(Part 1) What happens When Someone Believes: The Social Innovation Journey of Aya Fernandez (Winner of the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2024)

A story of how belief, support and inner strength helped a young Filipina entrepreneur transform her vision — and her local impact — into a model for global sustainability. Aya Fernandez, the founder of Eco-Uling shares how her path as an eco-entrepreneur, artist and advocate took shape. She speaks openly about what it meant to be truly seen and heard by the Bayer Foundation— not only for her work, but for who she is — and how that recognition boosted her self-worth, reshaping her confidence and leadership. Keywords Empowerment, sustainability, belief, validation, gender equality, social innovation, entrepreneurship, metrics, women leaders Soundbites “There is no greater empowerment than empowering others” “Give me droplets & I can transform them into an ocean” “Sustainability is the only way to go” Chapters -”Aha”moments in Aya´s life -Multitasking vs living with awareness -Beyond gender to sense of belonging -Sea turtle and crab mentality compared -Power of validation -The journey of Eco-Uling -Metrics of success of an entrepreneur -Belief & validation supports dreams and enterprises -Intergenerational learning