I’m Diana Sierra, the Founder and CEO of Be Girl, a social enterprise dedicated to transforming menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) access for women and girls across Africa. Through Be Girl, I’m on a mission to make menstruation manageable, dignified, and barrier-free by creating environmentally responsible period products, youth-centered education, and data-driven advocacy tools—all aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, and 6. So far, we’ve distributed over one million menstrual products across 35+ countries, educated more than 500,000 adolescents, and developed national MHH curricula for Mozambique and Angola.My background includes a Master’s in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design from Universidad de Los Andes. With nearly 20 years of experience in industrial design, I’ve had the privilege of working with companies like Smart Design, Nike, Panasonic, and Frog Design. My projects have ranged from designing cookstoves and soil testing devices to leading women’s empowerment initiatives—experiences that have deepened my understanding of the unique challenges faced by communities in developing regions and the importance of context-specific solutions.In 2012, during a visit to Uganda, I witnessed how girls were missing school simply because they couldn’t afford menstrual supplies. This experience moved me deeply, and I became determined to create a solution. Using locally available materials, I crafted a reusable, waterproof pad, which later evolved into Be Girl’s Period Panty—a durable alternative to disposables, empowering women and girls to manage their periods even in the toughest conditions.Beyond product innovation, I’m passionate about education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I partnered with USAID, the World Bank, and the Ministries of Education in Mozambique and Angola to develop peer-to-peer menstrual health curricula using my SmartCycle® tool. This model trains youth to educate their peers, helping to break down stigma and normalize menstrual health conversations.My commitment to social innovation and design has been recognized with awards like the 2017 Index Project Award, the 2015 SPARK Design Award and the 2014 IDEA IDSA GOLD Design Award. These honors fuel my drive to continue using design as a tool for meaningful change. At Be Girl, I am dedicated to empowering women and girls, breaking down barriers, and fostering a world where menstruation never stands in the way of opportunity.