Pilot Online “Mini-MBA” Spurs New Ventures from Mentoring Kids with Cancer to One-Touch Emergency Help
Press Release – Stamford, CT, January 24, 2017 – Fully 100% of girls feel more career-ready and nearly 90% feel greater confidence in their ability to differentiate themselves in college applications as a result of Girls With Impact’s 12-week, online, “mini-MBA” program, the organization announced today.
Girls With Impact – the nation’s only entrepreneur and leadership program created just for girls — released initial results of a tech-enabled pilot program featuring girls from five states, including Connecticut and New York.
The 12-week program culminated in a presentation before parents of the girls’ business plans – ranging from mentoring kids with cancer to Case Aid, a one-touch mobile-based emergency help service. View video.
“It’s amazing to see how these girls are being empowered to learn, build and connect – even from across the country – without the costs or hassles of traditional education,” said CEO Jennifer Openshaw. “Corporate and business leaders – especially those committed to gender diversity – can now join us in building this next generation of top female talent.”
“Girls With Impact has truly leveraged our dollars in multiple ways – and we’ve just scratched the surface,” said Chris Meyers, president of brokerage firm Houlihan Lawrence, a Berkshire Hathaway company and its first corporate partner.
From Student to CEO…. Girls meet for the first time and give their elevator pitches just three weeks into the 12-week program.
Strong Diversity, Strong Pipeline
Girls from over 20 schools in five states (CT, NY, MA, MD, and CA) participated. Although diversity largely depends upon outreach efforts, applicants spanned all key audiences:
- Hispanic: 31.9%
- White: 29.8%
- Black: 23.4%
- Asian: 14.9%
Among the schools represented are Aliso Viejo High, Darien High, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich High, Horace Mann, Kolbe Cathedral, Mahopac High, Marian High, New Rochelle High, Notre Dame, and Stamford High.
Gains in Leadership, Professional and Business Skills
Girls With Impact tracks improvements in business skills through a pre- and post-test. Results include big confidence gains in business knowledge including the ability to identify competition (72%), lead others (140%), and know the steps to launching a business or project (57%) as well as personal skills such as building savings (134%), handling rejection (56%) and communicating effectively (63%).
The high school girls said they will benefit in a myriad of ways, including tangible business skills (90%), the ability to differentiate themselves from others (90%), improved presentation skills (80%), improved organizational skills (60%) and strategic thinking (60%). One father, a CFO, pointed out that he’s seen improved organizational skills as a result.
Detailed results are as follows:
| Confidence in… | Increase in girls’ confidence* |
|---|---|
| Building savings through the Rule of 72 | 134% |
| Identifying competition | 72% |
| Communicating with confidence | 63% |
| Knowing the steps to starting a business or project | 57% |
| Handling rejection | 56% |
| Identifying a target market for a product/service | 42% |
| Creating an effective elevator pitch | 34% |
| Understanding “Unique Value Proposition” | 31% |
| Understanding the difference of a for-profit vs a nonprofit organization | 24% |
| Building a network for professional success | 18% |
| Building an advisory board | 16% |
| Skills-Related – How confident you can… | Increase in confidence |
|---|---|
| Lead a team or meeting | 140% |
| Identify resources to advance a project /business | 131% |
| Take on a leadership role (leading/managing others) | 117% |
| Set and meet goals | 116% |
| Use technology/tools | 80% |
| Speak publicly with clarity and confidence | 50% |
| Identify a market need | 26% |
| How will they benefit? | |
|---|---|
| Girls say: | % of girls |
| Tangible business skills | 90% |
| Differentiation/set themselves apart | 90% |
| Strengthened college applications | 80% |
| Improved presentation skills | 80% |
| Improved speaking skills | 80% |
| Boosted confidence | 80% |
| Improved strategic thinking skills | 60% |
| Improved organization skills | 60% |
| Improved chances of having a successful career | 60% |
Girls With Impact runs an interactive, expert-led online Academy from the comfort of home. Offered each quarter, the program moves girls from ideation through business planning. Graduates then transition to the Boardroom program, providing year-round project support and critical skills development while offering a unique college prep, after-school enrichment alternative.
Applications are being taken now. To explore partnering or bringing Girls With Impact to your community or employees, contact us.
*Students were asked to rate their confidence in key areas on a scale of 1-5. Results represent the difference in the average of answers for each question between the pre- and post-skills survey.
