Cartier Women's Initiative
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Cartier Women’s Initiative releases its Impact Report
Since 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has helped women impact entrepreneurs to reach their full potential by shining alight on their achievements and providing them with the necessary financial, social and human capital support to grow their businesses and build their leadership skills. The program is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable positive impact on society as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In the spirit of continuous improvement and to mark the 15th anniversary of the program, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has placed Impact at the heart of its 2022 edition, looking back on the program’s evolution and its impact.
The Cartier Women’s Initiative Impact Report
Fifteen years on, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has supported 262 women impact entrepreneurs hailing from 62 countries and has awarded a total of $6,440,000 in prize money to support their businesses. The fellowship has expanded from funding five fellows in 2007 to 24 fellows in 2021.
Since the launch of the community pillar in January 2019, aiming to support fellows by connecting them with a global network that can provide them with access to relationships, knowledge and capital, more than 320 community members have actively engaged with the community and 62 community events have been hosted.
In 2021, to assess the impact of the program across the globe, The Cartier Women’s Initiative fielded a 40- questions online survey to its 228 former fellows. This survey became the baseline for Cartier Women’s initiative impact measurement.
With the launch of the Impact Report, which put the light on the powerful ripples of positive changes initiated by these women entrepreneurs, Cartier Women’s Initiative is aiming to improve the program and expand opportunities to more women impact entrepreneurs worldwide.
Going forward, the program intends to create a global network of diverse allies of the Cartier Women’s Initiative community that can amplify that impact by leveraging their unique strengths: their circle of fellows, their knowledge of the ecosystem, and their ability to activate different players.
Impact Awardees
To celebrate furthermore the impact of the program, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has unveiled for the very first time, 9 impact awardees —former fellows whose businesses have achieved significant impact. The Impact Awards cover three categories: Improving Lives, Preserving the Planet and Creating Opportunities, which are based on the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. Three former fellows are recognized in each of these three categories.
THE 9 IMPACT AWARDEES IMPROVING LIVES
Rasha Rady, Egypt, Chefaa
Chefaa has created an AI-powered, GPS-enabled digital platform to help chronic patients order, schedule, and refill their recurring medicines regardless of location or income.
Rasha Rady | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
Nneka Mobisson, Nigeria, mDoc
A mobile platform that provides people living with chronic disease with 24/7 access to virtual healthcare providers
Nneka Mobisson | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
Temie Giwa Tubosun, Nigeria, LifeBank
A medical distribution company that uses data and technology to discover and deliver essential medical products to hospitals in Nigeria.
Temie Giwa-Tubosun | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
PRESERVING THE PLANET
Joanne Howarth, Australia, Planet Protector Packaging
Planet Protector Packaging manufactures environmentally responsible insulated packaging made from sheep waste wool for transport of temperature-sensitive goods.
Joanne Howarth | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
Lorna Rutto, Kenya, EcoPost
EcoPost manufactures durable fencing posts using plastic waste, an environmentally friendly alternative to timber.
Lorna Rutto | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
Charlotte Wang, China, EQuota Energy
EQuota is an energy optimization company that combines artificial intelligence and big data to deliver energy efficiency solutions.
Charlotte Wang | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
Carmina Bayombong
Carmina Bayombong, Philippines, InvestEd
An investment platform providing student loans to underserved youth using a proprietary credit rating algorithm.
Carmina Bayombong | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
Carol Chyau, China, Shokay
Shokay produces children’s clothes and accessories, home furnishings and yarn using yak fiber purchased directly from the region’s herder.
Carol Chyau | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
Fariel Salahuddin, Pakistan, UpTrade
A bartering service enabling off-grid rural communities to exchange livestock for solar- powered water pumps and home systems.
Fariel Salahuddin | Cartier Women's Initiative (cartierwomensinitiative.com)
The first prize awardee of each of the three Impact Award Categories will be announced during the Impact Awards Ceremony, on March 6th, 2022 in the context of the World Reunion at the WorldExpo 2020 in Dubai which will celebrate the Cartier Women’s Initiative and will collectively shape the future of the program.
Over three days, from March 6th to March 8th, Cartier Women’s Initiative will be organizing a series of case studies, workshops and Meet & Learn sessions for its community, allowing them to meet passionate impact leaders from around the world, spark new collaborations and tackle shared challenges.
“The Cartier Women’s Initiative World Reunion is an opportunity to reaffirm the Maisons’s commitment to our community of women’s impact entrepreneurs, amplify the successes of these admirable women, and help them reach new heights in order to make the world a better and more equal place. Because when women thrive, humanity thrives.”
The first prize awardee will take home US $100,000 in prize money, while the second and third runners-up will respectfully receive US $60,000 and US $30,000.
Finally, the 9 awardees will each receive human capital support valued at US $10,000.