Since 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has helped these women reach their full potential by shining a light 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 social and environmental impact as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For the past 14 years, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has accompanied 240 promising female entrepreneurs hailing from 56 different countries and has awarded over US $3 million to support their businesses.

21 finalists – women social impact entrepreneurs running the top 3 businesses per region – were selected amongst 1200 applications from 162 countries.  It is the first time that countries such as Australia, Benin, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden are represented in the program. The 7 laureates will be announced in early June 2020.

Sofie Blakstad, Denmark, Hiveonline

Helps underserved micro-businesses get credit and access markets they couldn’t normally reach by creating a trust history based on facts and business actions.

Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, Denmark, Female Invest

Promotes financial gender equality by educating women on investing and personal finances.

Dora Palfi, Sweden, ImagiLabs

Creating a community and mobile-first tools that make programming fun and relevant for teenage girls.

“Creating opportunities for women and empowering them is not only what we believe is right, it also tells who we are: a Maison both anchored in reality and open to the world, thus perfectly aware of our responsibility. A responsibility all the more important given these uncertain times. At Cartier, we believe it is crucial to support young businesses and start-ups through to a more stable period. And this is what we intend to keep doing, fully aware that these women are making a concrete and durable impact, therefore paving the way for a better future.”

– Cyrille Vigneron, President and CEO of Cartier International

The laureate from each region will take home US $100,000 in prize money; whereas the second and third runner-ups will receive US $30,000.  Finally, the 7 laureates and 14 finalists will all benefit from financial advisory services, 1:1 strategy coaching, media visibility and international networking opportunities,  as well as the opportunity to join an INSEAD executive education program.

For more information on the program and footage of the fellows, please visit: www.cartierwomensinitiative.com