The Cartier Women’s Initiative Revealed 9 Brilliant Women As Its 2025 Impact Awardees
The entrepreneurship program had this year's ceremony in Osaka, Japan and honored nine women.
The Cartier Women’s Initiative held its Impact Awards Ceremony at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, last Thursday, honoring nine past fellows who have significantly impacted society through their entrepreneurship. Awardees were selected across three categories across Preserving the Planet, Improving Lives, and Creating Opportunity, which fulfill the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Each awardee receives a $100,000 grant in addition to a push in media visibility and spot to participate in a one-year fellowship dedicated to impact. The CWI fellowship is an annual program that equips female entrepreneurs with the skills and resources to develop their businesses and become better leaders. Fellows hail from several countries across the globe, and many go on to create meaningful impact in their communities.
This is the second Impact Awards Ceremony since the initiative’s inception in 2006. The first was held at Expo 2020 Dubai in 2022 when Cartier presented the Women’s Pavilion (as they have done this year). With the exception of Expo 2020, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Expo occurs every five years. The event is an international effort to discover solutions to societal issues. While Saudi Arabia has been announced as the host of 2030, Cartier has not confirmed if it will present the Women’s Pavilion again or if it will host another Impact Awards Ceremony.
Keep scrolling to learn about the 2025 Impact Awardees.
Preserving the Planet
Kristin Kagetsu, Co-Founder of Saathi (India), 2018 Fellow. Saathi produces biodegradable sanitary pads for women in India using banana fiber from local farms. The company has reduced around 161 metric tons of carbon emissions in its 10-year history.
Tracy O'Rourke, Vivid Edge (Ireland), 2019 Fellow. Vivid Edge offers energy efficiency services to organizations hoping to meet sustainable climate goals. The company has saved more than 36,457 tons of carbon emissions and 119.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy.
Kresse Wesling, Elvis & Kresse (United Kingdom), 2011 Fellow. Elvis & Kresse recycles industrial and commercial waste into luxury items, and has salvaged over 315 tons of waste from landfills.
Improving Lives
Namita Banka, Banka Bioloo (India), 2013 Fellow. Banka Bioloo offers sustainable solutions to water and sanitation issues in India, such as biotoilets which composts human waste. The company has installed 3000 biotoilets for Indian Railways, the country's state-owned rail transportation company, and 30,000 in rural areas.
Caitlin Dolkart, Flare (Kenya), 2019 Fellow. Flare has reduced the emergency response time in Kenya by 97% through its subscription-based emergency response technology.
Yvette Ishimwe, IRIBA Water Group (Rwanda), 2023 Fellow. IRIBA Water Group provides affordable access to potable water for low-income communities in various African countries. The company has reduced waterborne diseases among students by 37%.
Creating Opportunity
Rama Kayyali, Little Thinking Minds (Jordan), 2014 Fellow. Little Thinking Minds develops digital Arabic language learning platforms for K-12 students. The company has reached 400,000 students in 11 countries.
Jackie Stenson, Essmart Global (India), 2014 Fellow. Essmart Global distributes energy-efficient appliances and agricultural products to communities in rural India. The company has reduced carbon emissions by 101 million kg since 2012.
Mariam Torosyan, Safe You (Armenia), 2023 Fellow. Safe You's mobile application combats gender-based and domestic violence by providing emergency support to Armenian women. The application currently has around 40,000 users and has responded to 18,000 alerts.
