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Teen Girls from West Hartford High Schools Learn CEO Skills through ‘Girls With Impact’

Conard and Hall High School students receive certificates from Girls With Impact Graduation on Jan. 28, 2019. Submitted photo

A group of 21 teens from West Hartford graduated from ‘Girls With Impact,’ where they became CEO-ready, gaining confidence for college and career success.

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Girls With Impact and West Hartford Public Schools announced that 21 girls recently graduated from the after-school entrepreneurship academy, thanks to underwriting support made possible by Stanley Black & Decker and Eversource Energy.

“The quality of the girls’ projects shows just how capable they are,” said Beth M. Foley, Vice President of Communications at Eversource. “When we invest in the next generation of women, we positively and measurably impact our community, economy, and the workforce.”

Megan Goulet of Conard High School presenting The Hidden Workforce. Submitted photo

The girls, ages 14-17, completed the 12-week Girls With Impact academy by presenting the ventures they developed during the program before parents and family.

Megan Goulet, 17, of West Hartford’s Conard High School, showcased her project, The Hidden Workforce – an app/website to match qualified job candidates with disabilities with appropriate jobs.   

“The Girls With Impact program has helped me in numerous ways,” said Goulet. “I have gained much more confidence in myself and I have a well-developed plan on how to turn my ideas into reality. It is a wonderful experience for any girl interested in making an impact on her community.”

The ventures ranged from an accent reduction training program to an app to help teens deal with emotions and gain confidence. It’s all part of Girls With Impact’s effort to equip 10,000 girls by 2022 with the skills and confidence to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Natalie Gavalis of Conard High School presenting her company, Focus on Ability. Submitted photo

Natalie Gavalis, 14, also a Conard student, presented her company, Focus on Ability – a program empowering children with special needs. 

“Girls With Impact has given me an amazing opportunity to turn my passions into a career and taught me invaluable skills on how to run a business effectively and successfully,” said Gavalis. “The program teaches you what you need to know about running a business in the real world, from determining key partners to figuring out your break-even points.”

Through the 12-week Academy, Natalie and Megan jumped online for 50 minutes every week to connect with their coach along with local and global student peers. Topics ranged from identifying problems and targeting customers to marketing, finances, and building an advisory board.

Girls With Impact offers a live, online, real-time “mini-MBA” from the comfort of home. The program, designed with Harvard experts, moves girls from the idea stage to a full business plan. The program is changing the future of these young women’s lives with exponential spikes in confidence, majors in business or entrepreneurship, and college scholarships.

“The caliber of the girls’ projects demonstrates their capabilities,” said Kimberly Williams of Stanley Black & Decker. “Investing in the next generation of women will positively impact our community, economy, and workforce.”

The Girls With Impact academy is offered throughout the year. The summer and fall sessions – starting in June and October, respectively – have remaining openings for interested applicants.

To learn more or apply, visit www.girlswithimpact.com.

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