Reconociendo a los jóvenes líderes más inspiradores del mundo

El Premio Global Citizen: Cisco Youth Leadership Award fue creado por Cisco y Global Citizen para reconocer e impulsar a jóvenes que están generando un impacto positivo en el mundo, demostrar cómo las y los jóvenes contribuyen al logro de los Objetivos Globales de las Naciones Unidas y acelerar la resolución de problemas a nivel global.

CONOCE A LA GANADORA 2025

Cisco Youth Leadership

Diana Virgovicova

📍 Eslovaquia; Canadá
📣 Fundadora y CEO | Xatoms

Diana Virgovicova es la fundadora y CEO de Xatoms, una empresa de tecnología del agua que usa inteligencia artificial y química cuántica para crear nuevos materiales que purifican el agua contaminada. Nacida en un pequeño pueblo de Eslovaquia, hizo su primer descubrimiento científico a los 17 años al diseñar una molécula para limpiar el agua. Como estudiante en la Universidad de Toronto, ahora lidera proyectos piloto en varios continentes. Virgovicova ha sido reconocida por el Foro Económico Mundial y es una mentora apasionada que apoya a jóvenes emprendedores, especialmente mujeres, en ciencia y clima.

CONOCE MÁS

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Hugh Evans

Hugh Evans, Global Citizen’s CEO and Co-Founder, grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and over the
course of his life has become one of the most recognized leaders in international development.
Over the past decade, Hugh has built a movement of millions of people around the world who
are working to end extreme poverty by 2030, in support of the United Nations Global Goals.
For his efforts, Hugh has been named Young Australian of the Year (2004), featured on Forbes
30 Under 30 (2012), was named as one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in
Business (2014), received the GQ Man of the Year Award for Chivalry (2014), recognized with
the Diamond Ball Award for Humanitarian Work (2018), and was also honored in Town &
Country’s Philanthropy Summit (2021). Hugh has also been honored as Billboard magazine’s
Humanitarian of the Year (2015), his life story was profiled in 2017 in a CNBC special titled, The
Brave Ones, and Global Citizen, currently owns two Guinness Book of World Records, has won
multiple Webby awards, and was named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Businesses in
2021. He has spoken at major international forums including the World Economic Forum, Cannes
Lions, SXSW, CES and more.

Fran Katsoudas

As Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco, Francine Katsoudas brings together people and technology to drive positive impact for the company and global communities. Her work advances Cisco's Purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All, and her leadership on critical policy and social issues has forged strategic public-private partnerships addressing some of the world's most pressing concerns.

In her role at Cisco, Fran leads a global team spanning People & Communities, Sustainability, Social Impact & Inclusion, Government Affairs & Policy, Workplace Resources, and Cisco's Digital Impact Office - all on a mission to put Cisco's Purpose into practice while driving growth for Cisco's business, people, and communities. During her 29 years at the company, Fran has led large-scale organizational transformations, cultivated new generations of leaders, and stewarded Cisco's renowned employee-first conscious culture.

Fran has supported underrepresented groups since her youth, and today focuses her advocacy on women's leadership, homeless youth, and narrowing the digital divide. Fran is also Cisco's executive country sponsor for Mexico, Poland, South Africa, and India. She has been recognized on the Forbes and Know Your Value 50 Over 50 list, honoring female leaders and entrepreneurs who are breaking new ground. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for ADP and for Global Citizen as Co-Chair. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Fran lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children.

Esther Kimani

Esther Wanjiru Kimani is a 29-year-old Kenyan innovator transforming the agricultural landscape for rural communities in Kenya through AI-driven solutions. Growing up on the slopes of the Aberdare Mountains, she witnessed firsthand how pests, diseases, and unpredictable climate conditions led to devastating crop losses. Every season was a gamble—up to a third of the harvest was lost, and in some years, droughts and floods wiped out more than 65% of yields. These losses meant deepening poverty and hunger, with smallholder farmers struggling to earn a stable income. Determined to change this reality, Esther was privileged to attend university, where she pursued computer science with a singular vision: to develop a technology-driven solution that would empower farmers to protect their crops and increase their income. This vision led to the founding of Farmer Lifeline, an agri-tech innovation that is now deployed across seven counties in Kenya, helping thousands of smallholder farmers detect pests and diseases early, safeguard their harvests, and improve their livelihoods. Beyond technology, Esther is on a mission to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by equipping farmers with accessible, AI-powered tools that drive productivity and financial security. She is particularly passionate about empowering women, who make up 65% of her initiatives, ensuring they have the resources to sustain their farms and families. Her work has earned global recognition, including: 

● 2025 Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award.
● Honored with the 2024 United Nations FAO Achievement Scroll for the transformative impact of her technology in addressing food security. 
● Invited as a speaker at COP28, on the role of youth in tackling climate change. 
● 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award. 
● Delivered a public lecture at the Grace Hopper Celebration 2023 in Florida, discussing AI’s role in building climate-resilient rural communities. 

Through innovation and relentless dedication, Esther is reshaping the future of agriculture, ensuring that rural farmers have the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty and hunger—one farm at a time.

Phumzile Mlambo- Ngcuka

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is former United Nations Under- Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. She was awarded a doctorate in Technology andEducation from Warwick University. She has authored several scholarly and other opinion pieces. A Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership.She became a Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Department of Trade and Industry, Minister of Minerals and Energy, and finally as Deputy President of South Africa in 2005 to 2008, Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka worked tirelessly on programmes and policies to reduce inequality. As the head of the UNwomen, she has been a global advocate for women and girls. She established initiatives such as the HeForShe for men and boys to address gender Equality.She also successfully mobilized an historic $40 billion USD   for women and girls around the world. She is a founder and leader of Umlambo Foundation which is dedicated to improvement of education and digital literacy training for educators.

Jinan Laetitia

Indonesian singer-songwriter and producer Jinan Laetitia writes, produces, and performs her own music, creating immersive audio-visual narratives. Her debut album One reflects on self-love, identity, and transformation, while her genre-spanning sound moves between indie pop, alt-R&B, house, and more. Recent releases include “Renaissance Man” and “BATARA” (with Dipha Barus). In 2024, she made headlines as the opening act for Coldplay’s six-nights concert series in Singapore, marking one of her biggest international live performances to date.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Hugh Evans

Hugh Evans, Global Citizen’s CEO and Co-Founder, grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and over the
course of his life has become one of the most recognized leaders in international development.
Over the past decade, Hugh has built a movement of millions of people around the world who
are working to end extreme poverty by 2030, in support of the United Nations Global Goals.
For his efforts, Hugh has been named Young Australian of the Year (2004), featured on Forbes
30 Under 30 (2012), was named as one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in
Business (2014), received the GQ Man of the Year Award for Chivalry (2014), recognized with
the Diamond Ball Award for Humanitarian Work (2018), and was also honored in Town &
Country’s Philanthropy Summit (2021). Hugh has also been honored as Billboard magazine’s
Humanitarian of the Year (2015), his life story was profiled in 2017 in a CNBC special titled, The
Brave Ones, and Global Citizen, currently owns two Guinness Book of World Records, has won
multiple Webby awards, and was named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Businesses in
2021. He has spoken at major international forums including the World Economic Forum, Cannes
Lions, SXSW, CES and more.

Fran Katsoudas

As Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco, Francine Katsoudas brings together people and technology to drive positive impact for the company and global communities. Her work advances Cisco's Purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All, and her leadership on critical policy and social issues has forged strategic public-private partnerships addressing some of the world's most pressing concerns.

In her role at Cisco, Fran leads a global team spanning People & Communities, Sustainability, Social Impact & Inclusion, Government Affairs & Policy, Workplace Resources, and Cisco's Digital Impact Office - all on a mission to put Cisco's Purpose into practice while driving growth for Cisco's business, people, and communities. During her 29 years at the company, Fran has led large-scale organizational transformations, cultivated new generations of leaders, and stewarded Cisco's renowned employee-first conscious culture.

Fran has supported underrepresented groups since her youth, and today focuses her advocacy on women's leadership, homeless youth, and narrowing the digital divide. Fran is also Cisco's executive country sponsor for Mexico, Poland, South Africa, and India. She has been recognized on the Forbes and Know Your Value 50 Over 50 list, honoring female leaders and entrepreneurs who are breaking new ground. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for ADP and for Global Citizen as Co-Chair. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Fran lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children.

Ricardo Alba

Ricardo is an environmental engineer from Bogotá, Colombia, and the Co-Founder and CEO of the social enterprise Eko Group H2O+. Through this company, he provides environmentally sustainable technologies to address global water access issues. His expertise has sensitized over 150 communities, with 15000 active users benefiting from the 350 Ekomuros H2O+ tanks installed across Colombia and LATAM, ultimately reaching over 85,000 indirect beneficiaries. In 2023, Eko Group H2O+ was honored for the second time  as the national winner of the prestigious Energy Globe Sustainability Award, receiving support from renowned institutions such as the Royal Academy of Engineering in London and the organization One Young World. Ricardo's commitment to environmental sustainability and social impact underscores his powerful leadership in tackling one of the world's most pressing challenges. Ricardo’s parents are his biggest inspiration. “Since we were young our parents taught us to love and care for the planet Earth. Our mother, being a Natural Science teacher, gave us a love for this knowledge. Our father, an architect, inspired us to work on sustainable eco-efficient projects.”

Phumzile Mlambo- Ngcuka

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is former United Nations Under- Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. She was awarded a doctorate in Technology andEducation from Warwick University. She has authored several scholarly and other opinion pieces. A Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership.She became a Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Department of Trade and Industry, Minister of Minerals and Energy, and finally as Deputy President of South Africa in 2005 to 2008, Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka worked tirelessly on programmes and policies to reduce inequality. As the head of the UNwomen, she has been a global advocate for women and girls. She established initiatives such as the HeForShe for men and boys to address gender Equality.She also successfully mobilized an historic $40 billion USD   for women and girls around the world. She is a founder and leader of Umlambo Foundation which is dedicated to improvement of education and digital literacy training for educators.

Gargee Ghosh

Gargee Ghosh leads the foundation’s work in international political and economic affairs, overseeing relationships with governments, intergovernmental organizations, advocates, and philanthropic partners worldwide. Her role includes overseeing the foundation’s offices in Washington, D.C., Europe, and China.
Gargee holds graduate degrees in economics and international relations from Oxford University and Georgetown University, respectively, and an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Victoria. Her career has spanned the public and private sectors, from the United Nations to McKinsey &Co., the Center for Global Development, and Google. She traces her interest in international development to her family’s roots in West Bengal, India.

Gargee lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, two active children, and one lazy rescue dog.

Sobre la asociación

Cisco y Global Citizen comparten la creencia de que la juventud en todo el mundo está liderando el camino en la creación y aplicación de soluciones para alcanzar los Objetivos Globales y acelerar la resolución de problemas globales. Por eso creamos el Cisco Youth Leadership Award.

GANADORES ANTERIORES

GANADORA 2025

Esther Kimani

Esther Kimani, CEO y fundadora de Farmer Lifeline Technologies, está revolucionando la agricultura en Kenia con soluciones innovadoras de IA. Esther está totalmente comprometida con erradicar el hambre y la pobreza, empoderando a pequeños agricultores con herramientas para proteger sus cosechas y aumentar sus ingresos. Su visión pone un fuerte enfoque en las agricultoras, asegurando que puedan salir adelante incluso frente a un clima impredecible. Ha recibido reconocimientos a nivel mundial, incluyendo el UN FAO Achievement Scroll y el Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award. Esther sigue liderando el camino hacia un futuro sostenible y próspero para las comunidades rurales.

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GANADOR 2024

Ricardo Enrique Alba Torres

Ricardo es ingeniero ambiental de Bogotá, Colombia, y cofundador y CEO de la empresa social Eko Group H2O+. A través de esta compañía, brinda tecnologías sustentables para abordar los problemas de acceso al agua a nivel global. Su experiencia ha sensibilizado a más de 150 comunidades, con 15,000 usuarios activos que se benefician de los 350 tanques Ekomuros H2O+ instalados en Colombia y Latinoamérica, impactando a más de 85,000 beneficiarios indirectos. En 2023, Eko Group H2O+ fue reconocido por segunda vez como ganador nacional del prestigioso Energy Globe Sustainability Award, y cuenta con el apoyo de instituciones conocidas como la Royal Academy of Engineering de Londres y One Young World. El compromiso de Ricardo con la sostenibilidad ambiental y el impacto social demuestra su liderazgo para enfrentar uno de los desafíos más importantes del mundo.

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GANADOR 2023

Nkosana Butholenkosi Masuku

Nkosana es profesor de Ciencia, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas (STEM) con tres años de experiencia en una escuela rural. Creó Sciency learning como respuesta a la falta de recursos para enseñar STEM en zonas rurales. El objetivo de Sciency es brindar educación STEM práctica y accesible para chicas y chicos en Zimbabue, ayudando a disminuir la deserción escolar y fomentar el desarrollo STEM en comunidades vulnerables. Además, Nkosana es exalumno de la Beca Mandela Washington y un emprendedor galardonado.

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GANADORA 2022

Nidhi Pant

Nidhi Pant, ganadora del Cisco Youth Leadership Award 2022, es una ingeniera química que se transformó en agricultora y emprendedora, y es cofundadora de S4S Technologies. Este proyecto es una plataforma de procesamiento de alimentos cercana al campo, que convierte las pérdidas agrícolas en productos de valor añadido gracias a tecnología solar sustentable. S4S colabora con más de 6,500 agricultores/as y 505 mujeres emprendedoras. Además, Nidhi aparece en Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia y ganó el Unilever Young Entrepreneur Award en 2019. 

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GANADORA 2019

Priya Prakash

Priya Prakash es una emprendedora social de 29 años dedicada a lograr que todas las niñas y niños de la India puedan crecer sanos.

Es fundadora y CEO de HealthSetGo, una organización que integra tecnología y salud para empoderar a madres/padres, médicos, escuelas y gobiernos a tomar decisiones basadas en datos y así mejorar la salud y calidad de vida de las y los niños. 

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GANADORA 2018

Wawira Njiru

Wawira Njiru es la fundadora y directora ejecutiva de Food for Education, una organización que apoya a niños y niñas vulnerables en escuelas públicas de Kenia, mejorando su vida al brindarles almuerzos escolares nutritivos y a bajo costo. Food for Education ha entregado más de 400,000 comidas escolares, contribuyendo a la mejora de la nutrición, asistencia y desempeño escolar.

Su ambición, claridad en la misión y el impacto logrado le valieron a Njiru el primer Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award, entregado en el Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, presentado por la Motsepe Foundation en diciembre de 2018.

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GANADORA 2020

Christelle Kwizera

Christelle es una ingeniera mecánica y emprendedora social de Ruanda. A los 20 años fundó Water Access Rwanda, para resolver la crisis del agua y a la vez crear empleo para jóvenes. Su empresa social ofrece soluciones sencillas y económicas dirigidas especialmente a quienes más lo necesitan, ayudando a cubrir la urgente necesidad de agua segura para 456 millones de africanos/as.

Gracias al premio, Water Access Rwanda podrá crecer y llegar a 30 millones de personas y crear 15,000 empleos dignos para 2030.

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