(Yicai) May 26 -- The benefits of greater success for women impact entrepreneurs extend far beyond individual achievements. They are a force for good, inspiring more people to embark on a mission and face challenges.

‘When women thrive, humanity thrives’ represents Cartier’s unwavering belief that full and equal participation of women in all fields is essential to building a more equitable and prosperous world.

Following the success of the first Women’s Pavilion at Dubai World Expo 2020, Cartier collaborated with Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, to present the new edition of Women’s Pavilion, continuing its commitment to empowering women on a global stage. 

Last week, the official inauguration of the Women’s Pavilion began in the WA space, and the Women’s Pavilion Opening Ceremony was held at the heart of the Expo Hall, gathering an intergenerational and international audience of 1,600 guests. 

Poetry opened the ceremony with a performance by JJ Bola, writer, poet and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. This celebration culminated in “The Flower of the Human Heart”, the piece drew from the words of Izumi Shikibu to express a collective call for resilience, unity, and transformation.

 Women’s Pavilion Inauguration Ceremony

While the Women’s Pavilion was unveiled, the Cartier Women’s Initiative announced the 2025 Impact Awards, honoring nine outstanding women entrepreneurs. More than 800 guests from around the world gathered at the Sakai Performing Arts Center to celebrate the former fellows whose ventures have achieved tangible, lasting impact. 

CWI Impact Awardees 2025

From having female exhibitors to establishing a dedicated pavilion for women, Expos have witnessed how women have shattered prejudices and shackles in the past hundred years.

The development of the textile industry unleashed women’s employment, the advent of industrial products such as washing machines freed them from tiring household chores, and the extraordinary achievements of numerous female professionals spread independence and progressive thoughts among women.

The entrance of the Women’s Pavilion, designed by architect Yuko Nagayama

At Expo 2025, the past and future converge once again, as the Women’s Pavilion demonstrates women’s vital role in global progress, equality promotion, and new-generation enlightenment from the perspectives and experiences of many women.

“Equitable and sustainable initiatives based on the experiences and perspectives of women are essential for the realization of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan's theme of 'Future Society for Our Lives,’” said Ishige Hiroyuki, secretary-general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Expo.

“With the help of Cartier, the Women's Pavilion, which focuses on the achievements of women around the world, is expected to provide opportunities for dialogue and inspiration to many people and send out a message that will change attitudes toward women's empowerment and gender equality,” he added.

Women entrepreneurs still face many challenges, including gender bias, societal expectations, lack of role models, access to funding, and building a supportive and relevant network. These are particularly relevant for East Asian women, who are challenged by traditional beliefs and may experience social disapproval and misunderstandings from their families.

“This new pavilion will again engage a global audience through a curation that is both intimate and deeply human,” said Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier Culture and Philanthropy. “It features women whose personal stories touch our heart and resonate in each of us, making these narratives unique and universal.”

To demonstrate the strength and potential of women, the Cartier Women’s Initiative will hand out the Impact Awards at a ceremony on May 22 in Osaka as part of the inauguration of the Women’s Pavilion at Expo 2025.

The Impact Awards honored nine former fellows whose ventures have achieved significant and measurable impacts. These fellows are catalysts for positive and lasting change, creating a brighter future and paving the way for generations to come. They draw their strength, passion, and drive from the communities they uplift, the mentors who guide them, and the peers who inspire them. Together, they weave a powerful fabric of collective action, demonstrating that meaningful change is built on shared vision and collaboration.

Since its inception, the CWI has supported 330 impact entrepreneurs from 66 countries. It has provided over $12 million in financial support to fellow’s impact businesses and established a strong network of more than 500 community members from nearly 80 countries.

From the CWI to the Cartier Philanthropy, Cartier has been supporting women’s aspirations worldwide, amplifying their collective voices and bringing in profound changes.

Making More Women Heard

Sometimes, change does not have to be monumental. A small act in one’s daily life can be a meaningful step to champion gender and generation equality.

Curated by acclaimed contemporary artist and Women’s Pavillon’s Global Artistic Lead Es Devlin, the Women’s Pavilion invites visitors to see life through the eyes of three exceptional women from three continents.

As guests arrive through the Women’s Pavilion’s entrance garden, visitors enter the Your Name area, where they will be invited to add their own voice and name to the pavilion. This simple gesture embodies the spirit of connection and shared purpose that defines the Women’s Pavilion. 

Immersive Experience in the Pavilion

“Three Women,” a short film created by Devlin and director Naomi Kawase, introduces visitors to three protagonists: Emtithal Mahmoud, a Sudanese-American poet, activistand scientist, Banana Yoshimoto, a renowned Japanese author, and Xiye Bastida, a Mexican climate activist. At the end of the sequence, the film splits to form three oval apertures, through which each guest is called by their name to enter.

Mahmoud emphasized the transformative power of education in conflict zones and advocacy for refugees. Having previously spoken at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Women’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, she continued to use her storytelling to inspire reflection, resilience, and action on a global stage. Her voice, interwoven with poetry, serves as a poignant reminder of our shared humanity.

Emtithal Mahmoud

“Every step we take and every word we speak holds the power to make a difference, not only in your life, but in the lives of all whom your life touches,” Mahmoud said. “No matter where you come from, how you look, what you believe, or what you do, your voice means something. You matter. Even the smallest actions can create ripples of hope and healing that reach far beyond what you can affect alone.”

Despite progress in promoting gender equality, it remains urgent to change women’s conditions. According to the latest issue of the ‘Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024’ released by United Nations Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the UN General Assembly summit, climate change further exacerbates inequality, with projections showing that by 2050, up to 158 million more women and girls could be pushed into extreme poverty.

 “In the aftermath of Covid-19, the gender gap, as measured by UN Women, has widened, demanding urgent attention and unified efforts, especially for the most vulnerable women and children,” Vigneron said. He believes that women entrepreneurs are a powerful force.

The Women’s Pavilion experience culminates in “Your Hand” area, where the narrative shifts from individual stories to the voices of multiple activists, all working daily to improve the lives of women globally.

The activists include Emma Hosoi, a 14-year-old social entrepreneur from Japan, Ramla Ali, the first Somali boxer to participate in the Olympics, and Anastasiia Yeva Domani, a transgender rights activist from Ukraine. They share actions and changes aimed at narrowing the gender gap, encouraging women's self-expression, and promoting social equality.

On the second floor of the Women’s Pavilion, visitors can enter the WA Space, which hosts a series of engaging sessions throughout the six-month Expo, bringing together international leaders, visionaries, and experts to address pressing global challenges through discussions on six pivotal themes: Mother Nature, Business and Technology, Education and Policy, Arts and Culture, Philanthropy, and Roles and Identities.

From June 9 to 22, Cartier will curate two weeks of focused discussions, showcasing innovative ideas and actionable solutions to promote gender equality and sustainability.

Just as the climate crisis is not merely an environmental issue, the plight of women is not only about their survival. It affects everyone because humans share a destiny. The global situation has never been so plagued by the unknown and uncertainty as today.

“If we recognized so much of work that women do, we can perhaps be better prepared to help us with the planet,” according to Es Devlin. Thanks to generations of women who spared no effort to break biases, promote equality, and care for nature, the world has been revolutionized.

Heading for Larger Markets

The CWI has empowered 330 women entrepreneurs from 66 countries. How can the CWI become an influential global program with a community expanding year after year? 

Community and mutual assistance are two key factors in creating a ripple effect. The CWI aims to connect global communities and women entrepreneurs with the impactful companies and business models they lead, helping them move toward broader markets.

After establishing a community in 2019, the CWI set up the Impact Awards in 2022 to celebrate its 15th anniversary. The Impact Awards, which are closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, recognize former fellows who have made significant and measurable achievements in the areas of “Improving Lives”, “Preserving the Planet”, and “Creating Opportunities”.

This year, the CWI Impact Awards were presented during the opening week of the Women’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 on May 22. 

It is easy to start a business but hard to keep it. Once stepping onto the path, startups will face numerous challenges. Are their products innovative? Is their technology evolving quickly? Do companies have enough long-term endurance?

Entrepreneurship is never a one-time effort. Without competitive business models, women entrepreneurs can hardly make products truly valuable, let alone gain investment and business support. 

‘Menstrual shame’ and ‘menstrual poverty’ have troubled women worldwide for a long time, reflecting the long-standing lack of attention to the female hygiene products market.

In 2015, three high-achieving students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University founded Saathi in India, using local banana fibers to produce biodegradable sanitary pads. Kristin Kagetsu, one of the founders, is among the nine former fellows who will receive the CWI Impact Award this year. She first won the Cartier Women's Initiative Award in 2018.

Kristin Kagetsu at work

To reduce the potential risks that sanitary products may pose to women’s health and the environment, Saathi has been exploring the use of natural materials to make sustainable products. Through innovative design, its products decompose 1,200 times faster than ordinary sanitary pads that contain plastics and avoid chemicals to reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

Saathi’s team has also worked in rural India to raise awareness of the importance of menstrual hygiene.

In India, the Modi government’s Clean India campaign has driven the country’s largest sanitation revolution. But before this, Namita Banka had already been attentive to the severe health hazards and water pollution caused by open-air defecation amid the lack of toilets. Banka Bioloo, founded by her, provides sustainable water supply and sanitation solutions in India. It has already installed 3,000 biotoilets for Indian Railways, which serve the 10 million who travel on its trains every day, and set up 30,000 biotoilets in rural areas.

Namita Banka at work

Banka is a witness to the transformation that toilets and clean water supply have brought to communities. In her view, the primary beneficiaries of this solution are women, as it allows them to use public facilities with dignity.

Banka Bioloo’s development since joining the CWI in 2013 has been significant. It played an important role in eliminating open-air defecation and became India’s first listed sanitation company, with over 1,000 employees. Due to her outstanding achievements, Banka was honored with the CWI Impact Awards in “Improving Lives” category this year.

Even though Banka is in a male-dominated field, she does not feel disadvantaged because the inclusiveness of these products has gained social recognition and provided great welfare for women, she told the media. When added together, small solutions can create substantial and enduring impacts.

This year, the nine awardees and their impactful companies aim to address existing difficulties or tap into new market demand. Through the growing CWI community, these women have evolved into business leaders in their respective fields, collectively facing the pressing social and environmental challenges of today, setting examples for future generations, and creating positive changes.

In the post-pandemic era, topics such as health security and ecological environment have been of great concern, and more and more women entrepreneurs are getting involved, bringing substantial innovation and breakthroughs to the market.

“The proportion of CWI fellows working in healthcare, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), climate and environment, increased from 61% in 2023 to 72% in 2024,” said Wingee Sin, Global Program Director of the CWI. “This highlights the important role women changemakers are making in these fields.” she noted.

As one of the first luxury Maisons to recognize the importance of empowering women entrepreneurs, Cartier has played a crucial role in empowering women for nearly 20 years.

In 2019, Cartier supported the Women’s Empowerment Principles, and two years later, it joined the Unstereotype Alliance, an initiative led by UN Women to bring together advertisers, industry leaders, and creative elites to promote the elimination of harmful gender stereotypes in advertising and present more diverse and inclusive images of women globally.

Whether through the Women’s Pavilion, the CWI, or other long-term programs, Cartier’s actions are closely connected to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, shedding a new light on gender equality. The beneficiaries are not just women, but everyone.

Based on market hot spots and entrepreneurial trends, the CWI has also been continuously adjusted. Its first thematic award, the Science& Technology Pioneer was established in 2021, and two new regional awards -- Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania -- were set in 2023.

In the next four months, visitors can explore the Women’s Pavilion to gain a deep understanding of the broad and profound impact women have made globally. For the exchange of ideas, the WA space on the second floor will have visitors further resonate with women’s stories from different industries and cultural backgrounds through a series of conversations, panels, and exhibitions.

The garden on the second floor of the pavilion

These inspiring narratives attempt to build a bridge between personal reflection and global campaign. Just as visitors enter a semi-outdoor garden made of local plants at the end of the journey, they can see more diverse female potential and a bright future through the peaceful and serene natural landscape.

Editor: Futura Costaglione