Innovation is about more than new technology. It's about curiosity, resilience, and perhaps most importantly, it's about solving real problems for real people.

Those were some of the biggest lessons Girls With Impact participants took away during the latest stop on the Summer of Success Tour, where young women visited Dyson's SoHo Demo Store and offices for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of the world's most innovative companies.

The expectations placed on young professionals have shifted dramatically. Employers are hiring into an increasingly complex workplace shaped by technology, economic uncertainty, and rapidly evolving skill needs. As a result, many graduates are finding that a degree alone isn't enough to stand out. The rules of getting hired have changed.

Becoming proficient at these five skills will ensure you are the most confident and well prepared you can be when walking into your first job. So, what are they?

On June 27, over 1,000 young women took over Center 415 on 5th Avenue in New York City for the 12th annual Her Conference. Her Campus Media's flagship event brought together college students, recent grads, creators, and young professionals for a full day of career conversations, women's health panels, brand activations, and keynotes from three women who have built very different things in very different ways. The lineup this year was Jordan Chiles, Anna Cathcart, and Katie Feeney.

Today, Sarah is a rising junior at Georgetown University studying Finance and Accounting. Along the way, she's explored how her GWI venture can grow, taken on leadership roles at one of the nation's most unique student organizations, and found the confidence to pursue opportunities she never imagined for herself.

On June 22, Girls With Impact participants gathered at Mohegan Sun Arena for "The Connecticut Sun & the Business of Sports," an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with the Connecticut Sun's front office. Before cheering on the Sun in their exciting 92–63 victory over the Chicago Sky, participants heard directly from the women powering one of the WNBA's premier organizations.

Every internship posting seems to want someone with experience. When you are applying for the first time, that can feel like a dead end before you start. But most recruiters hiring interns know exactly who is applying. They are not expecting a work history. They are looking for someone who can pick things up fast and follow through on what they say they will do. The question is whether your application shows that clearly enough.

For generations, young people were told that if they worked hard, got good grades, and earned a degree, career opportunities would follow.

Today's reality looks very different.

While headlines are bullish on job creation, many young people are discovering that breaking into the workforce is more difficult than ever.

On June 11, Girls With Impact was honored to partner with BMW of Darien for an evening dedicated to empowering the next generation of women leaders. Held at BMW of Darien's showroom, the event brought together supporters, community leaders, and advocates to learn more about Girls With Impact's mission and the critical need to prepare young women with the skills, confidence, and networks to succeed in college, careers, and life.

We’re all familiar with the Job Experience Paradox: you need prior work experience to get a job, but you need a job to get work experience.

This may seem an impossible situation, but the truth is it’s not the paid employment, specifically, that is prized; rather, it’s the transferable skills developed through those experiences that are impressive to employers, colleges, scholarship committees, and the professional community at large.

Consumers are now calling out any brand that sounds like AI, even when they are not sure. A breakdown of what is going wrong right now, and why it matters for you. AI backlash used to be about specific campaigns. In 2026, it has moved past individual campaigns. Consumers are scanning for anything that sounds machine-generated.

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.

Girls With Impact was honored to join our valued partner Tauck for a special town hall event at their Connecticut headquarters on March 11th in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. This was an inspiring moment to celebrate deepen connections and spotlight the power of partnership in advancing the next generation of women leaders.

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.

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.