Cartier Women's Initiative is an annual international program aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs. Launched in 2006, the program targets women who manage or own startups in any country or sector and who contribute to sustainable social and/or environmental development.
CWI Academy was established in 2022 to assist female entrepreneurs from Eastern Europe and Central Asia in preparing for the global Cartier Women's Initiative program.
The Academy program is entirely free, with your time being the only investment required. Over 6 weeks, you'll acquire skills in business structuring, crafting accurate application responses, and enhancing your pitching abilities. The entire course is conducted online and consists of educational materials, video lessons, tasks to organize your business knowledge, and moderated video meetings with experts and peers in small groups.
The best thing you can do in business is to empower women. It changes everything
Experts with extensive experience in the fields of management, education, venture investing, impact entrepreneurship, and marketing are involved in developing the CWI Academy program. They will share their industry insights and discuss additional opportunities for growth with the participants. Mentoring sessions will provide the opportunity to meet them in person.
Up-to-date information on sustainable development
Advantages of socially-oriented businesses
Ways to increase and assess the positive impact of business on society
Methodology for developing a value proposition
Common mistakes in financial planning
Determining the most important financial indicators of the business
Metrics for social impact in the financial model
Market evaluation and competitor analysis techniques
Audience identification and analysis
Definition and analysis of key marketing metrics
Effective PR and environmentally-friendly communication with customers
The role of personal branding
Strategies for building and developing a strong, cohesive team
Common mistakes in team communication
Conflict resolution strategies
The qualities of effective leadership
Common legal mistakes made by beginner entrepreneurs
Protecting intellectual property: how and when
Legally formalizing relationships with investors, employees, and contractors
Challenges of growth
Factors to consider when expanding a business into new markets
Cultural differences across different markets
Making a good pitch deck
Finding investors and communicating effectively
Presenting a project and understanding of what investors usually pay attention to
Preparing for pitching and emotional storytelling
The training program runs for 6 weeks and includes Telegram classes with a group size of 6-8 people. Additionally, there are video meetings with experts and group sessions on Zoom, held 2-3 times a week. To join, you'll need a computer with a camera or a smartphone and 4-5 hours per week for studying materials, completing assignments, and attending video meetings.
During the course, pitch sessions will be conducted where you will be able to present your business to experts and receive feedback.
• It is in its early stage of development (1 to 5 years).
• It contributes reasonably to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• It generates enough revenue to sustain its activity, makes a profit for its owners, and earns revenue from the sale of its products and/or services.
• It is registered as a legal entity of a business organization. (*Individual entrepreneurs - cannot participate in the Cartier Women's Initiative global initiative, but they are allowed to attend CWI Academy.)
Although knowledge of the English language is not mandatory to participate in the CWI Academy program, it is recommended that participants have a proficiency level of B1 or higher.
Our goal is to involve your time investment in participating in the program, completing tasks, and applying for the CWI global initiative. The program is free, but we are working towards a joint result - increasing the influence and presence of women impact entrepreneurs from Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the CWI program.
Zoom meetings are held 2-3 times per week. The training schedule will be sent to Academy participants upon enrollment. Attendance at video meetings is mandatory, with only a limited number of absences allowed for valid reasons - up to 3 absences per educational track. In the event of exceeding the absence limit, we may have to ask the participant to leave the program.
During the course, pitch sessions will be conducted where you will be able to present your business to experts and receive feedback.
We estimate that a time investment of 4-5 hours per week is typical for programs at this level of depth. Over 5 weeks, you will actively analyze and describe your business, but this effort will be a significant investment in your future. The program includes questions to help you pitch and defend your business to investors.
However, please be realistic about your capacity when signing up. Your engagement and attendance affect not only your own success in the Academy, but also that of other participants, as we foster peer-to-peer learning. Your absence from group work reduces the effectiveness of the program for everyone.
It's worth noting that participating in the Academy does not give any advantage when applying to the global initiative.
Furthermore, the course also trains participants in pitching skills, preparing them for the next stages of the initiative in case they are selected.
Overall, the Academy offers a comprehensive training program that will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively participate in the CWI initiative, and potentially contribute to important global initiatives.
If you feel more comfortable completing the program in English, translated materials are available. However, it's important to keep in mind that completing the program in a foreign language can significantly increase cognitive load. Make sure to assess your abilities carefully.
Please keep in mind that there are limited spots available in the Academy, so you may be denied admission due to a variety of factors, such as your business not meeting the selection criteria or a lack of available spots.
If you still have questions about applying for participation in the Academy, you can contact the Telegram channel of the initiative in Russia and the CIS for help.
TELEGRAM