Cartier, the renowned French jeweler, has recently announced the eight laureates for its 2021 Cartier Women’s Initiative. The winners were revealed during a virtual ceremony that marked the culmination of a three-day event focused on the concept of a Ripple Effect. This initiative, which was launched in 2008, aims to support female entrepreneurs who lead women-owned businesses globally. The focus for this year is exploring the ripple effect created by these women changemakers and how it can be created and sustained.
Out of a pool of 876 applicants from 142 countries, the eight laureates emerged as the finalists for the 2021 Cartier Women’s Initiative. They are Valentina Rogacheva, Rebecca Hui, Andrea Barber, Seynabou Dieng, Basima Abdulrahman, Corina Huang, Rebecca Percasky, and Orianna Bretschger. All of the laureates are committed to creating positive change and supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The virtual assembly was attended by global thinkers and doers, including entrepreneur and author Jacqueline Novogratz, journalist and founder of Shriver Media and The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Maria Shriver, scholar Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and actor and change agent Yara Shahidi. The objective of the gathering was to discuss opportunities arising from the challenges of our time and to foster antifragility, build new alliances, and uplift women, according to Cartier.
During the event, Cartier’s president and CEO Cyrille Vigneron emphasized the importance of creating an enabling environment and a supportive ecosystem for women impact entrepreneurs to thrive. He expressed confidence in the future as these exceptional changemakers create a wave of change and make the world a better place for future generations.
Each laureate in the Cartier Women’s Initiative received a cash prize of $100,000, while the second and third runners-up received $30,000 each. In addition, the eight laureates and 16 finalists will benefit from significant advisory services, including one-on-one training, workshops, media visibility, and international networking opportunities. They will also have the chance to participate in an impact entrepreneurship program offered by INSEAD, one of the top business schools in France.
The initiative is also launching a new Impact Award, which will recognize past participants of the Cartier Women’s Initiative who have made significant progress in the Sustainable Development Goals category.
To further promote women’s empowerment, a global reunion of the Cartier Women’s Initiative community is planned for March 8, 2022. This event will provide an opportunity for past participants, laureates, and supporters to come together and continue their mission of driving positive change for women worldwide.
For more information about the Cartier Women’s Initiative, you can visit their official website [insert link] and learn about the impact these women are making in the world [insert link].
