RED CLUB x Cartier, consisting of multicultural entrepreneurs around the globe, commemorated the Young Leader Award (YLA) 2024 on September 15 in Singapore. The event aimed to identify and celebrate the high performers among youth who contribute to future growth by promoting innovations and leveraging technology. This year’s event celebrated two super inspiring young social entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place with their ideas.
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Since its establishment in 2019, RED CLUB x Cartier has been an international organization of multicultural businessmen and women based on sustainability principles. The Young Leader Award, launched in 2021, has stayed true to this mission and selects entrepreneurs between 20 and 40 who lead companies with social impact.
While the 2024 edition was encompassed under the theme “Tech for a Sustainable Future” which sought to encourage technology-based innovative solutions to specific environmental and social challenges, entries were received from 66 different countries proving that the program has indeed gone global.
Cartier Culture & Philanthropy Chairman Cyrille Vigneron stressed that his company remains to continue to support impact entrepreneurship. It mentions on Cartier’s website, that we hold strong hope on youths as the drivers of change. The innovative Young Leader Award shows our dedication to the people who help create the change we need. It is our privilege to empower such talented people who are creating real changes and presenting inventions that shape and transform various fields to advance the economy as well as environmental and social outcomes.
Exceptional projects and RED CLUB winners
In this year’s Young Leader Award, the jury selected two people because both of them and their projects’ goals were outstanding. The winners for the 2024 edition are:
Didi Gan, Founder of N&E Innovations, Singapore, created an antimicrobial that could be eaten, from food waste. The functionality provided by this rather innovative solution is a departure from conventional disinfectants which therefore cuts CO2 emissions; in addition, it provides both B2B and B2C uses. “Thank you for selecting me as one of the participants of the YLA 2024 Edition – I now feel equipped to contribute to making the world greener and cleaner and lean on natural solutions instead of toxic chemicals”, Gan continued.
Suraj Nandakumar – Co-founder & CEO – Recity Network – India – A Circular Plastic Asset Management Company – offers environmental and economic utility by providing an ethically sourced Supply Chain, Chain of Custody post-consumer plastic recyclables. It is therefore our pleasure to be featured by RED CLUB x Cartier in an understanding that the work we are doing at Recity Network has a bearing on fighting for sustainability and plastic circularity. This recognition; solidifies our cause and motivates us to amplify our reach and continue to shape change for a more sustainable and innovative future, said Nandakumar.
Each winner will be given €50,000, visibility internationally, media coverage, and a university mentorship program offered by this year’s university partners which are the National University of Singapore Business School, and the University of Sydney Business School.
The second winners, Enrico Di Oto, Founder and CEO of OACP, Italy, and Aasawari Kane, a member of PadCare Lab’s Board of Founders, India, will receive €10,000 each.
Di Oto’s company OACP targets expedited cancer diagnosis through the application of chemicals and biotechnology, on the other hand, Kane emerged with PadCare Labs which centers its research on the conversion of old menstrual pads into valuable commodities and encouraging MHH.
The ceremony was held in the National Gallery and was attended by 150 people of the target audience of entrepreneurs, academics, media, and thought leaders. After the opening speech by the heirs of Cartier Culture and Philanthropy, Cyrille Vigneron the main topics are the Maison’s commitment to entrepreneurship, and, consequently, to create a better future, the Young Leader Award 2024 Jury Member, Founder & Managing Partner of Fusion Fund Lu Zhang conducted a speech about the partnership of technology and sustainability.
After that, the evening proceeded with a leadership fireside chat between Richard Li, the Head of RED CLUB x Cartier Sydney Chapter and the Co-Founder of July, and the EMCEE of the event, Charmaine Yee, on topics such as entrepreneurship, vision of RED CLUB x Cartier and the role of the Young Leader Award. This year also saw educational institutions represented by the academic partners the National University of Singapore Business School and the University of Sydney Business School in a discussion moderated by Charmaine Yee stressing the importance of education in talent development.
“The Young Leader Award is recognizing some of the talents our world has to offer within the young generation. That is why it emphasizes the entrepreneurial attitude and the strength of the individual’s action. These are in line with the values that we foster in our students, which makes NUS Business School a perfect partner for the YLA.” Vice Dean of Master of Science Programmes in NUS Business School, Professor Andrew Delios.
The winning Young Leader will collaborate with us utilising the knowledge from the Faculty and available entrepreneurship networks. In consecutive years, we will also promote the fellowship and the introduction of the RED CLUB Members to our student population. Suresh Cuganesan is the University of Sydney Business School Deputy Dean and a Professor of Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The celebration was then followed by four selected finalist songs and lastly by Yanina Novitskaya, Chief Executive Officer of Cartier SEAO expressing her thankfulness for the precious support of Cartier’s partners to make Cartier and future generations possible.
That is the future next edition planned for 2026. The go-signal is set in late 2025 to accept the application for a new round of ideas that focuses on the future from budding innovative thinkers.