Created in 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards are a joint partnership project initiated by Cartier, the Women’s Forum, McKinsey & Company and INSEAD business school to encourage women entrepreneurs.
Five Laureates, one from each continent (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America) are honoured annually for the creativity, financial sustainability and social impact of their start-up businesses.
The prize includes coaching support for one full year, a US$ 20 000 grant, a trophy designed by Cartier as well as networking and visibility opportunities.
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In 2005, Cartier supported the very first edition of the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society, an international gathering designed to promote women’s vision on issues of global relevance.
In 2006, Cartier and the Women’s Forum joined forces with McKinsey & Company and INSEAD business school to create the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards that aim to support female entrepreneurs through mentoring, funding, networking opportunities and media visibility.
The very first Laureates were awarded in 2007. Since the creation of the Award, 15 entrepreneurs have received the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.
Phase I - Three Finalists from each of the five regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America) are selected in the first round of the competition in June. These 15 Finalists receive coaching to move to the next phase where they submit a detailed business plan and defend their projects verbally in front of the Jury.
Phase II - The nomination of the five Laureates takes place in October during an Awards Ceremony held at the Annual Global Meeting of the Women’s Forum in Deauville.
The Finalists and Laureates are selected by regional juries composed of entrepreneurs, economists, business men and women, entrepreneurship advocates etc. They are chosen on the basis of their entrepreneurial experience, their business achievements and their commitment to the support of women entrepreneurs. The Jury's involvement is long-term and voluntary.
The coaching of the Finalists and Laureates is conducted by Cartier managers, McKinsey consultants, INSEAD alumni and INSEAD MBA students.
Women of any nationality, industry and country may apply from October every year to March of the next year.
2010
Africa: Ann Kihengu, Prian, Tanzania
Asia: Gouthami, Travel Another India, India
Europe: Wendy McMillan, Who to Ask?, United Kingdom
Latin America: Valentina Peroni, Nutribaby, Argentina
North America: Birame Sock, Third Solutions, United States
2009
Africa: Jife Williams and Adeola Asabia, MN Environmental Services, Nigeria
Asia: Kimberley Ong, AlgaVentures, Philippines
Europe: Kristin Pétursdóttir and Halla Tómasdóttir, Audur Capital, Iceland
Latin America: Rosario Monteverde and Magdalena Rodríguez, PRO Internacional, Uruguay
North America: Una Ryan, Waltham Technologies, United States
2008
Africa: Mame Diene, Karistal, Senegal
Asia: Renee King, Tamang Timpla Food Inc., Philippines
Europe: Laura Chicurel, Chicurela, United Kingdom
Latin America: Cynthia Guy, Instituto de Implantes Cocleares, Panama
North America: Mona S. Jhaveri, Foligo Therapeutics, United States
2007
Africa: Lucie Avoaka, Santa Maria Medical Center, Côte d’Ivoire
Asia: Nandini Pandhi and Yasmina McCarty, GreenMango, India
Europe: Bettina Götzenberger, Lomaslegal, Spain
Latin America: Antonia Sanin, The Globe, Colombia
North America: Angel Chang, Angel Chang LLC, United States