When we think of Girl Scouts, our minds tend to go immediately to those colorful boxes of delicious cookies. Meant as a major fundraiser for the organization, the cookie program also serves as a way to teach the girls about business, finance, logistics and sales. With an eye to expanding the entrepreneurial skill set of young women, Girl Scouts of America has partnered with Barnard College in New York City to create a summer program for the Girl Scout Leadership Institute. GSLI is geared toward young women in grades 9-12, who attend a summer camp focused on the ins and outs of creating a startup. Over the past two summers, almost 50 startups have been developed by the participants, and all have been through a pitch process. Click here to learn more about the GSLI.
Broadening the entrepreneurial landscape to include all people with the drive, skill and perseverance to become a business owner only adds to a more vibrant economy for us all. Have you participated in any programs that have guided or inspired you along your path to becoming an entrepreneur?