Cartier Women’s Initiative Announces 2024 Awardees & Special Edition for 2025
The awardees of the 2024 Cartier Women's Initiative and the programme details for its 2025 edition were unveiled on Wednesday, May 22, during the annual awards ceremony, which took place this year in Shenzhen, China.
2024 edition awardees celebrated as "Forces for Good"
This year's Cartier Women's Initiative theme, “Forces for Good”, mirrors the programme's ambition to broaden its reach and foster a more just and equitable world. It emphasises the importance of collective action to deliver change, for good.
The Cartier Women's Initiative Awards Ceremony, hosted by writer and gender equality champion, Sandi Toksvig, opened with an evocative performance by the dance department of the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music. By echoing this year's theme of the Cartier Women's Initiative, the ensemble provided a poignant reflection on the power of unity.
The evening progressed with a conversation with Cyrille Vigneron, CEO and President of Cartier, who pointed out how proud the Maison is to continue supporting this vibrant community of changemakers to multiply its collective impact and reaffirmed Cartier’s deep conviction that when women thrive, humanity thrives.
The ceremony also welcomed esteemed guests of honour: Karlie Kloss, supermodel, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, alongside Guo Jingjing, Olympic diving champion, advocate for public welfare and environmental protection. As catalysts for change, they discussed their perspectives on gender equality and emphasised the significance of inclusion for everyone to be empowered to realise their potential.
The celebration offered a moment to explore the inspiring journeys of the 2024 fellows, whose creativity and entrepreneurial spirit combine to address the most crucial social and environmental challenges of our time.
The ceremony concluded with the revelation of the first, second, and third-place awardees across 11 categories, including 9 regional awards and 2 thematic awards: the "Science & Technology Pioneer Award" introduced in 2021, and the "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award" inaugurated in 2023.
The venue was filled with distinguished leaders, heads of nonprofit organisations, and representatives from international bodies, all eager to collaborate and act. Together with the awardees celebrated that evening, they embodied those "Forces for Good", whose creativity, and determination inspire hope for a brighter future for generations to come.
The eleven first-place awardees:
Latin America and the Caribbean: Marlene Molero Suárez, Peru, ELSA
North America: Julia Taylor, United States, GeekPack
Europe: Mira Nameth, United Kingdom, Biophilica
Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: Isabelle Kamariza, Rwanda, Solid'Africa
Anglophone and Lusophone Africa: Titi Adewusi, Nigeria, 9ijakids
Middle East and North Africa: Salma Bougarrani, Morocco, GREEN WATECH
East Asia: Jiwon Park, South Korea, SAIB
South Asia and Central Asia: Mansi Jain, India, DigitalPaani
Oceania: Simran Kaur, New Zealand, Girls That Invest
Science & Technology Pioneer Award: Lynne Lim, Singapore, NousQ
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award: Sadriye Görece, United States, BlindLook
The eleven second-place awardees:
Latin America and the Caribbean: Isabela Chusid, Brazil, Linus
North America: Jessica Menon, United States, Equilo
Europe: Amaia Rodríguez, Spain, Gravity Wave
Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: Jessica Long, Senegal, Maad
Anglophone and Lusophone Africa: Claire Van Enk, Kenya, Farm to Feed
Middle East and North Africa: Rania Gaafar, Egypt, ADVA
East Asia: Emily Yu, China, Ginger Ah
South Asia and Central Asia: Ira Guha, India, Asan
Oceania: Alison Harrington, Australia, Resparke
Science & Technology Pioneer Award: Ninna Granucci, France, Green Spot Technologies
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award: Akshita Sachdeva, India, Trestle Labs
The eleven third-place awardees:
Latin America and the Caribbean: Mercedes Bidart, Colombia, Quipu
North America: Kyla Bolden, Canada, Wiz Kid Learning
Europe: Laura Harnett, United Kingdom, Seep
Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa: Victoria Munguti, Rwanda, HeptaPay
Anglophone and Lusophone Africa: June Muchuku, Kenya, Plumbee
Middle East and North Africa: Shahira Youssef, Egypt, Chitosan Egypt
East Asia: Xintong Du, China, VoiceChanger
South Asia and Central Asia: Marina Tran-Vu, Vietnam, EQUO
Oceania: Frances Bilbao, Australia, Mums Matter Psychology
Science & Technology Pioneer Award: Monika Tomecka, Scotland and Poland, uFraction8
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award: Erica Cole, United States, No Limbits
2025 special edition fully dedicated to impact
Scheduled for May 22, on the occasion of the Women’s Pavilion, at the World Expo in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, the 2025 edition of the Cartier Women's Initiative will honour former fellows whose ventures have successfully developed, showcasing significant, measurable impacts within their fields.
This ceremony will recognise nine impact awardees in categories that are based on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, namely, Improving Lives, Preserving the Planet, and Creating Opportunities.
Through this special edition, dedicated to scaling impact, the Cartier Women's Initiative intends to underscore the critical importance of long-term commitment for impact-driven enterprises.
It will also highlight the key role that substantial financial support ($100,000 per award) and amplified support from the network of fellows play in nurturing their journey.
Since its inception in 2006, the Cartier Women's Initiative has expanded to encompass 11 categories, including 9 regional awards and 2 thematic awards: the "Science & Technology Pioneer Award" launched in 2021, and the "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award" introduced in 2023. For these categories, a distinguished jury selects the top three applicants, awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place $100,000, $60,000, and $30,000 in grant funding respectively. Beyond the financial rewards, these awardees join the "Fellows" community. This affiliation grants them access to tailored mentoring and coaching, media visibility, networking opportunities and education courses from the leading business school INSEAD, further empowering them in their entrepreneurial journey.
For more information about the programme and fellows: www.cartierwomensinitiative.com
ML Staff. Content/image courtesy of Richemont