Chulalongkorn University Launches Program for Thai Female Entrepreneurs

·  Chulalongkorn University launched the "CWI Entrepreneurial Programme" to help Thai female social entrepreneurs qualify for the Cartier Women’s Initiative.

·  The six-week program (Feb 22–Mar 29) will cover innovation, business operations, and financial management.

·  40 participants will be selected, with applications open until February 10, including a three-minute video submission.

Many female Thai social entrepreneurs are disqualified from entry into the Cartier Women's Initiative (CWI) competition each year with a lack of readiness most often cited for their exclusion. To counter this ineligibility and put these women in the running to succeed, Chulalongkorn University has taken the initiative to serve as an incubator to help them achieve global success.

The university is launching its inaugural intensive in collaboration with Cartier Thailand's “Cartier Women’s Initiative (CWI) Entrepreneurial Programme”. The initiative aims to nurture and equip these women entrepreneurs with essential skills to enhance their businesses. Participants will be better positioned by acquiring these skills to not only increase their profitability but also to create a meaningful impact on society and the environment.

From February 22 to March 29, the six-week program will be held, conducted in Thai, with weekly Saturday sessions at Chulalongkorn University. The curriculum covers crucial areas including entrepreneurial innovation, business operations, financial management, and marketing strategies.

Vice president for Academic Affairs at the university Professor Dr Parichart Sthapitanonda, says the programme will catalyze significant changes for participating social enterprises. Pornpreeya Vivadhnajat, managing director of Cartier Thailand, echoed Professor Parichart’s sentiments, saying that the company wanted to address the pain point of female-led social enterprises being eliminated from the CWI competition due to their unreadiness.

Successful women social entrepreneurs have proven their potential for global impact. Nadia Boujarwah, the founder of Ejada (Jordan) and recipient of the CWI in 2018, created the company to provide dignified employment opportunities for women in Jordan through the production of high-quality, ethically made clothing and accessories.

Similarly, Aruna Rao, founder of Vaahan (India) and CWI recipient in 2020, has tackled the issue of menstrual hygiene in rural India by offering affordable, biodegradable sanitary pads alongside essential education.

The initiative will select 40 participants who lead social enterprises aligned with at least one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. While the program prioritizes businesses that are one to six years old, there are no age or gender restrictions.

Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, notes that this collaboration reflects the shared values of the university and Cartier Thailand. Krongkamol Deleon, Vice President of Beacon Venture Capital and a CWI 2024 judge, highlights the growing significance of social entrepreneurship.

Pattaraporn Salirathavibhaga, founder of Homeland Cafe and Grocer, highlighted that social entrepreneurship, like any other business, competes in the marketplace but with the added objective of driving social change.

Applications for the program are now open and will close on February 10. Interested individuals can apply online via the Google form on Chulalongkorn University’s website. Entrepreneurs must also submit a three-minute video presentation in English. The university will announce the selected participants on February 15 through its website and Facebook page.