In pursuit of global sustainability, Cartier honored a record number of female entrepreneurs with the program's greatest amount of funding to date.&nbsp;

Since 2006, the annual <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/austin-butler-cartier-new-ambassador-cannes-film-festival-elvis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cartier</a> Women&rsquo;s Initiative (CWI) has championed and supported a global network of female entrepreneurs. Providing <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/pomellato-international-womens-day-campaign-joey-king-jane-fonda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women</a> with the necessary <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/amalia-ulman-el-planeta-movie-sundance-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">financial</a>, social, and human capital to thrive, CWI is an invaluable influence on the lives and livelihoods of female business owners who seek to solve global challenges through <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/lola-tung-coach-coachtopia-campaign-sustainability-circular-fashion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainability</a>.&nbsp;
In the 16 years since the program&rsquo;s inception, CWI has supported 298 <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/famous-firsts-womens-history-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women</a> from 63 <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/upcoming-destination-fashion-shows-cruise-pre-fall-men-spring-2024-dior-gucci-chanel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">different countries</a>, awarding a total of $7,440,000 in financial backing. Despite an already illustrious past, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/cartier-high-jewelry-sixieme-sens-accessories" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cartier</a> has chosen to up the ante through increased funding and the introduction of new regional and thematic awards to its existing prize roster.
Inside <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/shopping/paris-fashion-week-street-style-looks-outfits-shopping" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris</a>' famous&nbsp;Salle Pleyel music hall on May 10,&nbsp;CWI raised its total number of fellows to 32 &mdash; its highest number to date. Candidates were considered for 11 awards, 9 of which were regional, including the newly added Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania awards. The last two were thematic, with the addition of the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/age-diversity-fall-winter-2022-runway-valentino-plus-size-body-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diversity,</a>&nbsp;Equity, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty-zodiac/salem-mitchell-model-activism-gemini-zodiac-beauty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inclusion</a> Award &mdash;&nbsp; the first to be open to all genders &mdash;&nbsp;being a novel advancement within the initiative.&nbsp;

First-place winners took home $100,000 in grant funding, while the second and third-place awardees received $60,000 and $30,000, respectively. Apart from the cash prizes, fellows were given several priceless <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/shopping/bridesmaid-box-gift-ideas-bridal-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gifts</a>, including tailored mentoring, media visibility, networking opportunities, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/rihanna-and-emmanuel-are-working-together-for-education-access" target="_blank" rel="noopener">education</a> courses from the prestigious INSEAD business school.
In what turned out to be a star-studded affair, ceremony speakers included M&eacute;lanie Laurent, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/lea-seydoux-facts-movies-bond-girl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">French actress</a>, director, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/stella-mccartney-fall-winter-2019-ad-campaign-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">environmental activist</a>; Nadine Labaki, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/remembering-billie-holiday-songs-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">activist</a>, actor, and director; <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/yara-shahidi-facts-family-parents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yara Shahidi</a>, actress, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/queer-artist-tete-a-tete-virtuoso-leland-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">producer</a>, and activist; and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/10-stylish-looks-amal-clooney-copy-this-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amal Clooney</a>, co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice.
With this year&rsquo;s theme being "Forces for Good," the evening reaffirmed <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/cartier-love-is-all-film-lily-collins-troye-sivan-willow-smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cartier</a>&rsquo;s alignment with women through a spirit of collaboration. Working with women on a systems level to pursue global sustainability, this omnibus approach to progress embodies <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/secret-history-cartier-trinity-ring-old-hollywood-grace-kelly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the jeweler</a>'s unwavering resolve for excellence. &nbsp;

The 2023 CWI winners are as follows:
<ul>
 <li>Latin America and the Caribbean: Emily Ewell, Brazil,&nbsp;Pantys</li>
 <li>North America: Wendy Owens, United States, Hexas Biomass Inc.&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Europe:&nbsp;Iva Gumnishka, Bulgaria,&nbsp;Humans in the Loop&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Francophone&nbsp;Sub-Saharan Africa: Yvette Ishimwe, Rwanda,&nbsp;IRIBA&nbsp;Water Group&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Anglophone&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lusophone&nbsp;Africa:&nbsp;Dupe Killa-Kafidipe, Nigeria, Platinum Fisheries&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Middle East and North Africa: Khadija&nbsp;Elbedweihy, Egypt,&nbsp;PraxiLabs</li>
 <li>East Asia: Woori Moon, South Korea, 40FY&nbsp;</li>
 <li>South Asia and Central Asia:&nbsp;Denica&nbsp;Riadini-Flesch, Indonesia,&nbsp;SukkhaCitta</li>
 <li>Oceania: Ingrid&nbsp;Sealey, Australia, Teach Well&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Science and Technology Pioneer Award: Poulami&nbsp;Chaudhuri, India, Helex&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Blake Van Putten, United States, CISE</li>
</ul>
<ul></ul>

Photo via Instagram/ @cartierawards.

Cartier Honors the 2023 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awardees

L'OFFICIEL USA December 2024 - Julianne Moore Cover

L'OFFICIEL USA November 2024 - Salma Hayek Pinault Cover

Cartier Honors the 2023 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awardees

Tags

Related Articles

Fashion

Cartier Embraces the Panther to Celebrate Over a Century of Powerful Women

Fashion

Cartier Celebrates Its Iconic Pieces Alongside Monica Bellucci

Fashion

The Secret History of the Cartier Trinity Ring

Recommended posts for you

Fashion

Emma Chamberlain, the voice of Gen Z

Fashion

Every Time David Corenswet Stepped Out Looking Like Clark Kent

Fashion

Mariah Carey Signs off for the Holidays With Chic Aspen Look

Pop culture

How the Royals Are Spending Christmas 2024

Fashion

The 28 Best Dressed Actors and Musicians of 2024

Fashion

See the Most Iconic, Unforgettable Runway Shows From 2024

Beauty

The Controversial Hair Trend Set to Rule 2025 — And How to Nail the Look

Fashion

Calvin Klein Reveals Details on Its 2025 Return to New York Fashion Week