Who We Are
The Cartier Women's Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the program was founded in 2006. It is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact.
Applications for the 2027 edition will open from April 16 to June 16, 2026.
Celebrating 20 years of the Cartier Women’s Initiative
This year, we celebrate 20 years of the Cartier Women’s Initiative. In every corner of the world, women are igniting change — building solutions, challenging norms and creating a more equitable future. Discover more in this video.
OUR VISION
Our vision is a world in which every woman impact entrepreneur driving social and environmental change can achieve her full potential.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to shine a light on women impact entrepreneurs and provide them with the necessary financial, social and human capital support to grow their business and build their leadership skills.
Our Guiding Principles
1.
We believe women can be extraordinary change agents, and we leverage business as a force for good.
2.
We contribute by creating opportunities for everyone. Talent is universal but opportunities are not.
3.
We are constantly learning. We leave room for the possibility that there is something we have not learnt yet that could make us even better.
4.
We see beyond ourselves and care for our team, communities that we serve and communities that we are a part of.
Kiyo Taga
Kiyo Taga leads the Cartier Women’s Initiative as its Program and Activations Director. Prior to this, Kiyo was the global lead for the Women’s Pavilion in collaboration with Cartier for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Her previous roles include Marketing and Communications Director at Cartier UK and Assistant Vice President of Communications at Cartier North America. Kiyo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in PR and Communications from Boston University. She has extensive global experience, having lived in Japan, the United States, Thailand, and currently residing in London, United Kingdom.
OUR TEAM
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Program and Activations Director
KIYO TAGA
“There is a Japanese proverb, ‘Fall seven times, get up eight.’ That is not just resilience — it is the lived reality of women who build with purpose. When we invest in women impact entrepreneurs, we invest in courage, conviction and lasting change.”
Head of Community and Content
Meng Xu
When great people are brought together, magic happens. I believe in the power of collaboration and it’s my goal to foster meaningful connections and build an even more vibrant community of change makers.
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Head of Program Design and Impact
Vera Bersudskaya
"Measure what is measurable, and make measurable what is not so." - Galileo Galilei. I support Cartier Women’s Initiative and entrepreneurs in this community on impact measurement to ensure good intentions translate into the change we collectively seek for humanity and our planet.
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Senior Project Manager, Global Programs
Marine Buisson
“Humanity will never reach its true potential until all individuals are able to reach theirs” Simone Veil. Supporting women-impact entrepreneurs has always been part of my work and close to my heart. I find immense fulfillment at the Cartier Women’s Initiative as being part of this amazing community allows me to contribute to a movement that not only uplifts individual changemakers but also spreads the impactful force of choosing to be a force for good, creating a meaningful and positive impact in the world.
Project Coordinator
ITZEL ONTIVEROS
I enjoy working with an international team in a challenging environment where I can develop my full potential. I find the initiative very attractive because it has introduced me to novel ways of thinking. I am also proud to work for a company such as Cartier, which is widely recognised for its high standards.