Cartier Women’s Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
Cartier’s commitment to empowering women changemakers takes center stage with the announcement of the 2025 Cartier Women’s Initiative (CWI) Impact Awardees. The awards ceremony, set for May 22 at the Cartier Women’s Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, will honor nine extraordinary women who are redefining entrepreneurship through sustainable innovation and social impact.
The World Expo takes place from April 13, 2025 to October 13, 2025, and the Cartier Women’s Pavilion is adjacent to the Japan Pavilion.
Since its inception in 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative has supported 330 fellows across 66 countries, channeling over $12 million into ventures that tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This year’s Impact Awards mark a pivotal moment in the program’s evolution, spotlighting past fellows who have continued to build momentum and amplify their impact over time. Each awardee will receive a $100,000 grant to further scale their initiatives.
Cartier Women’s Initiative Impact Awards 2025 winners.
Among the honorees is Tracy O’Rourke of Ireland, a 2019 fellow and founder of Vivid Edge, which provides energy efficiency as a service. Her work has enabled organizations to significantly reduce their carbon footprints—saving more than 36,000 tons of CO₂ and enough energy to power nearly 30,000 homes.
Also recognized is Kresse Wesling, co-founder of the UK-based Elvis & Kresse. Since 2011, her luxury brand has upcycled more than 315 tons of industrial waste, including decommissioned fire hoses, while donating substantial profits to charitable causes. Wesling’s business model has become a benchmark for circular economy practices in fashion.
From India, Kristin Kagetsu, co-founder of Saathi, is acknowledged for tackling period poverty and environmental degradation through biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana fiber. Her work has not only improved access to hygiene products for over 100,000 women but also reduced both plastic waste and carbon emissions.
In Kenya, Caitlin Dolkart has revolutionized emergency medical services through Flare, cutting average response times from hours to minutes, thereby saving countless lives. Meanwhile, Namita Banka of Banka Bioloo is transforming sanitation infrastructure in India, particularly in underserved rural communities, with over 30,000 biotoilets deployed.
The awards also honor rising stars such as Yvette Ishimwe of Rwanda, whose IRIBA Water Group has brought clean water to over half a million people, and Mariam Torosyan of Armenia, whose app Safe YOU empowers women facing gender-based violence through real-time support and policy advocacy.
Other honorees include Rama Kayyali of Jordan’s Little Thinking Minds, which enhances Arabic literacy across 11 countries, and Jackie Stenson of Essmart Global in India, whose distribution platform for life-improving products has reached over 1.4 million people and drastically cut CO₂ emissions.
At its core, the Cartier Women’s Initiative champions the belief that women entrepreneurs are powerful agents of change. Guided by principles of equity, community, and continuous learning, the CWI continues to redefine the role of business as a force for good. With this year’s Impact Awards, Cartier not only celebrates the success of its fellows but reaffirms its enduring commitment to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future.
