"The nature of being an entrepreneur means fully embracing ambiguity and feeling comfortable being challenged on a daily basis," says Giada Zhang, CEO and co-founder of Mulan Group and president of Red Club x Cartier. Zhang launched her Milan-based company, Mulan Group, in 2018 to focus on sourcing local ingredients to produce packaged Asian food ready to eat in supermarkets across Europe. a second-generation Chinese-Italian whose family immigrated to Italy from China in the 1990s. Her startup was born out of a desire to preserve the traditional family recipes that greatly shaped Chang's upbringing.

"It is completely irrational to choose [entrepreneurship] because the probability of success is so low," Chang explains. Because the probability of success is so low," Chan explains, "it's completely irrational to take the [entrepreneurial] route.

"Especially through funding, strategic planning, building a brand legacy, etc."

This dedication to fostering entrepreneurship also inspired Red Club x Cartier. The membership club, which Chang founded with Cartier in 2019, was initially intended as a global gathering place for Chinese entrepreneurs. Says Chang, "The goal was to connect entrepreneurs with similar backgrounds and foster a sense of community." Cartier felt like a natural partner because they continue to support budding entrepreneurs and change-makers."

Realizing that talent and passion are as much a unifying force as background, Chan quickly opened the door to an international community of entrepreneurs ages 20-40 leading companies in every industry from fashion to healthcare to finance. In the three years since the program's inception, Red Club x Cartier has built a strong network of entrepreneurs, providing them with funding, community support, and valuable mentorship opportunities to enhance their resources and expand their business development.

Last year, Chang and her team established the Cartier Red Club Young Leaders Award to foster the next generation of entrepreneurs, awarding approximately $100,000 to four finalists each year. Led by Cartier North America and in partnership with Howard University and Georgetown University, this year's theme, "Bettering Lives," celebrates entrepreneurs' attempts in healthcare to provide greater access and inclusiveness to underserved communities In April 2023, Red Club x Cartier will select four finalists from among 280 applicants from 33 countries. This year's grand prize winner is Dr. Bia Bakshi, co-founder and CEO of C the Signs. Her cancer prediction system uses artificial intelligence to detect the disease at the earliest and often most curable stages of cancer. Grants were also awarded to three runners-up, Dr. Tatiana Fofanova (co-founder and CEO of Koda Health), Neha Verma (CEO of Intelehealth), and Prabdeep Singh (founder and CEO of Red Health).

"As an entrepreneur, there is nothing better than having a community of entrepreneurs who can provide targeted, structured advice, coaching, and mentoring to help leaders be the best they can be for their teams," says Chan. Red Club x Cartier plans to expand from three chapters in 2019 to 11 by 2023. Together with Cartier, we want to create even more value for Red Club members." She says, "Growing our community is essential to mutual learning." With the support and guidance of Red Club x Cartier, budding entrepreneurs need not leave success to chance. Says Chang, "The best way to predict the future is to create it."