Cartier Announces Winners of the 2024 Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Award
This week, Cartier announced the winners of the 2024 RED CLUB x Cartier Young Leader Award, who were named at the annual award ceremony in Singapore on Tuesday, October 15th. This year’s recipients of the Young Leader Award, or YLA, are Didi Gan, founder of biotechnology company N&E Innovations and Suraj Nandakumar, founder of waste management company Recity Network.
Gan’s N&E Innovations developed a patented antimicrobial agent called ViKang to turn food waste into non-toxic disinfectants and anti-microbial agents that can be used on all surfaces to clean and disinfect.
Nandakumar’s Recity Network is a Circular Plastic Asset Management Company that is working to keep plastics out of the environment by ensuring delivery of traceable plastic recyclates through a sustainably and ethically sourced global supply chain.
Established in 2019, RED CLUB x Cartier is a community of multicultural young entrepreneurs who are working to leave a positive impact on society through their businesses. These leaders use the Club to share experiences and shape the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The YLA itself was started in 2021 to help support young entrepreneurs and help them grow their impact-driven businesses or non-profit organizations. Each year since its foundation, the winner is granted €50,000, and the runners-up will each receive €10,000 in grant along with a bespoke mentorship program from this year’s YLA academic partners which include National University of Singapore and Sydney Business School.
Out of the 500 applicants from more than 60 different countries around the world, the four finalists this year were selected according to the 2024 YLA theme – “Tech for a Sustainable Future.” Winners Didi Gan and Suraj Nandakumar and runners-up Enrico Di Oto and Aasawari Kane founded businesses that offer sustainable, technology-driven solutions. This year, the program received more than 500 applications from more than 60 different countries around the world.
The natural diamond industry is proud to support initiatives like Cartier’s to leave our planet better than we found it, always keeping sustainability top of mind. Learn more about how the natural diamond industry makes a positive impact on its communities and environment alongside global ambassador Lily James.
