CARTIER WOMEN’S INITIATIVE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS CARTIER DIALOGUES BRINGS WOMEN ACROSS GENERATIONS TOGETHER TO LIGHT THE PATH THROUGH PURPOSE AND ACTION

Impact Hub Taipei

Cartier and Impact Hub Taipei jointly hosted “Cartier Dialogues: Women Lighting The Path” in Taichung for the first time,

bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders and entrepreneurship support organizations from central Taiwan.

Marking the 20th anniversary of the Cartier Women’s Initiative, Cartier and Impact Hub Taipei jointly hosted “Cartier Dialogues: Women Lighting The Path” in Taichung on October 30, 2026.

Women entrepreneurs, business leaders and entrepreneurship support organizations shared their experiences of building businesses and leading teams, discussing how purpose shapes business decisions and how communities and international networks support founders at different stages.

Building on the community of women entrepreneurs established through previous events in Taipei, this first Taichung edition welcomed entrepreneurs and business leaders from central Taiwan. It expanded Cartier women entrepreneurs’ network in Taiwan and gave participants from different industries and regions an opportunity to meet and share their experiences.

Speakers included Kiyo Taga, Global Director of the Cartier Women’s Initiative; Bonnie Tu, former Chairperson of Giant Group and Founder of Liv Cycling; Sandy Wei, Founder and CEO of Inflorescence; Corina Huang, Founder and CEO of Boncha Bio; and Hyojeong Kim, Founder and CEO of NomadHer. They discussed the decisions that shaped their businesses, the challenges they faced and the missions that continue to guide their work.

Twenty Years of Supporting Women Lighting the Path

Founded in 2006, Cartier Women’s Initiative supports women entrepreneurs using innovation to address social and environmental challenges. Over two decades, the program has supported 360 entrepreneurs from 67 countries and provided US$16 million in financial support. Training, expert mentorship and international connections also help fellows grow their businesses and extend their impact.

Josephine Chien, Managing Director of Cartier Taiwan, said: “At Cartier, we believe in the value of creativity and the courage to bring an idea to life. Through the Cartier Women’s Initiative, we support women entrepreneurs who put that belief into practice, building businesses that address social and environmental challenges.”

The anniversary theme, “Women Lighting The Path,” celebrates the courage, creativity and conviction of women entrepreneurs. Kiyo Taga shared how the program has evolved over two decades, discussing the funding, training and long-term community support that help women grow their businesses. She also reflected on how their experiences can guide and encourage other founders. Kiyo Taga, Global Director of the Cartier Women’s Initiative said, “That is why our 20th anniversary theme, ‘Women lighting the path,’ resonates so strongly. Every generation benefits from the light of those who came before, and every entrepreneur has the opportunity to become a guiding light for those who follow.”

Kiyo Taga, Global Director of the Cartier Women’s Initiative, reflected on the program’s 20-year

history and its long-term support for women entrepreneurs.

Purpose and Leadership Across Generations

Sandy Wei, Founder and CEO of Inflorescence, drew on her experience as a business owner and team leader to discuss purpose and mission. Understanding why they started a business and what they want to achieve, she explained, gives founders a basis for making difficult decisions. It also helps their teams understand the reasons behind those choices.

Bonnie Tu, former Chairperson of Giant Group and Founder of Liv Cycling, encouraged women to recognize their strengths and put them to use, rather than expect preferential treatment because of their gender. Drawing on her experience in industry and brand building, she discussed how women can pursue opportunities through their capabilities and actions, guided by the purpose and goals they have set for themselves.

For both women, a clear sense of purpose informed their choices as business owners. Their accounts offered younger entrepreneurs a perspective on leadership and on making the most of their own strengths.

Local Needs and International Connections

Corina Huang, Founder and CEO of Boncha Bio and a 2021 CWI fellow, described how her family’s health and nutritional needs led her to start the business. When the company struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to apply to CWI in search of a way forward. The decision marked a turning point: the program’s support and international community helped the business enter a period of accelerated growth. As the company expanded internationally, the needs that first prompted her to start it remained central to her work.

Hyojeong Kim, Founder and CEO of NomadHer and a 2026 CWI fellow, discussed how understanding local needs can help a business reach international markets. Drawing on her work in women’s travel safety and independence, she explained that women’s experiences in one market can reveal challenges shared elsewhere. A closer understanding of those needs also helps founders explain their services to international partners and the difference they make to users.

Both founders built their businesses around needs they understood firsthand. Their experiences

showed how international networks can help such businesses find opportunities at critical stages of

growth.

Speakers at “Cartier Dialogues: Women Lighting The Path.

” From left: Josephine Chien, Managing Director of Cartier Taiwan; Hyojeong Kim, Founder and CEO of NomadHer; Sandy Wei, Founder and CEO of Inflorescence; Bonnie Tu, former Chairperson of Giant Group and Founder of Liv Cycling; Corina Huang, Founder and CEO of Boncha Bio and Kiyo Taga, Global Director of the Cartier Women’s Initiative.

The panel and networking session brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders and entrepreneurship support organizations in central Taiwan. Cartier’s support for women entrepreneurs is continuously echoed through Cartier Women’s Initiative, while Impact Hub Taipei drew on its work in ecosystem building, cross-sector partnerships and international exchange.

Participants shared their perspectives, learned about one another’s needs and explored opportunities to collaborate. The co-organizers aim to extend this support network in Taiwan, giving more women access to the experience and connections of those who have built businesses before them.

Entrepreneurs, business leaders and entrepreneurship support organizations exchanged ideas during the event.

About the Cartier Women’s Initiative

Founded by Cartier in 2006, the Cartier Women’s Initiative is an annual international entrepreneurship program supporting women-owned and women-led businesses from any country and sector that seek a strong, lasting social or environmental impact. Through financial, human and social capital, including professional training, one-to-one guidance and global community connections, it helps women entrepreneurs grow their businesses and develop their leadership skills.

The program brings greater visibility to their innovations and impact, helping them create opportunities for others.

#CartierWomensInitiative #CWI20th

About Impact Hub Taipei

Founded in 2015, Impact Hub Taipei is a member of the global social innovation network Impact Hub Network. As an entrepreneur support organization (ESO), it works with social enterprises, nonprofits and impact ventures through entrepreneurship programs, community building, corporate partnerships and international exchange. It connects resources in Taiwan and abroad to support collaboration across sectors and help ventures increase their social and environmental impact.