Teen Girl CEOs Across CT and US Drive Change with New Business Ventures

Even with the pandemic forcing students to stay at home, girls from throughout Connecticut – including Farmington, Hartford, Stamford, and Greenwich – and beyond are becoming CEOs and driving real social change in the process.

Girls With Impact – the nation’s only live, online entrepreneurship program for teen girls, based in Connecticut – graduated nearly 1,000 girls from 40 states last month, armed with business skills and a business plan for a venture stemming from their passions. Today, 7.4% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women and none are Black or Hispanic.  If the innovation and determination of these young women is any indication, those numbers are destined to change.

“Parents and students have been forced to turn to virtual education,” said CEO Jennifer Openshaw. “We’re proving that our young women can build confidence, business skills and college readiness.  It’s good for them and good for our future.”

The girls, ages 12-18, participated in Girls With Impact’s live, online entrepreneurship Academy. The program, led by live business instructors, guides girls from ideation to a business plan and venture pitch.  Programs are offered year-round and serve as a key college admissions advantage. Research shows that 60% of GenZ wants to personally drive social change. Girls With Impact was developed by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jennifer Openshaw to increase the number of diverse women leaders and innovators in today’s workforce.

Kierra Wilson, 12, of Hartford, created a venture to produce care packages for girls to build self-esteem.  “My main goal is to reach as many girls in the US as possible,” she explained. Her parents enrolled her in the program to increase her confidence, leadership, tech and presentation skills, according to officials. 

Thirteen-year-old Celine Fong of Greenwich created eART4 to increase awareness about the environment.  Like most students, she drew from her passion “for the love of art and the environment. I thought it would be great to combine those two and help the community,” Celine said. “Girls With Impact gave me a better direction of what to do in college and helped with public speaking.”

Among the other participants, and their entrepreneurial business concepts:  Jada Hughey, 16 from East Hartford, created “If I Can Dance, So Can You,” which gives dance classes to children with autism. Angela Choe, 17 of Farmington, is building Quarantine Fit, a fitness app, and Emily Balarezo of Stamford created a website for anyone who wants an easy and affordable meal plan.

Amid COVID-19 school and camp closures, Girls With Impact has been filling the gap for working parents and school districts looking for academic enrichment alternatives from home. The 501c3’s programs drives outcomes in areas that have long been barriers to success. For example, officials point out that:

·       85% of graduates feel greater confidence as leaders

·       60% feel better equipped to save for their future

·       93% feel more college ready