Cartier Women’s Initiative celebrates its 20th anniversary and launches call for applications for the 2027 edition

26 MAR 2026

From its inception, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has carried a conviction that lies at the heart of the Maison: when given the means to lead, innovate and create, women can redefine the future.

In 2026, the Cartier Women’s Initiative celebrates its 20th anniversary under the theme of “Lighting the path”. A fitting tribute to the women who are sparking change with courage, creativity and conviction. They are shining examples, illuminating the path through uncertainty, while laying the foundations of a more just and sustainable tomorrow.

Driving change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs

The Cartier Women’s Initiative aims to shine a light on women impact entrepreneurs and provide them with the necessary financial, social, and human capital support to grow their businesses and build their leadership skills.

The programme features 10 awards, comprising nine regional awards and one thematic award, which recognise and support women impact entrepreneurs from around the world who leverage business as a force for good:

Nine regional awards: Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, Anglophone and Lusophone Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia, and Oceania.
One thematic award: A Science & Technology Pioneer Award that recognises disruptive solutions built around unique, protected or hard-to-reproduce technological or scientific advances.

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

Key milestones

2006 : Launch of the Cartier Women’s Initiative, fully funded by Cartier.
2016: Celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Cartier Women’s Initiative.
2017: Creation of a scholarship for the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme and increase in total grant funding to USD $960,000 per edition.
2019: Division of Asia category into East Asia regional award and South Asia and Oceania regional award, increasing the number of fellows from 18 to 21 annually. And launch of the community pillar, connecting programme participants with each other and their supporters.
2020: Introduction of a one-year fellowship programme encompassing a customised INSEAD Women’s Impact Entrepreneurship Programme, training in various business topics, and executive leadership coaching.
2021: Launch of the thematic Science & Technology Pioneer Award, increasing number of fellows to 24 annually.
2022: Celebration of the 15th edition of the programme in Dubai, on the occasion of the Women’s Pavilion co-created by Cartier and Expo 2020 Dubai, recognising former fellows for their outstanding impact and reflecting on the programme’s evolution.
2023: Creation of two new regional awards: Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania.
2025: Celebration of an Impact Awards edition, on the occasion of the Women’s Pavilion co-created by Cartier and Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. This edition recognises former fellows whose businesses have achieved significant and measurable impacts.
2026: Celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Cartier Women’s Initiative.

An international programme with impact

Women have always had a pivotal role in the Maison, and Cartier was among the first luxury Maisons to recognise the importance of supporting women impact entrepreneurs.

From the beginning, Cartier committed to helping women reach their full potential, fostering a more inclusive society and driving meaningful change. This commitment to women’s empowerment, rooted in the very DNA of the Maison, highlights Cartier’s uniquely pioneering spirit.

Today, the Cartier Women’s Initiative stands out among other programmes, thanks to its impact-driven and holistic approach. Beyond financial support, the Cartier Women’s Initiative offers a comprehensive fellowship, well-being support and lifelong access to a vibrant community, supporting long-term solutions and positive change.

Impact figures (as of 30 September 2025)

20 years on, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has evolved into a holistic leadership programme that has supported 330 impact entrepreneurs hailing from 66 countries. The programme has established a strong network of 520+ active community members spanning nearly 80 countries and has provided a total of USD $14,100,000 in financial support to fellows’ impact businesses.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative has played a crucial role in supporting fellows’ businesses to thrive: 66% of all fellows’ impact businesses are still operating and 9% have been merged or acquired. According to the 2025 Fellow Survey, 76% of recent fellows had increased their revenue and 44% have entered new markets since completing the fellowship; moreover, 66% have raised additional financing in 2024.

At the completion of their fellowship, 97% of 2024 fellows reported increased self-confidence, 94% reported improved business skills, 94% reported stronger leadership skills. 100% of 2024 fellows felt a sense of belonging to a global community and 84% reported receiving 10 or more useful connections.

The 2026 fellows

The Cartier Women’s Initiative is honoured to announce the 30 fellows selected for this year’s edition, representing the top three businesses for each of the nine regional awards and for the thematic award.

These fellows are recognised for their remarkable achievements and meaningful solutions to the most pressing global challenges. This year, for the first time, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has recognised a woman impact entrepreneur from Nepal.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Ceremony will be held on 10 June 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand. Home to a rapidly growing and dynamic startup ecosystem, Bangkok is a hub of entrepreneurship, innovation, technology and creativity, for Thailand and beyond.

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.

In addition to the grant funding, all 30 fellows will also benefit from a year-long fellowship programme, media visibility, networking opportunities and lifelong access to a vibrant Cartier Women’s Initiative community.

The 2027 edition

The Cartier Women’s Initiative is thrilled to announce the launch of its call for applications for the 2027 edition, opening on 16 April 2026, at 2PM (CEST) and closing on 16 June 2026, at 2PM (CEST).

The 2027 edition will include nine regional awards (Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, Anglophone and Lusophone Africa, Middle East and North Africa, East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia, and Oceania) and the Science & Technology Pioneer Award.

A total of 30 fellows, representing the top three businesses for each of the 10 awards, will be selected. These fellows will benefit from financial, social, and human capital support to scale their business and further develop their leadership skills.

These 30 visionaries will be announced in 2027 and celebrated during the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Ceremony.

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. Today, Cartier is part of Richemont and has a worldwide presence through its network of flagships and boutiques, authorised retail partners, and online.

www.cartier.com

About INSEAD Business School and the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society

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.

Founded in August 2018, the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society is at the forefront of aligning INSEAD with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. In order to achieve this, the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society supports research on business and society, inspires and equips future leaders, engages with its global alumni community and external partners to expand its impact, and aspires to make INSEAD a sustainable school that acts and leads by example.

www.insead.edu

https://www.insead.edu/hoffmann-institute