernizing gynecological care with gentle, patient-centered solutions.

A visionary women’s health leader and award-winning marketing executive, Ikram brings over two decades of global experience to the table—championing pain-reducing solutions like Carevix™ and spearheading transformative clinical study launch and media strategies to amplify women's health conversations.

Through Aspivix, Ikram has driven breakthrough campaigns—one viral initiative reached over 3.3 million views, igniting vital public discourse around women’s health—while advancing clinical adoption of gentler gynecological devices in the U.S.

As a tireless advocate for empowerment, she serves on the board of Inspiring Girls USA and Women in Healthcare, mentoring hundreds and breaking gender stereotypes through leadership and visibility.

Ikram’s leadership is rooted in empathy and impact—elevating women’s care, uplifting voices, and ensuring every woman benefits from dignity, innovation, and equity in healthcare.

Let’s celebrate a fearless innovator and advocate for women’s health.
Share your reflections or stories in the comments below.

08/08/2025

New Episode Drop: Women’s March of Mental Wellness
featuring Award-Winning Author Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg

We’re honored to welcome the brilliant as part of our Women’s March of Mental Wellness series.

Jeanne is an award-winning author and essayist whose latest novel, Daughter of a Promise (April 2024), explores themes of identity, family, and healing. Her earlier works—The Nine and Eden—have earned critical acclaim, including the Foreword Indies Gold Award and the Benjamin Franklin Award. Beyond her writing, Jeanne is a champion of literary communities, having served on the leadership teams of the Boston Book Festival and GrubStreet.

In this powerful conversation, Jeanne opens up about her own mental health journey—and the deep-rooted family dynamics that shaped her voice as a writer.

Here’s a glimpse of what she shares:

✨ The legacy of mental health in multigenerational families—and how writing became a tool for reflection and healing
✨ The pressure to be perfect—and the liberation of letting go
✨ Farming as grounding practice—how working the land brings peace and clarity
✨ The importance of giving herself space—to slow down, feel, and rediscover who she is
✨ The act of storytelling as a path to truth and transformation

Jeanne’s story is filled with vulnerability, strength, and creative wisdom. We can’t wait for you to hear this one.

Listen here:
Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1999410/episodes/17512647
YouTube:https://youtu.be/dwXG44mpjGU?si=KcGjCC5nGo4eeP9_

07/08/2025

Nomination Spotlight: Dr. Ru-fong Joanne Cheng– Sister of the Year for Women’s Health

Dr. Cheng leads the charge as Director of Women’s Health Innovations at the Gates Foundation , where she drives critical investment and development of health products tailored for women and girls in low‑ and middle‑income countries.

With over 15 years of biopharmaceutical leadership at companies like Pfizer, Bayer, and J&J, and previous roles as a clinician and educator at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Dr. Cheng brings unmatched expertise to global health action.

Under her leadership, the Women’s Health Innovations team acts as a unifying voice—aligning internal foundation stakeholders and external partners to fast-track R&D and funding for conditions that disproportionately affect women but have historically been underfunded, such as endometriosis, menstrual disorders, maternal health complications, and contraceptive innovation.

Dr. Cheng’s advocacy is timely and transformative. The Foundation just pledged $2.5 billion toward women’s health research—focused on breakthrough areas highlighting the global urgency and immense impact of centering women in health R&D.

In every role she’s held—whether in global pharma or philanthropy—Dr. Cheng is reshaping how the world prioritizes and understands women’s bodies. Her leadership confronts disparities and ensures the investments, research, and products women deserve are finally within reach.

Inspired by Dr. Cheng’s work or experience? Share your reflections or stories in the comments below.

06/08/2025

Nomination Spotlight: Cate Luzio – Sister of the Year for Community Leadership

is a visionary leader and community builder who is transforming the way women connect, support, and rise together. As the Founder and CEO of Luminary, Cate has created a thriving, inclusive platform dedicated to advancing women through connection, collaboration, and career and personal development.

What began as a single space has grown into a global ecosystem—supporting thousands of women from all walks of life. Cate’s belief in investing in women and fostering intentional community has empowered countless entrepreneurs, professionals, and changemakers to show up fully and lead boldly.

Through Luminary, Cate is building a future where all women have a seat at the table.

Has Luminary or Cate made a difference in your community journey?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

06/08/2025

Nomination Spotlight: Anuradha Koirala – Sister of the Year for Women’s Rights

is a fearless champion of human rights—whose life mission is rescuing and empowering survivors of s*x trafficking in Nepal and beyond. Known as “Nepal’s Mother Teresa,” she is the founder and former director of Maiti Nepal, a nonprofit launched in 1993 to confront gender-based violence, trafficking, and exploitation

Under Anuradha’s leadership, Maiti Nepal has:
🔴 Rescued over 18,000 women and girls from s*x trafficking operations across Nepal and India
🔴 Prevented tens of thousands more from being trafficked, with coordinated border patrols, transit and prevention homes, and survivor engagement programs

🔴 Supported criminal prosecutions against hundreds of traffickers, achieving justice for more than 700 perpetrators

Before launching Maiti, Anuradha spent two decades teaching in Kathmandu. A survivor of domestic violence herself—she endured three miscarriages during an abusive marriage—her personal experience fueled her transformation into a relentless justice advocate.

Maiti Nepal provides comprehensive care for survivors, including safe shelters, legal representation, psychological counseling, vocational training, schools, and prevention homes across rural Nepal’s high-risk areas.

Anuradha’s life and work affirm that human rights start with protecting the most vulnerable. Her unwavering dedication to restoring dignity, autonomy, and justice to survivors continues to inspire activists, governments, and communities worldwide!

Let’s celebrate Anuradha Koirala’s extraordinary mission—and amplify the voices of women leading human rights transformation everywhere.

#ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴᴇᴍᴘᴏᴡᴇʀᴍᴇɴᴛ

05/08/2025

Nomination Spotlight: Dr. Somi Javaid – Sister of the Year for Women’s Health

is a trailblazer in women’s health—redefining what comprehensive, compassionate care can look like. As the founder of , Dr. Javaid created a model that prioritizes personalized, evidence-based care for women at every stage of life.

From advocating for better menopause support to revolutionizing access to s*xual health care, Dr. Javaid is a fearless leader and changemaker. Her voice is reshaping the conversation and helping women feel seen, heard, and healed.

What Dr. Javaid is doing is revolutionary—because women’s health has long been underserved, misunderstood, and underfunded. Her work is rewriting that story by putting women at the center of their care. She’s changing the system so women can finally get the support, dignity, and medical excellence they deserve.

Has HerMD or Dr. Somi’s leadership impacted your health journey?
We’d love to hear in the comments.

Know another visionary in women’s health? Tag or nominate her below.

04/08/2025

Nomination Spotlight: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – Sister of the Year for Sustainability

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a transformative force in American politics, boldly championing the voices of working people and breaking barriers for future generations of leaders. Elected in 2018 at the age of 29, she became one of the youngest women ever elected to the U.S. Congress—and has since become a national figure in the fight for economic, climate, and racial justice.

AOC is widely recognized for co-authoring and advocating for the Green New Deal, a landmark policy framework that links climate action with economic reform. Her tireless work calls for urgent, systemic solutions to the climate crisis while creating millions of green jobs and addressing environmental injustice.

In 2024, she joined forces with Senator Bernie Sanders on the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour—a grassroots campaign to rally support around key progressive priorities including climate action, economic equity, and healthcare justice. The tour reached audiences across several states and energized younger and working-class voters demanding transformative change.

As a woman of color and proud Bronx native, AOC consistently uses her platform to fight for policies that reflect the needs of all Americans—not just the powerful few. Whether advocating for immigrant rights, affordable housing, student debt relief, or reproductive justice, her leadership is rooted in compassion, equity, and the belief that democracy works best when everyone is included.

How has Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s bold leadership inspired you to take action? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Know another woman leading the charge for sustainability or justice? Nominate her through the Under the Sisterhood site or tag her in the comments!

Let’s celebrate AOC’s vision—and uplift all women pushing for a more just, sustainable world.

03/08/2025

Nomination Spotlight: Kirthika Parmeswaran – Sister of the Year for Mental Health

is a visionary health-tech entrepreneur whose leadership is revolutionizing maternal mental healthcare. As the Founder & CEO of , she has pioneered an innovative model that combines virtual reality (VR), AI, and telehealth to deliver accessible, stigma-free support for pregnant and postpartum women facing mental health challenges.

Drawing on her personal experience with postpartum depression, Kirthika founded Vital Start to fill critical gaps in maternal care—providing multilingual, insurance-reimbursable services that empower over 1 million families to access clinically guided mental health support during pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum stages.
Under her leadership, Vital Start has:

• Earned a Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award for its impact in maternal health

• Been selected for prestigious accelerator programs including Penn Center for Innovation, Tech4Eva, and Launch Lane

• Developed a patent-pending VR-powered mental health clinic that delivers personalized cognitive behavioral therapy, stress inoculation, and psychoeducation with evidence-backed outcomes

Kirthika’s work is a testament to purpose-driven innovation—leveraging technology to break down barriers, reduce stigma, and bring critical care to women when they need it most.

How has Kirthika's leadership in maternal mental healthcare inspired you to take action? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Know another woman leading the charge for women’s health and wellness? Nominate her through the Under the Sisterhood site or tag her in the comments!

Let’s celebrate Kirthika Parmeswaran’s groundbreaking vision, and uplift all women transforming maternal and mental health care for the better.

02/08/2025

Nomination Spotlight: Lauren Tetenbaum – Sister of the Year for Mental Health

is a trailblazer in the field of women’s mental health and wellness. As a licensed clinical social worker, certified in perinatal mental health and holding advanced training in menopause care, Lauren’s commitment spans the full spectrum of women’s life transitions. She is the author of “Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life’s Next Period” (published July 2025), a resource set to empower and educate women about some of the most overlooked phases in their health journeys.

About Lauren Tetenbaum
• Clinical Social Worker & Women’s Mental Health Advocate
• Certified in Perinatal Mental Health; Advanced Training in Menopause Healthcare
• Founder of a thriving private practice supporting women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s through emerging adulthood, pregnancy, postpartum, fertility struggles, and perimenopause
• Author of "Millennial Menopause"

Impact
Lauren’s compassionate, holistic, and highly specialized care enables women to find stability, empowerment, and resilience during some of life’s most vulnerable periods. Her work not only supports individual clients but also elevates the standard of care for all women in the community. Lauren’s leadership, dedication, and passion for advancing awareness—through both practice and education—make her an exemplary candidate for Sister of the Year recognition.

Want to learn more about Lauren Tetenbaum’s transformative contributions to women’s mental wellness, health advocacy, and community empowerment? Visit https://thecounselaur.com/

Know a woman making a difference in women’s wellness, rights, or community leadership? Nominate her or tag her below to celebrate her extraordinary impact!

01/08/2025

New Podcast Drop! 🎙

We’re honored to welcome the brilliant and inspiring Shelina Ramnarine, PhD, to the Women’s March for Mental Wellness podcast.

A systems thinker and strategist, Shelina blends scientific rigor with human insight to create real, lasting impact. With a PhD in Human & Statistical Genetics and over a decade at Johnson & Johnson, she has led with purpose—shaping solutions across R&D, business development, and health equity.

In this episode, Dr. Ramnarine shares powerful insights on leadership, transformation, and wellness:

🌿 Imagine how much better the world would be if we all understood the concept of emotional regulation.
🌿 You need to go inward so that you can show up outwardly.
🌿 Mental wellness is a journey of remembering your truth.
🌿 Systems must be built to serve the wholeness of people.
🌿 Equity begins with listening, learning, and leading with care.

Her leadership is relational.
Her approach is intentional.
Her impact is undeniable.

Tune in to this soul-shifting conversation and let Shelina’s story guide you toward deeper clarity and connection.

Podcast: https://lnkd.in/eJTsACn6
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/grrk3Dw4

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