WANTED: Business Wonder Women

The Cartier Women's Initiative Awards, an international business plan competition given annually to five female laureates, one per continent are underway, with creative, sustainable and socially responsible businesses in the spotlight.

Created in 2006 with the backing of the Women's Forum and with the support of the McKinsey and INSEAD management school, each year the competition recognises innovative female entrepreneurs.

The top prize includes personalised coaching support for a full year, a $20,000 (Dh73,470) grant and numerous networking and visibility opportunities.

Royal backing

Last year, the awards ceremony was held at the annual Women's Forum for the Economy and Society in Deauville, France where five candidates were awarded this prestigious award.

Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, was present as Jury President, whose missions include acting as spokesperson for the awards.

“Women are playing a critically important role in the development of the Asian economies and others around the world.

"The momentum that the Cartier Woman's Initiative Awards provides in encouraging women to innovate, formalise their business plans and receive the coaching and support they need to actualise these projects can create significant benefits for the regional and global business community.

"It is an honour and an inspiration to play a part in fostering this process from the inception of a new business to its successful launch.''

The initiative aims to foster the spirit of enterprise by celebrating role models in entrepreneurship, identify and support women-owned businesses through funding and coaching as well as creating an international network of women entrepreneurs to promote experience-sharing

“The response has been very good this year; we are receiving far more candidates compared to last year.

The diversity of industries, ideas and countries observed in our pool of candidates is amazing: it shows that there are entrepreneurial women all around the world who dream of great things and who simply need some encouragement and
recognition.

Success story

Last year's winning company, Chicurela is founded by the UK's Laura Chicurela, and is a producer and distributor of eco-friendly salmon skin leather.

The company introduced a novel approach to addressing the problem of waste fish skins, by turning them into luxury leather goods.

Make it happen

Who can apply? Women entrepreneurs of any country and of any nationality are invited to apply by presenting a business project yet to be launched or a company less than three years old.

What can you win? The prize includes personalised coaching by Cartier, McKinsey & Company and INSEAD, a US $20 000 (Dh73,470) grant as well as an invitation to the Women's Forum Global Meeting in Deauville (France).

It also gives access to business networks and brings added media visibility, key success factors when launching a start-up.

How to apply? To apply for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards, candidates must complete the application form on www.cartierwomensinitiative.com before February 13, 2009, 11.59 pm, timezone GMT+1.

Please note: Forms sent by courier or e-mail are not accepted. Contact organisers directly at contact@
cartierwomensinitiative.com