International business plan competition recognises women entrepreneurs
INSEAD, the leading international business school, announced its partnership for the third year with the prestigious Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards. The awards are an annual business plan competition for women entrepreneurs from around the world, and were created in 2006 by Cartier and the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in partnership with INSEAD and McKinsey.
The 2009 laureates of the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards were announced on 16 October 2009 in Deauville, France during a ceremony held on the occasion of the Annual Global Meeting of the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society. Women entrepreneurs from five geographical regions were selected as the 2009 laureates:
- Africa – Jife Williams, MN Environmental Services, Nigeria
- Asia – Kimberly Ong, AlgaVentures, Philippines
- Europe - Kristin Pétursdóttir and Halla Tómasdóttir, Audur Capital, Iceland
- Latin America - Rosario Monteverde and Magdalena Rodríguez, PRO Internacional, Uruguay
- North America – Una Ryan, Waltham Technologies, United States
The laureates were selected by an international jury of more than 30 members, which included Loïc Sadoulet, professor of Economics and head of the Africa Initiative at INSEAD. Five regional jury groups representing a wide variety of profiles, backgrounds and countries selected the laureates based on the added-value of their ideas, ability to carry them to maturity and present a business model which answered important social needs in addition to making profits. INSEAD MBAs and alumni also helped select the pool of projects sent to the juries and coached the finalists with Cartier and McKinsey to prepare them for the competition.
Professor of Economics Loïc Sadoulet, jury member for the African panel, said: ‘The 2009 laureates should be commended for their ability to create innovative businesses that make a real social impact and drive change in their regions. I fully support the Cartier Women’s Initiative for bringing women’s entrepreneurship and leadership to the forefront of the global business agenda.’
Freja Day, Project Leader for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, added: ‘We consider INSEAD a valued partner in this annual awards program and we are honoured to have the school work on this initiative with Cartier for a third year. INSEAD’s entrepreneurial roots and commitment to women in leadership truly complement our overall mission for the programme.’
From an applicant pool of 820 of which 15 entrepreneurs reached the finals, the laureates received a US$ 20,000 cash award, and will benefit from a full year of coaching from INSEAD, Cartier and McKinsey. Ten former INSEAD MBAs, along with several other prominent leaders from Cartier and McKinsey, will serve as coaches to the laureates.
For more information on the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, please visit:
