When Anika Mistry joined Girls With Impact (GWI) as a teenager, she already had a passion for technology, research, and solving complex problems. What she didn’t yet realize was that entrepreneurship didn’t have to wait for age or experience.

Anika is the founder and CEO of DevMinds Learning, an AI-powered platform that helps neurodiverse children build social-emotional skills through personalized learning experiences.

Girls With Impact (GWI) has announced the winners of its Winter 2026 Venture Competition, recognizing three young women entrepreneurs whose innovative ventures address challenges in education, student wellbeing, and literacy access. Sarah Nayani earned first place and a $1,000 prize for InterFaith Planner; Chloe Lee received second place and a $750 prize for the Open Minds Project; and Jolene Luong was awarded third place and a $500 prize for Book Sprout.

Summer is the season when Girls With Impact sees the highest demand for our programming. It’s no surprise that more and more young women are realizing the same thing: Summer ‘break’ is a thing of the past. 

For the future-focused, it’s a chance to get ahead. The reality that today’s early-career population is facing is different than it was even a few years ago.

Before joining Girls With Impact, Danya Levin saw herself as a student with big ideas, but wasn’t sure how to turn those ideas into something real.

“I had an interest in entrepreneurship, but it felt like something I would do in the future, not something I could start right away,” she says.

That changed during her freshman year of high school when she enrolled in GWI’s Innovation Academy program in early 2024. Drawn to the challenge of building a business concept from the ground up, Danya quickly discovered that entrepreneurship wasn’t just something for “someday;” it was something she could begin now.

At this year’s Milken Institute Global Conference: “Leading in a New Era,” one message came through clearly in conversations across sectors: the future of work is changing faster than our systems are preparing talent for it. 

Girls With Impact is thrilled to welcome Laura Breslaw to the GWI New York Regional Board. As a leader whose career and community commitment reflect a deep and enduring investment in the next generation of women, Laura brings a wealth of experience and passion to our organization.

Before joining Girls With Impact, Liliia Lukash was navigating something many young women experience, but few talk about openly: self-doubt.

“I was struggling with a lack of confidence. I had anxiety and felt like everyone was judging me,” she shares.

Everything began to shift when Liliia discovered GWI. What started as a search for growth quickly became a turning point. Through the program, she faced one of her biggest challenges head-on, which was speaking up.

This spring, young women stepped up, reached out, and redefined what leadership looks like in their communities.

From January 19 to April 17, 2026, Girls With Impact hosted the SheLeads the Way Recruitment Challenge, a nationwide initiative designed to grow SheLeads Clubs and empower more students to access leadership, career, and life-building skills. What followed was truly inspiring.

Before joining Girls With Impact, Candice Taylor had a clear path in mind: grow within a company and build a stable career. Like many young women, she saw success as moving up the ladder, not creating her own. That vision of success was just the beginning.

It’s a core GWI belief that mentorship is about expanding perspective, building confidence, and helping young women realize they don’t have to navigate their journeys alone. For Michaiah Crump, Sr. Director of Technical Applications, that belief is deeply personal.

This Women’s History Month, Girls with Impact brought together an incredible community of future leaders and trailblazing professionals for a powerful virtual Breakroom event. Facilitated by Anyah Lewis, GWI Director of Engagement and Research Manager, the session welcomed over 50 attendees for an evening of honest conversation, connection, and inspiration. Each panelist shared candid insights into her career journey, highlighting both the wins and the realities behind success.

Dr. Stephanie Webb shares how mentorship, self-advocacy, and building strong networks empower young women to lead with confidence and create lasting impact.

“Mentors are allies, sounding boards, examples of what a life can be. Sometimes, having just one person who believes in you can be life-changing.”

Girls With Impact was proud to partner with Percent Pledge, a global CSR platform that mobilizes companies and employees to give back, for a powerful Women’s History Month Volunteer Event on March 5th, bringing together purpose-driven professionals and the next generation of women leaders.