Beau Plan Creative Park played host to the Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA) Finals in a glittering ceremony on Saturday, October 28, 2023. This event marked the inaugural edition of the awards, which was created to recognize the remarkable achievements of Mauritian female entrepreneurs from diverse sectors, acknowledging their contributions to the Mauritian economy.
Six of the nine finalists were honored with awards after presenting their businesses to a panel of judges with extensive experience in entrepreneurship. The WEA aims to promote, support, empower, and celebrate the endeavors of Mauritian female entrepreneurs and their significant impact on various industries and communities.
Kirti Sheonarain, the Founder of WEA, emphasized the awards’ purpose, stating, “WEA has been created to promote, showcase, and celebrate the contribution of our female entrepreneurs in the Mauritian economy. I think the winners have beautifully earned their way, and this has been publicly visible when everyone was able to witness their pitch. Our aim has been to create a platform based on credibility and meritocracy, which has been achieved through our prestigious jury members and the transparency of the judging process.”
Benjamin Gilot, Cultural Project Manager representing Beau Plan Creative Park, expressed the pleasure of hosting the competition, highlighting the park’s interest in supporting entrepreneurial spirit, irrespective of gender. He noted the creativity and innovation displayed by the women entrepreneurs.
The Women Entrepreneur Awards also received support from Impact Production Group, with Director Jean Luc Manneback encouraging women entrepreneurs to be bold and fight for their place in the economy. He expressed his belief that women bring a unique sensibility and creativity to the business world, calling for trust and empowerment.
Atul Bhatia, Chief FinTech Officer at Emtel, one of the partners of the awards, explained how Blink supported women entrepreneurs in their digital endeavors. He stressed the importance of self-confidence and determination for women entrepreneurs and pledged to assist them with technology-related concerns.
During the final stage of the competition, the nine finalists presented their businesses before a panel of five experienced jury members, who evaluated the presentations based on criteria such as sustainability, innovation, and impact.
The winners of the Women Entrepreneur Awards were announced as follows:
- WEA Champion: Elizabeth De Marcy Chelin – Chabert, My Pop Up Store Ltd
- Most Impactful Award: Sharanaz Subratty, Casting World Ltd
- Most Sustainable Award: Stephanie Bouloc, La Déchethèque Ltée
- Most Innovative Award: Farrah Jahangeer, Sustainable Energies For Aprica Ltd
- Most Promising Start-Up Award: Pierre Louis Marie Paule, Eco Ballade Ltd
- Special Jury Award: Stephany Noëllis, Lullaby Production Ltd (Zenlife)
The Women Entrepreneur Awards are planning to return with their second edition in 2024, and interested parties are invited to contact them at contact@womenentrepreneurawards.com for more information.