Top 3 grant finalists
Originally from Nepal, Jeena’s powerful journey—from navigating an arranged marriage and immigration to building a life of freedom and purpose—shapes everything she does. She has received several awards including the WaveMaker Award from Team Women, the Michael Boyce Outstanding Entrepreneur Award, and multiple community leadership recognitions for her impact.
Jeena has served on the Human Rights, Inclusion and Engagement Commission for the City of Roseville, is a board member of Do Good Roseville, and on the advisory board for the Rice and Larpenteur Alliance. She also volunteers as a life skills coach at Hennepin County Jail, and regularly mentors students and women entrepreneurs through Women Venture, Junior Achievement North, the St. Paul Chamber, and Tony Robbins programs.
With every endeavor, Jeena leads with faith, heart, and a commitment to building community, creating opportunity, and inspiring others—especially moms and immigrant women—to believe in the power of their own voice.
Jeena Gurung Vomhof is a devoted mom, entrepreneur, speaker, and community advocate with a passion for uplifting others through purpose-driven work. She is the owner of Namaste Brows and Boutique in Roseville, Minnesota—a beauty and cultural retail space celebrating Nepali craftsmanship and supporting women artisans globally. She is also the founder of SURU – The Beginning, an intentional e-commerce brand focused on handcrafted goods and meaningful storytelling.
Mayve Rodriguez is a mom of two amazing kids and a passionate Spanish Teacher. Originally from Mexico, she moved to Minnesota 12 years ago, a huge leap considering I didn’t speak any English then!
Though trained as a dentist/ orthodontist, her journey took an exciting turn. Last September, she decided to follow my heart and started my own business, teaching Spanish to local school districts. She believes deeply in the power of moms balancing work and family, and I love sharing my culture with the kids here. It’s been an incredible adventure.
Rachel Frosch is the founder and CEO of Mom Badge, a movement-powered app designed to celebrate and support moms in the everyday moments that often go unseen. With a background in education, photography, and entrepreneurship, Rachel has built a brand rooted in acknowledgment, generosity, and human connection; offering people a new way to show up for the moms in their lives. At the heart of Mom Badge is a simple but powerful idea: motherhood is a marathon, not a moment, and every mom deserves a village cheering her on.
The platform lets users send digital “badges” to recognize milestones like “Potty Training Win” or “Up All Night,” pairing them with heartfelt messages and digital gift cards. Rachel is excited for new partnerships and is preparing to launch a new video messaging feature just in time for Mother's Day 2025.
In addition to founding Mom Badge, Rachel co-founded EmpowerHER, a growing community of female founders supporting one another through storytelling, connection, and shared resources. Her early career in education and her years as a photographer taught her the power of seeing people; of pausing long enough to reflect back the beauty and effort they often can’t see in themselves.
As a mom of four, Rachel’s work is personal. Her experience navigating the invisible labor of caregiving has shaped her mission to build a platform where moms feel seen, supported, and celebrated; not just on the big days, but in the messy, beautiful middle of it all.
Whether she's hosting conversations from her Honda Odyssey on her YouTube series A Mom’s Odyssey, crafting digital campaigns that spark joy, or dreaming up the next chapter of Mom Badge, Rachel shows up as a builder, nurturer, and relentless believer in the power of community.