2019 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards: Cartier launches its call for applications

In partnership with INSEAD Business School and McKinsey & Company, Cartier has launched its call for applications in the 2019 edition of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.

This international competition is especially dedicated to female entrepreneurs; those who are making considerable contributions to society by finding effective and affordable solutions to issues that will support future generations.

The initiative was launched in 2006 and seeks to encourage female entrepreneurship as well as highlight the contributions women have made to the global economy.

The call for applications began last month and will close on 31 August 2018.

Cartier encourages women-run, for-profit businesses in any country working to create a stronger social impact to apply.

Since its inception, over 16,000 women globally have entered with 198 businesses creating more than 6,000 jobs across 49 countries.

Winners of the 2018 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards announced

The call for applications comes after Cartier announced its laureates for the 2018 Awards at a lavish ceremony in Singapore. It was attended by a plethora of female leaders.

Presented for the second consecutive year by media personality Sandy Toksvig, the ceremony began with a video address from Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Kristina Tsvetanova, Austria – BLITAB Technology

Melissa Bime, Cameroon – Infiuss

Paula Gomez, Brazil – Epistemic

Siroun Shamigian, Lebanon – Kamkalima

Swati Pandey, India – Arboreal Agro Innovations

YiDing Yu, US – Twiage

The event also unveiled the Award’s new partnership with TED via a specially curated session with Matilda Ho (Founder and Managing Director of Bits x Bites), Meagan Fallone (CEO of Barefoot College), Zubaida Bai (Founder and CEO of Ayzh), and Halla Tómasdóttir (Entrepreneur, one-time presidential candidate for Iceland and Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards former laureate).

A panel conversation with HE Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi (President of Zayed University) and Cartier CEO Cyrille Vigneron followed, before a second discussion between Anousheh Ansari (CEO of Prodea Systems and first female private space explorer), Shinta Kamdani (CEO of Sintesa Group), and Ilian Mihov (Dean of INSEAD).

"With the Awards, our Maison aims to contribute to women’s empowerment efforts worldwide, and thus mirror Cartier’s values. Indeed, curiosity, audacity, willpower to lead the change and openness to the world have been part of our DNA from a very early stage," said Vigneron. "Sharing with these women about their dreams and lives is both part of who we are and our responsibility."

Vigneron then announced the six 2018 laureates who received US$100,000 each in prize money.

Laureates from the 2018 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards

Asia-Pacific: Swati Pandey, India – Arboreal Agro Innovations:
An industrial scale, vertically-integrated producer of stevia, a 100% natural substitute for sugar.
Europe: Kristina Tsvetanova, Austria – BLITAB Technology:
A tactile tablet for the blind and visually impaired.
Latin America: Paula Gomez, Brazil – Epistemic:
A device that alerts patients and caregivers of an oncoming epileptic seizure up to 25 minutes in advance.
Middle East & North Africa: Siroun Shamigian, Lebanon – Kamkalima:
An online platform that uses artificial intelligence and data analytics to help learn and teach Arabic.
North America: YiDing Yu, US – Twiage:
A digital platform that enables the transmission of real-time data from ambulance to hospital.
Sub-Sahran Africa: Melissa Bime, Cameroon – Infiuss:
An online blood bank that collects and dispatches blood donations to hospitals.