Cover Suraj Nandakumar and Didi Gan were named winners of this year’s Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award (Photo: Cartier)
Suraj Nandakumar and Didi Gan were named winners of this year’s Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award (Photo: Cartier)
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Meet the inspiring winners of the Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award this year in Singapore
The odd thing about being an entrepreneur is that you have more days when you are ready to give up than when you feel in control of your game.
This was a common sentiment shared by the four young finalists of the Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award 2024, an impact-focused initiative honouring social entrepreneurs aged 20 to 40 transforming their world with innovative solutions. An impactful partnership between Cartier and its global community of multicultural entrepreneurs known as Red Club, the Young Leader Award recognises the achievements of young leaders shaping the future through inspiring technology-driven solutions.
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In its third edition this year, The Young Leader Award’s theme ‘Tech for a Sustainable Future’ saw entries from 66 countries (including Malaysia) from social entrepreneurs addressing environmental and social challenges in pioneering and innovative solutions.
Above Enrico Di Oto, Didi Gan, Aasawari Kane and Suraj Nandakumar at the Cartier Red Club panel discussion on entrepreneurship at sustainable casual dining eatery AirCCC
Enrico Di Oto, Didi Gan, Aasawari Kane and Suraj Nandakumar at the Cartier Red Club panel discussion on entrepreneurship at sustainable casual dining eatery AirCCC
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Out of this incredible group, four finalists–Enrico Di Oto from Italy, Aasawari Kane from India, Didi Gan from Singapore and Suraj Nandakumar from India–were chosen to attend the Young Leader Award in Singapore on October 15. The day started with an insightful panel discussion at AirCCC, where Di Oto, Kane, Gan and Nandakumar discussed the challenges faced by founders, the importance of networking and keeping an open mind in business and more. In the evening, the glitzy awards ceremony took place at The National Gallery of Singapore, attended by 150 guests.
A proud moment for the Awards’ host country, Singaporean entrepreneur and N&E Innovations founder Gan was honoured with an award for her work developing an edible antimicrobial derived from upcycled food waste at N&E Innovations, a safe and sustainable alternative to traditional disinfectants.
“I’m deeply appreciative to be part of the YLA 2024 Edition, empowering me to drive transformative change towards a more sustainable planet by reducing the use of harmful chemicals,” said Gan at the ceremony.
In a surprise decision by the Young Leader Award 2024 jury, Cartier Culture and Philanthropy chairman Cyrille Vigneron then announced a second Young Leader Award winner, Suraj Nandakumar, co-founder and CEO of Recity Network India.
An urban planner by profession, Nandakumar co-founded Recity Network to address pollution in cities in India and beyond, delivering environmental and economic value through ethically sourced, traceable post-consumer plastic recyclables.
Above Suraj Nandakumar from India and Didi Gan from Singapore were named winners of this year’s Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award (Photo: Cartier)
Suraj Nandakumar from India and Didi Gan from Singapore were named winners of this year’s Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award (Photo: Cartier)
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“Recity Network is honoured to be recognised by RED CLUB x Cartier, which highlights the significance of our efforts in promoting sustainability and plastic circularity. This accolade reinforces our commitment and inspires us to expand our influence, driving further progress in creating a more sustainable and innovative future,” said Nandakumar.
For their efforts, Gan and Nandakumar will each receive a grant of €50,000, along with international exposure, media visibility and a tailored mentorship programme by this Award’s university partners, the National University of Singapore Business School (NUS) and the University of Sydney Business School. The runners-up, Di Oto, founder and CEO of OACP, and Kane, founding member and head of growth at PadCare Labs India, will each receive €10,000.
“We are excited to be part of their journey,” says NUS Deputy Dean Jumana Zahalka. “We will offer coaching and mentorship from one of our practice professors who work in the startup space. We will also offer them the chance to take courses at our Business School, so they can choose topics they feel they need to strengthen in.”
University of Sydney Business School Deputy Dean and Professor of Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, Suresh Cuganesan, added: “A couple of hypotheses we had going into this would be what leadership insights we can provide. In speaking to the finalists, a number of them are at that stage of SME status, thinking about how to maintain the entrepreneur passion, but also systematise and design the organisation.
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I think also it’s thinking about how we can connect them to experts in recycling or public health so they can see the R&D trajectory for their businesses. Pleasingly, one of the finalists is already expanding into Australia, so we can offer some geographical expertise as well.”
The next edition of the Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award will take place in 2026. The call for applications will open in autumn 2025, inviting a new wave of visionary entrepreneurs to present their ideas.
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
