Hello Sunshine CEO Maureen Polo to Be Honored as 2026 Trailblazer by Girls With Impact, Championing the Next Generation of Female Leaders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2026
Greenwich, CT — Girls With Impact (GWI), the nation’s leading nonprofit preparing young women for success in business and leadership, today announced that Maureen Polo, newly named CEO of Hello Sunshine, will be honored as its 2026 Trailblazer Awardee at its upcoming Gala. Polo will be recognized for her leadership in advancing women’s voices, stories, and economic power across media, business, and culture.
Hello Sunshine has redefined how women are represented and heard, building a female-centered media and content company that proves investing in women is not only impactful, but also smart business. According to McKinsey, women make up nearly half of entry-level roles but only about one in four C-suite leaders — a gap that begins early on with the 30% drop in girls’ confidence and then the well-documented “broken rung,” where women are less likely to receive that first critical promotion into management.
Polo’s career reflects the very mission of Girls With Impact: equipping women early with the confidence, skills, and vision to lead, innovate, and build what’s next.
“Early in my career, a woman mentor saw my potential before I fully saw it myself — and that sponsorship changed everything, ” said Polo. “When young women are given foundational business skills, confidence, and role models early on, it changes the trajectory of their lives — and the future of our economy. GWI is doing the critical work of helping girls see what’s possible and instilling the belief in their own leadership long before that first promotion decision is ever made.”
GWI operates the nation’s leading business and leadership training program for young women, having prepared nearly 20,000 for Day 1 in the workplace. Its annual gala will fund its effort to scale to 50,000 nationwide by 2030. GWI’s programs close the gap between academic achievement and career readiness by teaching practical business, leadership, and financial skills that are still rarely taught in schools.
“Maureen embodies what it looks like when women are empowered to lead at the highest levels — and then use that platform to lift others,” said Jennifer Openshaw, Founder & CEO of Girls With Impact. “Her work at Hello Sunshine has helped reshape culture by putting women at the center of the story. We are honored to celebrate Maureen and grateful for her voice in championing the next generation of female leaders.”
Polo is one of the media industry’s most influential leaders, having started at Conde Nast and risen to WarnerMedia, Hearst, and Fullscreen Media prior to joining Hello Sunshine. She was just named CEO in September after serving as its head of Direct-to-Consumer.
The Gala will bring together business leaders, philanthropists, educators, and advocates committed to advancing opportunity for young women. The evening will spotlight GWI’s growing national impact, celebrate leaders who are breaking barriers, and mobilize support to expand access to business education for girls across the country.
All funds raised enable GWI to recruit students and deliver its tuition-free programming to low- and moderate-income families in Connecticut, New York, and beyond.
For tickets, visit Girls With Impact here: 2026 Trailblazer Gala
Sponsorships/Packages: Contact Shannon King at shannon.king@girlswithimpact.org
About Girls With Impact
Girls With Impact (GWI), based in Greenwich, Connecticut, is setting a new standard in business education while creating a powerful talent pipeline for America’s future workforce. GWI operates the nation’s leading business and leadership program for young women, having served nearly 20,000 students and scaling to reach 50,000. GWI is redefining what career readiness looks like by preparing girls with confidence, financial literacy, and real-world business skills to succeed in college, careers, and life.
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