Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards 2024 Celebrates Female Forces for Good

During the glamorous 2024 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Ceremony held in Shenzhen, China, 33 impact entrepreneurs harnessed the power of business for the greater good. The “Forces for Good” themed evening featured empowering women speakers, words by Cartier president Cyrille Vigneron, award reveals, and a magical artistic performance by the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music Dance Department. We love learning about these amazing women and hope you do too!

Cartier Women’s Initiative

Established by the luxury jewelry brand in 2006, Cartier Women’s Initiative is a global entrepreneurship program on a mission to support and encourage women who are leading creative, financially sustainable, and socially impactful businesses. The initiative aims to drive change by empowering women from around the world to overcome challenges and scale their businesses by providing financial, social, and human capital support.

Cartier Women's Initiative awards recipients
Award recipients on stage at Cartier Women’s Initiative 2024 ceremony

A Prize for Innovation & Inclusion

Each year, the Cartier Women’s Initiative recognizes and funds talented impact entrepreneurs from around the world with its regional and thematic awards. The prize recognizes and supports businesses that tackle pressing global issues, such as poverty, education, and sustainability.

“For the impact entrepreneurs set on solving global challenges, the prospect of building a green, peaceful, prosperous, and equitable world has always been a guiding light. They know that, when approached responsibly, the journey to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals brims with boundless possibilities,” says Cartier.

“What truly lifts our spirits is the unstoppable momentum of these changemakers. They unite with individuals, public figures, non-profit organizations, international organizations, and businesses of all sizes to drive positive change. Together, these forces for good have the energy, creativity, and unwavering determination to forge a brighter future.”

First, second, and third-place awardees were honored in 2024. Their captivating stories, creativity, and business savvy to face full on the most formidable social and environmental issues are endlessly inspiring!

Meet the 2024 Cartier Women’s Initiative First-Place Awardees


Latin America & The Caribbean

MARLENE MOLERO SUÁREZ, ELSA

Marlene Molero Suárez, co-founder and CEO of ELSA, is a Peruvian entrepreneur renowned for her passionate work in addressing sexual assault in the workplace. In fact, the stark reality is that one in three workers in Latin America is affected by this issue.

To create safe, fair, and comfortable working environments for all, ELSA is using evidence-based strategies to create a path for identifying, measuring, and taking action against harassment while preserving privacy and security.

North America

JULIA TAYLOR, GeekPack

Julia Taylor is an Intelligence Officer turned tech entrepreneur. She met her husband on deployment and spent time as a military spouse, during which she found her way to the tech world. She started and scaled her company, GeekPack, to create more opportunity and equity for women in the tech space.

GeekPack provides a supportive community and training for adults looking for in-demand skills, providing underrepresented populations the chance to find success and prosperity in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Europe

MIRA NAMETH, Biophilica

Mira Nameth is a designer and entrepreneur who puts sustainability at the forefront of her business. After the birth of her daughter, she became focused on the problematic elements of everyday products and creating a better world for future generations.

Biophilica produces leaf-based alternatives to leather, the most environmentally harmful textile in production. Their alternative, TREEKIND, is recyclable, compostable, and non-toxic. Biophilica’s products are plastic-free, unlike other leather alternatives, and deliver high-quality results.

Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa

ISABELLE KAMARIZA, Solid’Africa

Motivated by the belief that food is medicine and hospitalized individuals deserve adequate nutrition, Isabelle Kamariza is pioneering an endeavor in Rwanda to provide meals and tackle food insecurity.

Solid’Africa provides affordable, nutritious meals to those who have limited options. When hospitalized, those in Rwanda must often secure their own meals. The nonprofit provides nutritious, affordable food for low-income individuals, working towards nutritional equality.

Anglophone and Lusophone Africa

TITI ADEWUSI, 9ijakids

While she has more than 18 years of experience as a business and management consultant, Titi Adewusi has also been a volunteer teacher for 15 years. She is passionate about providing quality education to underserved communities in Nigeria.

9ijakids is an education-focused tech startup founded by three Nigerian sisters. The platform includes interactive games and puzzles that supplement children’s schoolwork.

Middle East & North Africa

SALMA BOUGARRANI, GREEN WATECH

As a respected scientist and entrepreneur, Salma Bougarrani is pioneering clean water solutions for Moroccan communities. Founded in 2018, her company Green Watech helps to reduce wastewater and provide clean water for rural villages.

The WHO estimates that around 2.6 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate sanitation services. With this in mind, Green Watech aims to provide incredibly vital and lifesaving services for those living in areas where clean water is a daily concern.

East Asia

JIWON PARK, SAIB & Co.

While working as a professor in the US, Jiwon Park found herself confronted by the discomfort and taboo surrounding female sexuality and contraception. She faced this issue head-on, setting out to create safe, non-toxic feminine health products.

SAIB & Co. is on a mission to challenge gender biases and normalize conversations about women’s sexual wellness. Their products are high-quality and made with natural ingredients, encouraging women to take charge of their sexual autonomy and challenge patriarchal standards.

South Asia & Central Asia

MANSI JAIN, DigitalPaani

Mansi Jain is a Stanford graduate who professes a deep passion for environmental problems, especially where water and sanitation are concerned. As CEO and co-founder of DigitalPaani, she is working to build a better future for water treatment.

Wastewater treatment plants are vital for water safety and availability, but many are dysfunctional or inefficient. DigitalPaani is a software that allows these plants to manage operations and become water-neutral effectively.

Oceania

SIMRAN KAUR, Girls That Invest

Bestselling author, Marie Claire Future Shaper, Forbes 30 under 30…the accolades go on and on. Simran Kaur is the woman behind Girls That Invest, a platform that aims to empower women in the world of finance.

Through her books, podcasts, and well-attended talks, Simran Kaur encourages women to take charge of their financial futures. Girls That Invest guides women in the often daunting world of investing and the process of building generational wealth.

Science & Technology Pioneer Award

LYNNE LIM, NousQ

Dr. Lynne Lim is an esteemed Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon with an impressive resume that spans world-class research medical centers across the globe, including in the US, Singapore, and Japan. She has pioneered many firsts in hearing implant surgery and is driven by her passion for improving patient outcomes.

CLiKX is a device built by her company, NousQ, to be used in ear tube surgery. It is the world’s first handheld robotic device for this purpose that requires no microscopes or general anesthesia.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award

SADRIYE GÖRECE, BlindLook

One of Fortune’s 40 under 40, Sadriye Görece, is dedicated to creating a more accessible world. After moving to the US alone at 15, she completed her high school education despite the challenges presented by a system that is not always accommodating for blind individuals.

BlindLook is a multi-award-winning startup that seeks to harness the power of tech and AI to improve the quality of life for those living with blindness. Their approach makes otherwise prohibitive products accessible through an audio-based platform.

Cartier Women's Initiative awards recipients

While the ladies highlighted above received first place, second and third-place awardees are equally as notable, so we highly recommend you check them out HERE for more inspiration!

Cartier Women’s Initiative 2025—Special Edition

The 2025 Cartier Women’s Initiative award ceremony will be held in Osaka, Japan, on May 22nd. It will honor former fellows whose ventures have had significant impacts in their fields. To that end, this special Impact Awards edition will recognize nine awardees in categories based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on Improving Lives, Preserving the Planet, and Creating Opportunities.

The goal is to emphasize long-term commitment and dedication to these worthy causes. Progress is slow, but with these powerful women leading the way, a better world is possible!

Words by Bridget Kitson
All Photos by Mao Chung | Courtesy of Cartier Women’s Initiative


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