Since 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has strived to create change by supporting female impact entrepreneurs with financial, social and human capital to grow their businesses and develop their leadership skills. This annual international entrepreneurship program is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from all countries and sectors that strive for a sustainable social and/or environmental impact.

The program includes 11 awards, consisting of 9 regional and 2 thematic awards:
The 9 regional awards include Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa (since 2023), Anglophone and Lusophone Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (since 2011), East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia (since 2019), and Oceania (since 2023).

The 2 thematic awards include Science & Technology Pioneer Award (launched 2021) which recognizes revolutionary solutions developed around unique, siled or difficult-to-reproduce technological or scientific advances. And the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award (launched on a pilot basis in 2023) that aims to encourage entrepreneurial solutions to close gaps in access, outcomes or opportunity for communities that are underrepresented or disadvantaged. [The DE&I award is the only award open to participants of any gender].

The 33 fellows of the 2024 edition of the Cartier Women’s Initiative are officially announced. 27 fellows have been selected for the 9 regional awards and 6 fellows have been selected for the 2 thematic awards.

The first, second and third place winners of each of the 11 awards will be announced at the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Ceremony to be held on May 22, 2024 in Shenzhen, China. Home to a large startup ecosystem, Shenzhen is a hub of entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity for China and beyond. This year’s ceremony, themed “Forces for Good”, reflects the programme’s ambition to galvanize a broader collective effort to create positive change.