Cartier reveals Women’s Initiative 2021 laureates

Cartier, the French jeweler par excellence, has unveiled the names of the eight laureates for its 2021 Cartier Women’s Initiative, revealed in an entirely digital ceremony, the climax of a three-day gathering, evolving around the concept of a Ripple Effect.

Hosted by Cyrille Vigneron, Cartier president and CEO, the project supports female entrepreneurs who develop women-owned business internationally. First launched in 2008, this year's edition aims to explore how to create and sustain the ripple effect ignited by these women changemakers.

This year’s eight laureates emerged from a large field of 876 other applicants from 142 countries. The long-awaited list of finalists are Valentina Rogacheva, Rebecca Hui, Andrea Barber, Seynabou Dieng, Basima Abdulrahman, Corina Huang, Rebecca Percasky and Orianna Bretschger. Underlining their shared commitment to positive change, they all support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

A team of global thinkers and doers attended the online assembly, including entrepreneur and author Jacqueline Novogratz; award-winning journalist, author and founder of Shriver Media and The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Maria Shriver; scholar Nassim Nicholas Taleb; and actor, producer and change agent Yara Shahidi. The objective: to discuss opportunities that emerge from the challenges of our time, hence fostering “antifragility, building new alliances and uplifting women,” Cartier said in a release.

“For the past fifteen years, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has celebrated women impact entrepreneurs. It has long been our belief that to thrive, they need an enabling environment, a supportive ecosystem and an empowering culture. During the Virtual Gathering, like-minded individuals and organizations from all horizons have joined us to explore how we can collectively uplift these outstanding change-makers. We look to the future with confidence by their side, as we witness them building up a tide of change, thus making the world a better place for generations to come," said Vigneron.

The laureate for each Award category took home $100,000 in prize money; whereas the second and third runners-up each received $30,000.

Cartier also promised the eight laureates and 16 finalists significant advisory services: one-on-one training; collective workshops; media visibility and international networking opportunities, as well as a chance to join an impact entrepreneurship program INSEAD, one of France’s two top business schools.

Additionally, the program will launch a new Impact Award, rewarding past Cartier Women’s Initiative participants who have made the best improvement in the Sustainable Development Goals category.

Keeping up the drive for women’s empowerment, a world reunion of the Cartier Women’s Initiative community is planned for March 8, 2022.

Cartier reveals Women’s Initiative 2021 laureates

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