Issue link: http://endeavor.uberflip.com/i/1450008
1 3 C H A N G I N G T H E F A C E O F E N T R E P R E N E U R I A L S U P E R H E R O S With masters degrees in both business management and human molecular genetics, and a Ph.D. in cancer biology, "entrepreneur" is but one of 5 4 G E N E Founder and CEO ABAS I E N E- OBON G' S impressive titles. In his work, Abasi, who hails from Nigeria, observed that when it came to medical progress, Africa was left off the map. Despite a massive population and rich genetic diversity, medical research in Africa has largely been used for western drug development. Individuals of African descent account for less than 3% of those included in genomic studies that help determine links between genes and disease. As the first ever pan-African biobank, 54gene is bridging a continent- sized gap in DNA data that will transform medicine globally, and is rapidly proving that disruptive entrepreneurship that tackles problems at scale requires globally diverse leadership. AN KITI BOSE co-founded ZI LI N GO, a B2B platform that provides supply chain solutions to businesses throughout Southeast and South Asia, at age 23. Today, at 29, she is likely to become the first Indian woman to found a unicorn company as Zilingo's valuation tops $970 million. But accolades aside — and there are many, including earning recognition on the Forbes 40 Under 40 and Bloomberg 50 lists among others — Ankiti's vision for Zilingo's impact remains focused on making the global fashion supply chain more sustainable, affordable, and transparent, and helping uplift small entrepreneurs throughout the region by providing them with a platform to integrate technology into their businesses, thus enabling them to keep up with larger players. Beyond the company, she hopes her leadership will help pave the way for successful women entrepreneurs to no longer be the exception, but the rule. Bridging a Continent-Sized Gap in Genetic Data Paving the Way for a New Generation of Women Tech CEOs in Asia Above: Abasi Ene-Obong, Co-founder & CEO, 54gene (Nigeria) Right: Ankiti Bose, Co-founder & CEO, Zilingo (Indonesia)