Cartier proudly names the 33 fellows selected for this year’s edition of the Cartier Women’s Initiative, recognising their remarkable achievements and meaningful solutions to the most pressing global challenges. 

Celebrating 17 years, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has evolved into a comprehensive international programme that aims to shine a light on women impact entrepreneurs and to provide them with the necessary financial, social and human capital support to grow their businesses and build their leadership skills.

This year, 27 fellows were selected for the 9 regional awards, and 6 fellows were selected for the 2 thematic awards. These 11 awards recognise and fund talented impact entrepreneurs from around the world who leverage business as a force for good:

9 regional awards: Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa (since 2023), Anglophone and Lusophone Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (since 2011), East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia (since 2019), and Oceania (since 2023).

2 thematic awards: Science & Technology Pioneer Award (launched in 2021) that recognises disruptive solutions built around unique, protected or hard-to-reproduce technological or scientific advances, as well as the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award (launched on a pilot basis in 2023) which seeks to encourage entrepreneurial solutions to close gaps of access, outcome or opportunities for communities that have been underrepresented or underserved.

The first place, second place and third place awardees of each of the 11 awards will be announced during the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Ceremony that will be held on May 22nd, 2024, in Shenzhen, China. Home to a large startup ecosystem, Shenzhen is a hub of entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity, for China and beyond.

All fellows will also benefit from tailored mentoring and coaching, media visibility, networking opportunities and education courses from the leading business school INSEAD. In addition, the first-place awardees will take home USD $100,000 in grant funding, while the second and third place awardees will receive USD $60,000 and USD $30,000 respectively.

A global pioneering programme

“Women social entrepreneurs are leaders, creators, pioneers, and a source of inspiration. Through our long-standing commitment, all together, we have enabled breakthrough, provided significant support and delivered impact.” – Cyrille Vigneron, CEO and President of Cartier

Founded in 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative arose from the acknowledgment of the critical need for greater inclusivity in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Women entrepreneurs face many challenges, including gender bias, defying social expectations, lack of role models, as well as access to funding and building a supportive and relevant network.

Since its creation, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has evolved into a comprehensive leadership programme that has supported 330 women impact entrepreneurs hailing from 66 countries. It has awarded a total of USD $9,500,000 in grant funding to support fellows’ businesses and has established a strong network of over 700 community members covering more than 66 countries.

“Every year we prove that women are courageous business leaders that can be a formidable force for good, solving the pressing social and environmental challenges of our times, while being financially sustainable.” – Wingee Sin, Cartier Women's Initiative Global Programme Director

The programme is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact on society, delivering meaningful solutions to the most pressing global challenges. The DEI programme is open to all genders.

Today, the programme stands out thanks to its global comprehensive approach. This fully fledged impact-oriented programme is not only focused on its awards but also on its fellowship and community pillars. 

For more information on the programme and footage of the fellows, please visit:
www.cartierwomensinitiative.com

About Cartier

A reference in the world of luxury, Cartier, whose name is synonymous with open-mindedness and curiosity, stands out with its creations and reveals beauty wherever it may lie. Jewellery, high jewellery watchmaking and fragrances, leather goods and accessories: Cartier’s creations symbolise the convergence between exceptional craftsmanship and a timeless signature. Cartier is part of the Richemont Group and has a worldwide presence through its network of flagships and boutiques, authorised retail partners, and online.
www.cartier.com

About INSEAD Business School

As one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools, INSEAD brings together people, cultures and ideas to develop responsible leaders who transform business and society. The school’s research, teaching and partnerships reflect this global perspective and cultural diversity. With locations in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi), and now North America (San Francisco), INSEAD’s business education and research spans four regions. Each year, the school’s 168 renowned faculty members from 41 countries inspire more than 1,100-degree participants and 12,400 executives in its Executive Education programmes.
www.insead.edu

Press Contact

For media inquiries, please contact Cartier Corporate Communications:
Charline Maris: charline.maris@cartier.com

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