Dr Carmen Hijosa, founder of the sustainable material Piñatex and CEO of her company Ananas Anam, took part in the international business competition Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.
Created in 2006, the annual competition is the fruit of a partnership gathering the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society, the luxury house of jewellery Cartier, INSEAD business school and the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
The objective of the competition is to support female entrepreneurs from all over the world and to reward six laureates from each continent. It allows businesswomen to promote their companies, to share their values and to network among an international community of female entrepreneurs.
The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards also offers media visibility, opportunities to access funds, coach and foster the professional projects of the participants.
Thanks to her researches and creation of the new and natural textile made from pineapple leaf fibers Piñatex, and the launch of her company Ananas Anam, Carmen Hijosa was selected amongst the finalists of the competition. Moreover, the values of Ananas Anam correspond to the core themes of the Carter Women’s Initiative Awards which are: women’s initiatives, creativity, social and sustainable entrepreneurship.
Cartier Women's Initiative Awards 2015
When the event took place last May in Paris, Carmen Hijosa took the opportunity to present the textile Piñatex® and to deliver the core message of her company Ananas Anam which raises awareness of the environmental challenges of our planet and a desire to make a change and establish a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle by using natural and non-toxic textiles.
The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards gathered women sharing the same visions and interests. It also gives an innovative overview of how a growing number of women get involved in entrepreneurship and how new companies cope with innovation, environment and technology.
For 2016, the Cartier Women’s invitation will present its 10th edition and will also take part in the Women’s Forum Dubai on next 23rd and 24th February. Called “Let’s Innovate”‘, the event aims to support innovative ideas and to cover topics about gender relations in the economy.