On June 18, NYU Shanghai and The Bicester Collection jointly announced a new academic collaboration that will provide a tailored executive education program for winners of the fourth edition of the Unlock Her Future Prize, an annual competition that rotates around the world to support female social entrepreneurs.
Established by The Bicester Collection in 2023, the Unlock Her Future Prize is endorsed by UN Women and aims to support women entrepreneurs working to address social, cultural, and environmental challenges. Previous editions have been held in the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. The 2026 edition marks the program’s first expansion into East and Southeast Asia and its debut in China.
Representatives from Pudong Women’s Federation, Pudong Commission of Commerce, and Shanghai International Resort Area, as well as Consul General of Malaysia in Shanghai Mohd Shahafeez Shaharis, Consul General of the Philippines in Shanghai Myca Magnolia M. Fischer, Economic Counsel of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai Kim Hye-jin, along with guests from academia, the local business community, and the nonprofit sector attended the event.
As the academic partner for the Unlock Her Future Prize 2026 East & Southeast Asia Edition, NYU Shanghai will not only host a pre-finals boot camp and pitch competition this fall, but also design and deliver a customized executive education program, offering winners a year-long curriculum of business and entrepreneurship courses, coaching, and networking opportunities.
The partnership represents the second time that The Bicester Collection has collaborated with an NYU campus, following its engagement with NYU Abu Dhabi in 2022-2023, the inaugural year of the Unlock Her Future Prize.
NYU Shanghai Chancellor Tong Shijun, who attended the event alongside Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Lehman and Associate Vice Chancellor Ding Shuzhe, heralded the partnership. “This new partnership brings together several ideas that are very close to the heart of NYU Shanghai: education across borders, innovation with purpose, and the belief that young people and entrepreneurs can help build a better future,” he said.
Co-Chairman of The Bicester Collection China Mark Israel reflected on the development of the Unlock Her Future Prize and its impact across different regions. “Our partnership with NYU Shanghai reflects our values and our shared ambition to support the next generation of leaders and innovators across East and Southeast Asia," he said.
The event was moderated by Emily Tsiang, associate arts professor of Interactive Media Business (IMB) at NYU Shanghai. A fireside conversation between Chief Culture Officer of The Bicester Collection Chantal Khoueiry and Assistant Professor of IMB Emilie Yuki Takayama touched on women’s entrepreneurship and social innovation and explored the opportunities and challenges facing women entrepreneurs today. Drawing on her teaching and research experience, Professor Takayama shared how universities can help students and entrepreneurs develop the skills needed to address complex social challenges through interdisciplinary learning, hands-on projects, and international collaboration.
Chief Culture Officer of The Bicester Collection Chantal Khoueiry said: “The women we support through the Unlock Her Future Prize show up with grit, courage and an unshakeable belief in their ability to create change. When women like these are given the right opportunities, the impact doesn't stop with them – it travels across communities and generations.”
The event also featured a keynote presentation by 2023 Unlock Her Future Prize winner Nuhayr Zein, whose company Leukeather offers a sustainable, animal-free substitute to exotic leathers. Zein, who was named in 2025 by Forbes Middle East as a 30 under 30 honoree, reflected on her entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the importance of mentorship, professional training, and entrepreneurial communities in transforming ideas into impactful ventures.
The event concluded with a ceremony officially launching the partnership. Eric Mao, assistant vice provost for non-degree programs at NYU Shanghai, said, “The city of Shanghai is an ideal home base for women entrepreneurs to extend their impact across Asia and beyond. We look forward to supporting this year’s Unlock Her Future Prize honorees over the coming year and connecting them to resources that will help them transform their ideas into action and cultivate their leadership potential.”