Through the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, Cartier has established itself as a supporter of contemporary art, particularly in unconventional and interdisciplinary themes. “Forty years ago, we were different, as contemporary art was neither supported by the government nor by private investors,” Vigneron recalled. He highlighted the foundation’s recent collaboration with Triennale Milano, a partnership that will continue for the next eight years, reflecting a shared vision of contemporary culture and artistic creation.

Cartier’s dedication to culture is showcased through the Métiers d’Art initiative, which encompasses the Maison des Métiers d’Art in La Chaux-de-Fonds—Cartier’s hub for artistic craftsmanship—and the Cartier Jewellery Institute.

Founded in 2014, the maison preserves and innovates rare crafts in a restored 17th-century farmhouse, located beside the Cartier Watchmaking Manufacture, merging traditional techniques with modern technology. This collaborative space brings together artisans and engineers to refine Cartier’s watchmaking and jewellery with technical prowess and artistic excellence.

The maison, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, focuses on three main craft categories: metal, fire, and composition. The art of fire involves enamel techniques, while composition includes the meticulous assembly of diverse materials within a watch dial. The art of metal covers historic techniques like Etruscan and enamel granulation, along with filigree, a precious metal thread work invented by the Sumerians in 3000 B.C. The Cartier Jewellery Institute supports the maison’s mission, offering specialised training to keep jewellery craftsmanship thriving.

In 2020, Cartier strengthened its commitment to sustainability by launching Cartier for Nature, a philanthropic initiative backing and providing grants to non-profit organisations dedicated to conserving ecosystems and biodiversity. It also supports conservation efforts for other important terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. 

It employs a three-pronged approach to conservation: preserving and restoring natural ecosystems, embracing innovative solutions, and responding to environmental emergencies. The initiative focuses on protecting intact ecosystems and rehabilitating degraded ones while seeking to amplify conservation efforts with new ideas, including emerging technologies, traditional land management practices, and innovative funding models. Cartier for Nature also responds swiftly to disruptions from severe weather, natural disasters, or political instability, ensuring that decades of conservation work are not lost.

The Cartier Philanthropy foundation works to improve the lives of vulnerable communities globally through four key areas: access to basic services, women’s empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and emergency response. Vigneron explained that the foundation was created to allow for more impactful and strategic giving. “About 20 years ago, almost all the [maison’s] regions and markets wanted to contribute through fundraising events and galas, with proceeds that would be donated. But we felt spending on events with little follow-up wasn’t effective.” Today, the foundation emphasises long-term partnerships that extend beyond grants to include strategic guidance, connections to other funders, and consulting services in areas like data science and branding. According to its 2023-2024 annual report, the foundation collaborates with 58 partners across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

To illustrate the impact of such partnerships, Vigneron mentioned Educate Girls in India, which addresses the critical issue of girls’ education in rural areas. Over four million girls aged six to 14 are out of school daily in India, one of the highest rates globally, due to social norms, economic challenges, and limited family support. Since its launch in 2007, the initiative has expanded to over 29,000 villages in four of the country’s most populous states and has mobilised 1.8 million girls to enrol in school since 2007. 

Another game-changing partnership is Mothers2Mothers (m2m), which employs women living with HIV to support others in their communities with essential health services, and worked with HIV-positive mothers and expectant mothers to prevent transmission to their children.  

Vigneron emphasised that addressing the issue required not only medical intervention but also tackling underlying social dynamics. “In cases where a husband passed away, it was not uncommon for his brother to assume responsibility for the family, which could lead to further spread of the disease,” Vigneron noted. In response, the organisation adapted its approach by training mothers to become peer mentors, empowering them to foster healthier practices within their communities.

The impact has been remarkable. “I recently spoke with the CEO, who shared that Mothers2Mothers has reached 15 million women, from South Africa all the way to Uganda,” Vigneron shared. “Transmission rates from mother to child have gone from over 41 per cent to zero. Last year, not one child was infected. This has touched millions of lives.” 

Cartier’s commitment to driving change also extends into impact entrepreneurship, another avenue through which urgent issues can be effectively addressed.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative (CWI), launched in 2006, supports women-led businesses globally, empowering them to make meaningful social and environmental impact. CWI provides a fellowship programme, high-visibility speaking opportunities, and awards that fund talented entrepreneurs who harness business as a force for good.

Cartier’s dedication to fostering impactful leadership is also evident through Red Club x Cartier. Established in 2019, Red Club x Cartier brings together young multicultural entrepreneurs, aged 20 to 40, who share a vision of conscious leadership. The YLA, introduced in 2021, empower young entrepreneurial leaders with the resources, mentorship, and networks they need to sustain their impact-driven ventures.

This year’s YLA theme, “Tech for a Sustainable Future”, underlines the transformative role of technology in addressing pressing environmental and social challenges. “Is tech a good thing, a bad thing, or simply neutral? Ultimately, tech is just tech—it’s how we use it that matters. The key is considering how we can use technology to create a sustainable future,” Vigneron posited. 

Gan and Nandakumar, this year’s YLA winners, exemplify this ethos. Gan, co-founder of Singapore-based N&E Innovations, developed an edible antimicrobial derived from upcycled food waste. Her breakthrough technology offers a sustainable alternative to traditional disinfectants, significantly reducing carbon emissions in both B2B and B2C applications. Nandakumar, co-founder and CEO of India-based Recity Network, leads a circular plastic asset management company that adds both environmental and economic value by sourcing and recycling post-consumer plastic waste. His company’s approach ensures traceability and ethical sourcing, contributing to a closed-loop economy. 

Both received a €50,000 grant, media visibility, ad-hoc coaching and mentoring sessions by Red Club x Cartier network, as well as tailored mentorship from academic partners like the National University of Singapore NUS Business School and the University of Sydney.

This comprehensive support reflects Cartier’s belief that financial backing is only one piece of the puzzle—equally crucial are the resources and networks that guide young leaders toward sustainable success.

“These entrepreneurs have developed their businesses, so they know that it works. It’s the question of putting them on the radar and making them visible,” Vigneron said. This recognition can open doors to funding and partnerships. Winners can leverage their newfound credibility to gain easier access to loans—a process that can be particularly challenging. “Only five per cent of loans go to women. This is based on social biases,” he said. “With this award, they could secure five times from banks.”

Vigneron also stressed the importance of education in nurturing leaders. “We also provide educational support with universities that helps them in their personal development,” he explained, citing how the programme’s academic partners equip young leaders, who find themselves suddenly managing teams and navigating challenges they hadn’t anticipated, with vital skills and resources for sustainable success.

Looking to the future, Cartier plans to expand its community-building efforts. The next edition of the Cartier Young Leader Awards is set to take place in 2026, with applications opening in autumn 2025. This will invite a new wave of visionary entrepreneurs to present their transformative ideas, furthering Cartier’s mission to drive positive social impact on a global scale. Next year, the Women’s Pavilion, in collaboration with Cartier, will be staged at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Following in the footsteps of its successful debut in Dubai, the second will honour women’s contributions to society. Under the theme of “when women thrive, humanity thrives”, leaders will come together to discuss solutions to the biggest challenges of today including forced displacement, climate change and poverty. 

As Vigneron writes in the aforementioned Cartier Philanthropy report, “the universality of suffering calls for universal care. This conviction—the core of any humanitarian action—springs from a vision of shared humanity … expressed in consideration for all human beings.”

Cartier’s initiatives highlight its commitment to “universal care”, with a focus on fostering diversity, supporting young leaders, empowering women entrepreneurs, and preserving the arts and biodiversity. Through these efforts, Cartier continues to play an important role in driving positive global change.

Central to Cartier’s philosophy is its belief that impactful change is best achieved through partnership and collective action. Vigneron suggested that the maison’s approach is to inspire and complement the work of other organisations. “We can, on our own, support the young impact entrepreneurs all around the world. But we want to stimulate interest for these kinds of initiatives so more organisations can do the same thing.”

Vigneron points to awards and networks like the US-based Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), which connects chief executives with a shared mission of better leadership, and the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards that empowers women in science. While separate from Cartier, they share a similar mission of creating positive impact. “We believe in the virtuous ripple of having initiatives that can be replicated,” said Vigneron. 

This article is part of Business of Good, the series that explores how global leaders use their wealth and influence to drive change through philanthropy and positive action.

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