Journaled and Photographed by Megan Smith

October in Paris sounded like a dream.
Snuggled under the covers of my chic hotel room’s bed, the balcony doors flung open wide, I could hear the tables and chairs of the bistro below being set out on the sidewalk. I breathed deeply the crisp autumn air and gently pinched my arm, smiling as I realized Paris in October actually wasn’t a dream at all.
Even an Audrey Hepburn film marathon couldn’t have prepared me—a well-seasoned traveler—for my first trip to France. It was perfect. Those quaint Parisian cafes do exist. Lunchtime really does last for two hours. Coffee tastes better. So does the wine. And croissants really can be eaten every morning without the fear of weight gain. The Eiffel Tower is bigger and more spectacular in person. The Champs-Élysées truly is the most beautiful avenue in the world. And everyone is nice. Really nice. Even if you don’t speak French.

But I had come to France for more than baguettes and café au lait. I had come to witness something much more magical: to watch 18 remarkable women from 14 countries participate in an entrepreneurial competition like no other. I had come to witness the sharing of ideas and watch the common threads of entrepreneurialism and altruism weave together in an interlinking chain. The impact will be felt worldwide for a lifetime.
I had come to the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.

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