Counting down to the grand celebration as Thailand hosts the 20th anniversary of the Cartier Women's Initiative.

For nearly two decades, the Cartier Women's Initiative has not only rewarded women entrepreneurs but has also built an international ecosystem connecting entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, experts, and changemakers from around the globe. It empowers women who identify societal problems and choose to address those challenges with the power of innovation, courage, and long-term vision. These issues range from environmental sustainability and the climate crisis to economic inequality, access to health, education, community well-being, equality, and innovative solutions that empower more people and create better futures.

What sets the Cartier Women's Initiative apart is its focus on valuing growing businesses alongside meaningful purpose. The women entrepreneurs selected for this program prioritize not only "how big and sustainable can we build our business?" but also the deeper question, "How can our business help make the world a better place?"

This project will support women entrepreneurs from diverse regions around the world with the resources necessary for growth, including funding, mentorship, capacity building, international networks, and spotlighting to help amplify their voices on the global stage.

Many people start small businesses born from a clear intention, but when given access to the right networks, knowledge, and support, those businesses can scale up regionally and internationally, becoming models of modern business that prove that business success and positive impact can grow together.

Over the past two decades, 330 female entrepreneurs from 66 countries have been selected as fellows in the program, receiving more than US$14.1 million (approximately 460 million baht) in funding.

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The selection of Bangkok as the host city for this significant year of celebration marks a momentous occasion that reflects the growing role of Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, as a hub of opportunity, innovation, creativity, and a platform for connecting young entrepreneurs poised to create positive change in the world.

At the Cartier Women's Initiative 2026 Awards Ceremony, distinguished guests will witness the celebration of 30 remarkable women entrepreneurs from diverse regions around the world. These women are founders of businesses that are making a positive impact through innovative and tangible solutions. Some are leveraging technology to solve social problems, others are building environmentally friendly business models, while still others are working closely with communities in need of opportunities for growth.

Beyond celebrating women entrepreneurs, this event served as a platform for a global conversation, sharing stories, visions, and inspiration from invited speakers and international social activists, with Bangkok as the backdrop for connecting a large number of people who believe in the power of change.

Importantly, attendees will have the opportunity to meet, exchange perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, while also viewing a special exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Cartier Women's Initiative. This exhibition chronicles the story and journey of this meaningful community over the past two decades, from the project's inception to the impact of women entrepreneurs supported globally, aiming to illuminate and inspire others to see new possibilities, in line with the concept of " Women Lighting the Path."

The arrival of the Cartier Women's Initiative this year marks a particularly significant moment for Thailand, as in previous years we have seen numerous Thai women entrepreneurs rise to prominence and build successful businesses in diverse fields, ranging from social enterprises and sustainability to the creative economy, health, and technology. They begin by understanding local challenges and leveraging their potential to inspire others on a global scale.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of CWI, Cartier Thailand also launched the "Cartier Women's Initiative Docuseries," a short documentary series showcasing the stories of five Thai women entrepreneurs from five social and environmental businesses. These five women have different paths but share a common belief that business can be a powerful force for real change.

This documentary series invites viewers to explore pivotal turning points in the lives of each woman—moments that allowed them to see problems, identify opportunities, and decide to initiate businesses or projects based on the intention of creating a positive impact, whether it's working for the environment, improving quality of life, raising awareness, or using creativity to change the way society views certain issues.

The five Thai female entrepreneurs – Pearypie Amata Jittaseni, Earn Oranapat Boonananpat, Toey Jarinporn Junkiat, Nat Pataraporn Salirathavipak, and Cherry Khemaporn Sirisukha – represent modern Thai women who are not confined to any single role. They use their voices, expertise, beliefs, and networking power to inspire those around them to see new possibilities for change.

Praewprai Amata Jittaseni, a former makeup artist who once adorned the fashion world, chose to return to her roots in nature, using local materials and traditional wisdom. Today, she is a key voice in using beauty as a language to communicate about biodiversity, mindful consumption, and the relationship between humans and the planet.

Toey Jarinporn Joonkiat, as an actress who uses her public space to drive environmental issues, is a modern woman who believes that learning can plant the seeds of change. Through her role as a co-founder of the Environmental Education Centre Thailand (EEC Thailand), she contributes to raising awareness about nature among young people and encourages society to view the environment not as a distant issue, but as a fundamental aspect of the future that we all must collectively care for.

Earn Oranapat Boonananpat , founder of Niran Wreath, an eco-friendly wreath brand that transforms the tradition of mourning into a way of passing on values, saw an opportunity to reduce waste from familiar funeral rites in Thai society. She leveraged her family's textile business legacy to create a business model that beautifully integrates gentleness, sustainability, and positive impact.

Natt Pataraporn Saliratwiphak, co -founder of BAAN KERD, uses the food business as a bridge between the city and local farmers. Natt believes that every dish can be part of a fair and sustainable economic system if we know the origin of our ingredients, respect the producers, and choose to support food chains that value people, communities, and the land.

Cherry Khemaporn Sirisukha, a leading actress in Thailand, has become a serious environmental activist through action. She collaborates with conservation-practicing farmers to enhance the quality and value of Thai rice under the brand Sirithai. She also leverages her fame to raise awareness about forests, water, and communities within society and various organizations through Mission Earth. She reflects on the fact that sustainable change begins with understanding, which leads to collaboration and sustained action.

The significance of the Cartier Women's Initiative Docuseries lies not merely in telling the stories of individual women's successes, but in showing the audience the "behind-the-scenes" story of their intentions, the challenging journey, the decisions that required both courage and perseverance, and how lasting change often begins with small groups of people who deeply believe in what they are doing.

In the context of its 20th anniversary, this documentary series serves as a bridge between the global stage of the Cartier Women's Initiative and the power of Thai women who are making a ripple effect in their own society. It transforms the concept of "Women Lighting the Path" beyond a mere theme, into a tangible story told through the real lives of women who choose to be small lights for others, gradually expanding that light to illuminate their communities, society, and a broader future.

The Cartier Women's Initiative is becoming increasingly important in today's world because it not only provides a platform for already successful women but also accelerates the potential of women who are still forging their own paths. It helps them access the knowledge, networks, and credibility necessary to scale their businesses' impact, while simultaneously demonstrating to society the value of business models that do not separate "profit" from "responsibility."

Applications for the 2027 program are now open and will run until June 16, 2026, via www.cartierwomensinitiative.com. This represents another significant opportunity for female entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to social and environmental problems and want to be part of a global community that believes in the power of action.

Looking back over the past 20 years, the Cartier Women's Initiative has done more than just celebrate successful women; it has created a new language for the business world—a language of sustainability, compassion, collaboration, and the courage to believe that business can be a force for good in the world.

This 20th anniversary celebration in Bangkok may not just be a culmination of past successes, but rather the beginning of a new decade in which women entrepreneurs from around the world will continue to move forward, ignite hope, and inspire one another.

On the evening of June 10, 2026, Chulalongkorn University Auditorium will not only be a venue for an awards ceremony, but will become a space of light connecting women from diverse countries, cultures, and life paths. And among those lights, the Cartier Women's Initiative will continue to gracefully serve as a platform that helps the light of female entrepreneurs around the world to be seen, supported, and shine even brighter than before.

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