Empowering Women to Lead Change Worldwide
The World Academy for the Future of Women (WAFW) helps university women discover their purpose, develop leadership skills, and contribute to their communities.
Our Story
Founded in 2009, the World Academy for the Future of Women began at Sias International University in China with a bold vision: to equip young women with the leadership skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to make a difference in their communities.
International facilitators, mentors, and university partners support students as they turn their ideas into action.
Our Mission
The World Academy for the Future of Women is dedicated to promoting and accelerating the advancement of women worldwide. Through leadership development, mentorship, and experiential learning, WAFW empowers women to discover their purpose, pursue their passions, and become catalysts for positive change in their communities and beyond.
Our Global Impact
From its beginnings in China, WAFW has grown through university partnerships and an international volunteer community. Students apply their learning to projects that respond to local needs.
Our Founder
Jerrie Ueberle
Founder & Executive Director
Jerrie Ueberle founded the World Academy for the Future of Women in 2009 at Sias International University in China. As founder and president of Global Interactions, Inc., she has dedicated decades to fostering international understanding, educational partnerships, and leadership opportunities. Her vision for WAFW was to empower women to discover their purpose, develop their leadership potential, and become agents of meaningful change in their communities and around the world.
Our Leadership
Meet Our Leadership Team
Meet the professionals supporting WAFW’s programs, mentoring community, facilitators, and global alum network.
Karen Nair
Chief Administrative Officer
Karen brings more than 15 years of community college teaching experience and over 20 years at IBM, where her work spanned software development, training, and customer support. She facilitated WAFW’s program in Mexico in 2024.
Ruth Anne Wood
Director of Mentor Recruitment & Coordination
Ruth Anne joined WAFW as a facilitator in China in 2018 and has also mentored students remotely. Her work includes arts-based community engagement and participation in WAFW’s United Nations Task Force.
Sebastian Knauer
Director of Site Selection & Management
Sebastian facilitated WAFW’s program at Sias University during the 2020–2021 academic year and later in Mexico. He brings cross-cultural leadership and automotive market research experience, including senior roles with SAIC Volkswagen and Volkswagen Group.
Marina Reimann
Co-Director of Facilitator Recruitment & Organization
Marina began with WAFW as a mentor before becoming a facilitator. She has served as an empowerment and diversity ambassador in the automotive industry and brings international experience in project management, process management, and digital business.
Jessie Huang
Director of Alum Relations
A WAFW alum from Sias University, Jessie has supported student leadership teams, international facilitators, and the Annual Women’s Symposium as executive assistant to the founder. She earned a master’s in Educational Leadership & Management from the University of Nottingham in 2024.
Explore our history
Discover earlier Academy projects, recognition through the years, and a milestone from the symposium archive.