A Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) Impact Ghana student, Lordina Pokua Addai, has been shortlisted for the final round of the Early Steps Academy Market Disruptor Challenge, a global championship.

The challenge provides students with the opportunity to exhibit their innovative and entrepreneurial skills, particularly in developing disruptive strategies and solutions.

Assuming the role of CEO of a sustainable fashion startup aiming to disrupt the dominance of fast fashion brands like Zara, Uniqlo, and Primark, students are tasked with creating a profitable and scalable alternative that convinces consumers to shift away from fast fashion's low-cost, high-turnover model, which contributes to massive waste and environmental damage.

Ms. Lordina, a Grade 9 student at Dison International School and a fellow at Young People Travel (YPT) Global Edge, America, is one of the top five participants selected after a rigorous worldwide review of over 300 competitors.

She is the only student from Africa to qualify for the final round, representing the continent among 50-60 African participants.

Lordina will pitch her creative business idea and solution concept, "GREENSTITCH," with the tagline "Stitching a greener future," on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

She will showcase her incredible work in fast fashion innovation, highlighting its global environmental impact, with a focus on Ghana, and presenting GREENSTITCH's sustainable solutions."

About Early Steps Academy:

Early Steps Academy, led by alumni of Harvard Business School, makes school children 10X confident in the real world, planting the seed of confidence as early as possible. This unique case-based learning exposes children to modern essential subjects and hones their 21st-century skills of thinking and speaking.

About GIMI Impact:

GIMI IMPACT Social Innovation is a programme designed by the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI) to empower high school students to address the world’s social challenges, such as climate change, food security, water scarcity, poverty, ageing, child labour, refugee crises, mental health, drug abuse, loneliness, racism, and unemployment through innovation.