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.
The first-place awardees took home USD $100,000 in grant funding, while the second- and third-place awardees received USD $60,000 and USD $30,000 respectively. In addition to the grant funding, all 32 fellows will also benefit from tailored mentoring and coaching, media visibility, networking opportunities from Cartier Women’s Initiative and education courses from the leading business school INSEAD.
The 2023 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Ceremony was also the opportunity for the program to announce the launch for its call for applications for the 2024 edition, started on May 10, 2023, until June 30, 2023, at 6pm (CEST).
Henceforth, the Cartier Women’s Initiative program will cover nine regions across the globe (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 two thematic awards (the Science & Technology Pioneer Award and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award). 33 fellows representing the top 3 business for each of 11 awards will be selected and will benefit from financial, social, and human capital support to grow their business and further build their leadership skills.
Cartier Women’s Initiative – 2023 Awardees
The eleven first-place awardees
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Emily Ewell, Brazil, Pantys
• North America: Wendy Owens, United States, Hexas Biomass Inc.
• Europe: Iva Gumnishka, Bulgaria, Humans in the Loop
• Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: Yvette Ishimwe, Rwanda, IRIBA Water Group
• Anglophone and Lusophone Africa: Dupe Killa-Kafidipe, Nigeria, Platinum Fisheries
• Middle East and North Africa: Khadija Elbedweihy, Egypt, PraxiLabs
• East Asia: Woori Moon, South Korea, 40FY
• South Asia and Central Asia: Denica Riadini-Flesch, Indonesia, SukkhaCitta
• Oceania: Ingrid Sealey, Australia, Teach Well
• Science and Technology Pioneer Award: Poulami Chaudhuri, India, Helex
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Blake Van Putten, United States, CISE
The eleven second-place awardees
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Atilana Piñón, Colombia, Retorna
• North America: Ania Wysocka, Canada, Simply Rooted Media Inc.
• Europe: Mariam Torosyan, Armenia, Safe YOU
• Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: Siny Samba, Senegal, Le Lionceau
• Anglophone and Lusophone Africa: Angella Kyomugisha, Uganda, Kaaro Health
• Middle East and North Africa: Renad Aljefri, Saudi Arabia, Ad Astra Therapy
• East Asia: Megan Lam, Hong Kong SAR (China), Neurum Health
• South Asia and Central Asia: Dimple Parmar, India, ZenHeal Wellness Private Limited
• Oceania: Lina Xu, Australia, Telecare
• Science and Technology Pioneer Award: Liv Andersson, UK, BioZeroc
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Ishani Roy, India, Serein Inc.
The ten third-place awardees
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Lidia Díaz, Dominican Republic, Plant Powered
• North America: Kayla Castañeda, United States, Agua Bonita
• Europe: Nathalie Lesselin, Switzerland, KOKORO Lingua
• Anglophone and Lusophone Africa: Charlot Magayi, Kenya, Mukuru Clean Stoves
• Middle East and North Africa: Farah Emara, Egypt, FreshSource
• East Asia: Olivia Cotes-James, Hong Kong SAR (China), LUÜNA
• South Asia and Central Asia: Mint Lim, Singapore, School of Concepts
• Oceania: Lily Dempster, Australia, One Small Step
• Science and Technology Pioneer Award: Adi Yehezkeli, Israel, Fabumin
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Chengchuan Shi, China, Voibook Technology
