About Us
On this page we introduce you to the team behind EquiNet – the people, visions and experiences that shape our work for an inclusive and fair entrepreneurial ecosystem.
We are EquiNet
We are an experienced team specializing in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), community work, and communications. With our diverse professional and practical experience, we shape EquiNet strategically and practically.
Our mission
With our experience, attitude and passion for intersectional justice, we are shaping EquiNet as a space for exchange, collaboration and sustainable impact.
Our team
As co-project lead, she ensures that all activities are consistently aligned with Equinet's mission: economic and social justice for BIWOC* and TIN*BIPoC entrepreneurs. She is responsible for strategic leadership, program and service development, building sustainable financing and fundraising structures, and developing innovative empowerment formats with a focus on economic justice. She represents the organization in relevant networks, manages the DEI (Digital Innovation Initiative) area within the project and outreach strategy, and is responsible for risk and crisis management.
Loubna Messaoudi (she/her)
Co-Project Lead
As co-project lead, she ensures that all activities are consistently aligned with Equinet's mission: economic and social justice for BIWOC* and TIN*BIPoC entrepreneurs. She is responsible for strategic leadership, program and service development, building sustainable financing and fundraising structures, and developing innovative empowerment formats with a focus on economic justice. She represents the organization in relevant networks, manages public relations and brand strategy, and is responsible for risk and crisis management.
Nadiye Ünsal (she/her)
Co-Project Lead
Dr. Lana Sirri works at BIWOC* RISING – EquiNet as a DEI expert. Together with the DEI team, she develops and implements strategies for diversity, equality, and inclusion. She creates practical toolkits, supports consulting processes, and connects BIPOC entrepreneurs and startups with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in German society. Her role in integrating intersectional perspectives into all project phases and in close collaboration with team members and network partners is particularly important.
Dr. Lana Sirri (she/her)
DEI Consultant
Mary González Leal is a DEI expert for the EquiNet project by BIWOC*Rising. Mary has been working in the fields of DEI – organizational development and anti-discrimination – for almost two decades. As part of the DEI team at the EquiNet project, one of my key tasks is to increase the visibility of entrepreneurs and freelancers from underrepresented and marginalized groups and to develop needs-based, easily accessible support services. The goal is to dismantle existing barriers and raise awareness in order to collectively enable structural change.
Mary González Leal (they/them)
DEI expert
Cérise is the Community and Space Manager at BIWOC* RISING and part of the Equinet team. With a deep passion for intersectionality and diversity, Cérise brings her unique personal experiences, specialized training, and distinctive presence to every space, authentically connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, age groups, and walks of life. As Community Manager, Cérise regularly organizes community gatherings to foster connection, transparency, and a strong sense of belonging.
Cérise (they/ she)
Community and Space Manager
Nada Nabil manages the website, social media channels, and newsletters of BIWOC* Rising and EquiNet, combating algorithmic biases while sharing intersectional stories. With her experience in journalism and marketing in the SWANA region and Europe, she highlights diverse perspectives and the fluid experiences of BIPOC and migrant communities – with a data-driven approach that shapes her content creation.
Nada Nabil (she/her)
Communications & Marketing Manager
Nahla Küsel is responsible for administration and accounting at BIWOC* RISING. She ensures a reliable overview of finances, processes receipts, handles payments, and assists with grant applications and annual financial statements. Nahla collaborates with the team and management, contributing to transparent and efficient organizational structures. She views administration as the foundation for self-directed, effective, and efficient work, emphasizing personal responsibility, participation, and empowerment.
Nahla Küsel (they/them)
Controlling
Thuy Loan Nguyen works at BIWOC* RISING as a Project Manager for Equinet. She leads and supports the development of project and team structures. She maintains close contact with the project's partners and stakeholders and is responsible for creating networking events. What Loan finds most inspiring is transforming complex challenges into clear, actionable solutions – whether through building partnerships, designing learning events, or creating spaces for collaboration and dialogue.
Thuy Loan Nguyen (she/her)
Project Management/ Events
Nadiye Ünsal is temporarily also the PR and Communications Manager at BIWOC* RISING and Equinet. Nadiye develops communication strategies, creates content, and ensures that the project's messages reach the right target groups.
Nadiye Ünsal (she/her)
Communications & Press
Supporting organization
BIWOC* RISING is Germany’s first co-working space and social club for BIPOC entrepreneurs. Its goal is to promote equal opportunities, sustainable growth, and participation in entrepreneurship. Intersectional justice is the foundation of BIWOC* Rising. We understand work as inextricably linked to classism, racism, sexism, and economic exclusion.
Our sponsors & partners
We carefully select our partners, ensuring they align with our mission. Their dedicated support enables us to effectively implement our work. If you are interested in joining us on this journey, we would be delighted to hear from you; collaboration is most welcome.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union via the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus) are funding the EquiNet project.
Ibykus AG has been commissioned to implement the funding measure.
Impact Hub Berlin is part of the global Impact Hub network and a central hub for socio-ecological innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable transformation. As a community, workspace, and innovation platform, Impact Hub Berlin brings together entrepreneurs, startups, organizations, and initiatives working on solutions to social and environmental challenges.
Our EquiNet project by BIWOC* Rising is explicitly committed to upholding human rights in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations, as well as to applying the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFR) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).