Nine visionary women entrepreneurs celebrated for their significant societal contributions at the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards in Osaka.
Cartier's 19th Annual Women's Initiative Empowers Global Impact Entrepreneurs
In its 19th year, Cartier continues its commitment to backing social impact entrepreneurs, especially women, and encourages founders in Australia and New Zealand to get involved.
When Cyrille Vigneron took over as CEO of Cartier in 2016, he assumed responsibility not only for the iconic jewellery and watchmaker, but also for the Cartier Women's Initiative (CWI), a global entrepreneurship program dedicated to driving change by empowering women entrepreneurs.
Speaking with Forbes Australia, Vigneron shared that since the CWI's inception, it has empowered 330 women from 66 countries, helping them scale their businesses and amplify their impact on communities. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2024, Vigneron's commitment to the women's initiative and other philanthropic projects persists in his new role as Chairman of Culture and Philanthropy.
"Through my involvement in these initiatives, I have witnessed how uplifting women creates ripple effects that transform communities," Vigneron declared.
This year, the Cartier Women's Initiative recognized nine entrepreneurs from countries including Ireland, India, Kenya, Jordan, the UK, and Rwanda. The Impact Awards were presented across three categories: preserving the planet, improving lives, and creating opportunities. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Osaka, at the Sakai Performing Arts Center.
Tracey O'Rourke, one of the nine women to receive an Impact Award this week, expressed her gratitude for the community that Cartier is building. "It seems to attract a cohort of incredibly intelligent, accomplished women who are really, really grounded and working on the principles that are going to ensure that we've got a terrific long-term sustainable world," O'Rourke explained.
Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, O'Rourke founded Vivid Edge ten years ago with a mission to minimize carbon emissions. The company provides businesses with energy efficiency upgrades, advises on solar panels, and undertakes energy surveys.
For O'Rourke, the Cartier Women's Initiative has provided her with an enduring, global community of like-minded women to share the arduous entrepreneurial journey with.
Fellow Impact Awardee Kresse Wesling, founder of Elvis and Kresse, also built a company around sustainability - upcycling materials such as fire hoses into luxury handbags. UK-based Wesling highlighted the importance of Cartier's support in the development of her company.
"It's a very, very generous program and it's celebratory. Being an entrepreneur is often quite lonely, and Cartier is spectacularly good at celebrating what we do and making us feel amazing and sustained," said Wesling.
Caitlin Golkart from Kenya, Yvette Isimwe from Rwanda, Rama Kayaali from Jordan, Mariam Torosyan from Armenia, Jackie Stensen, Kristin Kagetsu, and Banka Bioloo from India, were also awarded.
Alison Harrington, an Australian and Cartier Women's Initiative fellow since 2024, encourages Australian and New Zealand-based female social impact entrepreneurs to apply. She believes the network she has built from the program has been invaluable. Applications for the 2026 Cartier Women's Initiative close on June 24, 2025.
Wingee Sin, the global program director of the program, emphasized the importance of this moment for women entrepreneurs. "Women are starting businesses at a very rapid rate, and those businesses are continuing," said Sin. Moving forward, the rate is expected to continue to grow, especially as women are expected to control more than 50% of the wealth assets in the next two decades.
Both Sin and Vigneron advocate for universality in this global community, emphasizing that beyond origins, nationalities, language, or religions, they are all different yet part of the same humanity.
The jeweller and watchmaker, founded in Paris in 1847, is also bringing together women from across the globe through the Women's Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka. Cartier contributes to building a future that resonates with future generations through its philanthropic initiatives and programs, the company notes.
[1]: Funding varies by award level, with winners receiving $100,000, runners-up receiving $30,000, and finalists receiving $15,000.
- In the context of Cartier's Women's Initiative, entrepreneurship in the realm of business that focuses on social impact, particularly in women, is receiving financial backing to scale their endeavors and foster change.
- For finance-driven entrepreneurs in Australia and New Zealand, the Cartier Women's Initiative presents a unique opportunity to get involved in a global community that not only offers monetary support (with varying amounts for winners, runners-up, and finalists), but also provides a network of like-minded individuals working towards positive changes.
