Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards celebrates 10 years of women’s achievements

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, Cartier held an interactive session at the Global Women’s Forum Dubai to discuss the awards and the INSEAD assessment study, which shows the key results of the awards over the last decade.

The session took place at the Entrepreneurship hub at The Discovery, and was moderated by Henry Bonsu, Boradcaster, Conference Host and Analyst at BBC News UK.

Christine Borgoltz, External Relations and Events Director of Cartier International, introduced the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, and said, "Cartier is of course no stranger to breaking boundaries and supporting and empowering imagination. We launched the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards to help women explore and launch new businesses and entrepreneurships in order to create more jobs around the world. I’d like to thank INSEAD business school who supported us from the very beginning and who continue to support us until today."

Hans Wahl, Director INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme, said, "We were asked to develop the INSEAD assessment study as a result of our partnership with Cartier. We found the most entrepreneurial ideas comes from areas where people feel they can make a difference in their community."

Zein Shyllab, Business Process Manager of Trust Holding and finalist of 2011 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, commented, "What I found the most useful about the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards was the application process. Having the criteria to assess your idea is important and valuable, regardless of your results."

Rana El Chemaitelly, founder of Little Engineer and laureate of 2011 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, added, "I took the chance and it was easy. I advise everyone to take the opportunity as well. The main benefit is the exposure and visibility as well as the coaching which will definitely push you to excel."

Hanan Saab, Founder and Managing Director of Pharmamed, and member of Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards Jury, concluded the session, saying, "What makes these women special is their creativity and willingness to take the extra mile. They are ladies who are passionate about doing something. What we look for in this initiative is an idea that is impactful and creates jobs. We encourage ladies to think along these lines."

In 2006, Cartier joined forces with the Women’s Forum, INSEAD and McKinsey & Company to create the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, an annual business plan competition whose mission is to support audacious and promising women entrepreneurs. Each year, six Laureates are awarded US$20,000 in funding, personalised coaching for one year, networking and visibility opportunities. The competition is open to female entrepreneurs leading a creative, for-profit start-up with financial sustainability and social impact.

The Global Women’s Forum Dubai took place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and was led by H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment and wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, UAE.
Source: WAM