Cartier Women's Initiative 20th Anniversary - Award Ceremony Honors Women Impact Entrepreneurs

Marking its 20th anniversary, the Cartier Women's Initiative hosted the 2026 Award Ceremony on Thursday, June 11, at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. As the Maison’s international program supporting women impact entrepreneurs, the event honored this year’s Fellows and served as the climax of a week-long celebration featuring the Cartier Dialogue and an immersive exhibition.

This year’s theme, "Women Lighting the Path," shines a spotlight on courageous, creative, and deeply committed women entrepreneurs who are creating social and environmental impact across communities and around the world.

Two Decades of Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

Founded in 2006, the Cartier Women's Initiative has advanced for 20 years under the vision of "transforming society through the empowerment of women." The program has expanded its support network, empowering women entrepreneurs tackling critical global challenges, while fostering an international community rooted in solidarity, shared experiences, and mutual inspiration.

To date, the initiative has supported 330 women impact entrepreneurs selected from 67 countries, awarding a total of $14.1 million in grants. It has also built a network connecting more than 520 active community members across over 80 countries.

A Celebration of Impact

The Award Ceremony at Chulalongkorn University welcomed over 700 guests, including members of the Cartier Women's Initiative community, international media, changemakers, local entrepreneurship supporters, and public figures.

Hosted by broadcaster, writer, and gender equality advocate Sandy Toksvig OBE, the ceremony began quietly and symbolically with the screening of a film depicting a journey centered on light, legacy, and collective action.

Following opening remarks by Yannina Novitskaya, CEO of Cartier Southeast Asia & Oceania, the 30 Fellows selected from 19 countries for 2026 were introduced. Their entrepreneurial journeys were thoughtfully presented across three segments, each highlighting the initial spark behind their ventures, the social and environmental challenges they address, the innovative progress they have achieved in their fields, and the people, values, and ideals that guide them.

Each segment concluded with the presentation of trophies and heartfelt expressions of gratitude to the long-standing partners and supporters who have sustained the Cartier Women's Initiative.

Speeches by Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier Culture & Philanthropy, and Nualphan Lamsam, Chair of FIFA’s Development Committee and President of the Football Association of Thailand, powerfully reaffirmed the importance of empowering women. Cyrille Vigneron stated:

"Over 20 years, the Cartier Women's Initiative has not only evolved but grown stronger. It has transformed from an award platform into a global support community, continuously empowering members and advancing their businesses. Even two decades after its founding, many Fellows’ ventures continue to thrive and scale, positively impacting millions. The Fellows have become role models, lighting the way for those who follow."

Nualphan Lamsam shared her insights on overcoming barriers:

"True change happens when we have the courage to step into spaces where we’ve been told we don’t belong. Not to conform to broken systems, but to help transform them. And ultimately, trust is built by staying true to our convictions, even in difficult times."

The ceremony concluded with a keynote address by Amal Clooney, Co-Founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice. She spoke about the transformative power of courage and advocacy in advancing human rights and a more equitable world, offering praise for the Fellows’ work:

"Today, we gather to celebrate the 30 Fellows selected for this year’s Cartier Women's Initiative. They are exceptional women entrepreneurs driving change across diverse fields. I have seen firsthand how the Cartier Women's Initiative Fellowship not only accelerates the careers of these remarkable women but also fosters a powerful sisterhood through a strong community where they support one another. And I am confident this new community will carry forward its legacy."

The ceremony concluded with a performance by the Bangkok Dance Academy, elegantly portraying how women entrepreneurs transform barriers into opportunities and ideas into impact.

2026 Awards

In this milestone 20th anniversary year, 30 women entrepreneurs were honored across 10 categories: nine Regional Awards and the Science & Technology Pioneer Award. The 30 Fellows were selected through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an independent jury.

The awards celebrate women-led businesses addressing urgent social and environmental challenges. This year marked a significant expansion, with the first Fellow selected from Nepal.

First-place winners in each category receive $100,000, second-place winners $60,000, and third-place winners $30,000 in grant funding.

Additionally, all 30 Fellows will participate in a comprehensive one-year Fellowship Program and gain lifelong access to the Cartier Women's Initiative global community. Beyond financial support, providing knowledge, connections, and long-term growth opportunities remains a core pillar of the program.

Exhibition Celebrating 20 Years of Impact

An immersive exhibition held alongside the ceremony showcased the impact and community built by the Cartier Women's Initiative over 20 years. The exhibition featured the journeys of 20 Fellows addressing diverse challenges—from biodiversity and healthcare to education, inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment. Interactive "Cabinets of Curiosity" and dedicated spaces displayed symbolic objects created by Fellows of the Cartier Women's Initiative and Thai women entrepreneurs participating in a local program with Chulalongkorn University. The exhibition concluded with a screening of an anniversary film, conveying the program’s history and aspirations for the future.