Cartier celebrates 32 remarkable impact entrepreneurs from around the world and launches its call for applications for the 2024 edition.

Paris, 10 May 2023 – The ranking of the 2023 fellows of the Cartier Women’s Initiative has been revealed at the annual Awards Ceremony, which kicked off on May 10, 2023, in Paris at Salle Pleyel, on the theme “Forces for Good”.

For its 2023 edition, the Cartier Women’s Initiative program ambitions to strengthen the bond that unites its community, and to drive multi-stakeholder collaborations that effect change. This aligns with Goal 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, "Partnerships for the Goals", for fostering partnerships and recognizing the power of collaboration.

Hosted by broadcaster, writer and women’s activist Sandi Toksvig, the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Ceremony brought together a diverse community of global thinkers and doers, encompassing prominent leaders, entrepreneurs, public personalities and changemakers, all addressing women’s empowerment from their unique perspectives and pooling their efforts to deliver change, for good.

The celebration began with an opening remark from the co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice and leading barrister in international law, Amal Clooney, who shed light on her legal fight for gender parity for a thriving world. Her powerful speech was then followed by welcome remarks from CEO and President of Cartier International Cyrille Vigneron.

“We are thrilled to host the 16th annual awards ceremony of the Cartier Women’s Initiative in Paris, celebrating our ever-growing community of impact-driven entrepreneurs. Cartier is proud to continue building on its commitment for women’s empowerment, thus leveraging business as a force for good,” said Cyrille Vigneron, CEO and President of Cartier International.

The ceremony then moved on to lightning talks and a video “What Impact Entrepreneurs Need From You”, featuring the 32 fellows, as well as speeches and conversations involving Wingee Sampaio, Cartier Women’s Initiative Global Program Director, Nadine Labaki, Actress, Director and Activist, Yara Shahidi, Actress, Producer and Change Agent, and Mélanie Laurent, French Actress, Director, and Environmental Activist. They discussed how each individual can gather its strength to amplify a global solidarity movement and inspire everyone to become an agent of change. Drawing on Cartier’s role in supporting artistic expression, the ceremony also included a stunning artistic performance, reflecting the theme of this year’s edition “Forces for Good”, led by dancer, choreographer, and designer Sadeck Waff.

The celebration was then concluded by the announcement of the first-place, second-place and third-place awardees selected for each of the 11 awards, comprising the nine regional awards, including Oceania and Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa launched this year and the two thematic awards, the Science and Technology Pioneer Award launched in 2021 and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, created this year.

About Cartier Women’s Initiative

The Cartier Women's Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs. Founded in 2006, the program 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. Their mission is to shine a light on women impact entrepreneurs and provide them with the necessary financial, social and human capital support to grow their business and build their leadership skills. Since its creation, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has supported 297 impact entrepreneurs hailing from 63 countries and has awarded a total of USD $7,440,000 in grant funding. As part of the program, all fellows are offered one-on-one mentoring, as well as the opportunity to be part of a global network of impact entrepreneurs collectively working to drive positive change.

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About Cartier

A reference in the world of luxury, Cartier, whose name is synonymous with open-mindedness and curiosity, 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 symbolize the convergence between exceptional craftsmanship and a timeless signature.
Today, Cartier is part of the Richemont Group and has a worldwide presence through its network of flagships and boutiques, authorized retail partners, and online.

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