Cartier has recognised the 2024 winners of its prestigious and impactful entrepreneurial training program, the Cartier Women’s Initiative, and also announced exciting plans for 2025.
The 2024 edition recognises the achievements of 33 global female entrepreneurs recognised for their innovative and social impact businesses. The announcement was made at the annual awards ceremony held in Shenzhen, China on Wednesday, May 22nd.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
The Cartier Women’s Initiative recognised outstanding women entrepreneurs from different regions who have made significant contributions to society.
Salma Bougarani of Morocco won first place with her company Green Watec, which provides soil-based filter systems that treat domestic wastewater for agricultural irrigation in rural areas.
Rania Gaafar, founder of Egypt’s ADVA, took second place for connecting self-employed and unbanked individuals with low-interest loan opportunities.
Shahira Yahia, founder of Egypt’s Chitosan, won third place for helping small-scale farmers participate in organic markets and increase their income through new agricultural practices.
Among the Indians, Athan founder Ila Guha was recognised for her work in tackling “period poverty” with her reusable menstrual cups.
Mansi Jain, founder of DigitalPaani, received the award for creating a digital management tool that protects water resources and supports efforts to create clean cities.
Akshita Sachdeva, founder of Trestle Labs, was recognized for her work in providing access to education and employment to the visually impaired through her Kibo device and app.
Sophie Dwarrow, CEO of Cartier Middle East, India, Africa and Turkey, said: “The region is rich in incredible and diverse entrepreneurial talent and we always receive fantastic applications from dynamic women-founded small and medium-sized businesses. We are thrilled to welcome this new group of regional Fellows to the Cartier Women’s Initiative’s close-knit community.”
“Each of the selected Fellows is unique and all are passionate about using business as a force for good. Together they are transforming the sectors they operate in and creating a lasting impact in their communities. I am excited to see what they will achieve as part of this initiative,” added Dwarrow.
Celebrating “A Force for Good”
This year’s theme, “Forces for Good,” reflects Cartier Women’s Initiative’s mission to foster a more just and equal world.
The awards ceremony, hosted by gender equality advocate Sandi Toksvig, featured a performance by the dance department of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, highlighting the power of unity.
Cyril Vigneron, CEO and President of Cartier, emphasized the importance of supporting this vibrant community of change-makers to advance their collective impact, reaffirming Cartier’s deep belief that when women thrive, humanity thrives.
2025 edition focused on impact
The 2025 edition of the Cartier Women’s Initiative will be launched on May 22nd at the Women’s Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka-Kansai, Japan.
This edition will recognise past Fellows whose work has demonstrated significant impact.
Nine Impact Award winners will be recognized in categories aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on improving lives, protecting the planet and creating opportunity.
Each awardee will receive $100,000 in financial support and additional support from the Fellows Network.
Since its launch in 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has expanded to 11 categories, with nine regional and two thematic awards. In 2021, the Science and Technology Pioneer Award was created, and in 2023, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award was introduced.
Winners will receive a generous grant and join a community of “Fellows” who will receive tailored mentoring, media exposure, networking opportunities, and access to INSEAD’s educational courses to further their entrepreneurial journey.
The full list of winners is below:
1) 11 1st place winners
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Marlene Morello Suarez, Peru, ELSA
- North America: Julia Taylor, USA, GeekPack
- Europe: Mira Names, UK, Biophilica
- French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa: Isabelle Camariza, Rwanda, Solid’Africa
- English and Portuguese-speaking Africa: Titi Adewusi, Nigeria, 9ijakids
- Middle East and North Africa: Salma Bugarani, Morocco, GREEN WATECH
- East Asia: Jiwon Park, South Korea, SAIB
- South and Central Asia: Mansi Jain, India, DigitalPaani
- Oceania: Simran Kaur, New Zealand, Girls That Invest
- Science and Technology Pioneer Award: Lynn Lim, Singapore, NousQ
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Sadriye Grece, United States, BlindLook
2) 11 2nd place winners
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Isabella Chusid, Brazil, Linus
- North America: Jessica Menon, USA, Equilo
- Europe: Amaia Rodriguez, Spain, Gravity Wave
- Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: Jessica Long, Maad, Senegal
- English and Portuguese-speaking Africa: Claire Van Enk, Kenya, Farm to Feed
- Middle East and North Africa: Rania Ga’afar, Egypt, ADVA
- East Asia: Emily Yu, China, Ginger Ah
- South and Central Asia: Ila Guha, Asan, India
- Oceania: Alison Harrington, Les Park, Australia
- Science and Technology Pioneer Award: Nina Granucci, France, Green Spot Technologies
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Akshita Sachdeva, Trestle Labs, India
3) 11 3rd place winners
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Mercedes Vidal, Colombia, Quito
- North America: Kayla Bolden, Canada, WithKid Learning
- Europe: Laura Harnett, UK, Sheep
- Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: Victoria Munguti, Rwanda, HeptaPay
- English and Portuguese-speaking Africa: June Muchuku, Plumby, Kenya
- Middle East and North Africa: Shahira Yousef, Egypt, Chitosan Egypt
- East Asia: Xintong Du, China, VoiceChanger
- South and Central Asia: Marina Tran Vu, Vietnam, EQUO
- Oceania: Francis Bilbao, Australia, Moms Matter Psychology
- Science and Technology Pioneer Award: Monika Tomečka, Scotland and Poland, uFraction8
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Erica Cole, United States, No Limbits
