Last night, at the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards ceremony, we witnessed 18 exceptional female role models demonstrating how passion and energy can drive you very far and provide a sustainable future to those around you. Cooperation, generosity and social responsibility lie at the heart of the way they conduct business.
Innovative diverse pioneers – all these women deserve to be recognised.
And the winners…are:
- In Latin America, Gabriela Maldonado, from Guatemala, founder of Jugando Aprendo, teaching children to learn while playing (yes please!)
- In North America, Priyanka Bakaya, from the US, founder of PK Clean, a technology turning plastic waste into oil
- In Europe, Leonora O’Brien, from Ireland, founder of Pharmapod, cloud-based software for adverse drug effects reports
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, Bilikiss Adebiyi, from Nigeria, founder of Wecyclers, a bicycle-powered waste collection and recycling company
- In the Middle East and North Africa, Sima Najjar, from Jordan, former model and founder of Ekeif.com, quality ‘how-to’ video content in Arabic
In Asia-Pacific, Namita Banka, from India, former housewife and diamond jewellery designer turned ‘toilet lady’ (as she says herself !), founder of Banka Bioloo, ecological bio-toilets
The prize, in partnership with INSEAD and McKinsey, will help these women to drive their businesses forward, thanks to an intensive programme of mentoring, coaching, networking platforms and events and, of course, a bit of cash too!
