The 2018 ceremony celebrated women entrepreneurs under the theme “Bold Alchemy” which drove the evening’s conversations and celebrations. Presented for the second year in a row by Sandi Toksvig, the UK broadcaster famed for promoting gender equality in politics and society, the 2018 ceremony set the tone with a video address from Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Wife of Canada Prime Minister.
The event also unveiled the Cartier Awards’ new partnership with TED through a specially curated TED session featuring a series of live conversations between 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 Tósmadóttir (Entrepreneur, one-time presidential candidate for Iceland and Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards former laureate).
The discussion focused on how to make concrete contributions towards finding effective and affordable solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. This discussion was followed by two panel conversations gathering, first, H.E Sheihka Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi (President of Zayed University) and Cartier CEO Cyrille Vigneron who keenly exchanged about the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards journey and the importance of cultural diversity in a time of global citizenship. The second conversation took place between Anousheh Ansari (CEO of Prodea Systems; first female private space explorer), Shinta Kamdani (CEO of Sintesa Group) and Ilian Mihov (Dean of INSEAD) on advancing practical support mechanisms for women to access entrepreneurial opportunities.
Cyrille Vigneron then announced the six laureates selected by an independent international jury amongst nearly 2800 applicants from over 130 countries:
• 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, UNITED STATES Twiage A digital platform that enables the transmission of real-time data from ambulance to hospital.
• SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: MELISSA BIME, CAMEROON Infiuss An online blood bank that collects and dispatches blood donations to hospitals.
The 6 laureates will be awarded US$ 100,000 in prize money. As part of this year new enhanced package, the remaining 12 finalists will be awarded US$ 30,000 in prize money. The 6 laureates and 12 finalists will all be receiving personalized business coaching, media visibility, networking opportunities as well as the option to attend an INSEAD Executive Program (ISEP).
Cyrille Vigneron, CEO of Cartier International, led the audience in applause in recognition of the laureates and spoke about Cartier’s long-standing commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and creative excellence around the world and how it echoes the Maison’s values: “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. Sharing with these women about their dreams and lives is both part of who we are and our responsibility”.
Founded in 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards are open to women-run, for-profit businesses in any country and sector working to create strong social impact. Since their creation, over 16,000 women from around the world have applied, 198 businesses from 49 countries have been supported by nearly 400 jury members and coaches.
Discover the laureates’ profiles on www.cartierwomensinitiative.com
