Every day, I sit down with business leaders and parents in Greenwich, and around the country, who share a common concern: the young women in their lives are not reaching their full potential. They worry about a rapidly changing job market, the rise of AI, and what it all means for their daughters’ futures—even when those young women are attending the best colleges and doing everything “right.”

Here in Greenwich, we are fortunate to be part of a community that not only recognizes challenges, but also rises to meet them. This is a community defined by leadership, generosity, and a deep commitment to giving back. And it is because of your support that Girls With Impact (GWI) has reached a powerful milestone: equipping more than 20,000 young women with the confidence, capabilities, and connections to succeed in today’s workplace.

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, Girls With Impact (GWI) – a leader in preparing young women for leadership in business – today announced that it has passed a major milestone: the organization has empowered more than 20,000 girls and young women across all 50 states and over 60 countries. 

Despite making up nearly 60% of college graduates and half of entry-level employees, women represent only a fraction of leaders in business – and about 9% of Fortune 1000 CEOs.  Although 77% of Gen Z women want to run their own businesses, they lack few role models and face continued barriers to success that start early and resist the “leader” label, despite outperforming on leadership capabilities.

In classrooms and living rooms across the state, and in our community, young women are gaining the skills, confidence, and connections to shape their futures through Girls With Impact (GWI), a nonprofit with deep roots in Riverside and Greenwich.

Maureen Polo, CEO of Hello Sunshine, talks about the importance and impact of female-led storytelling.

As a woman mentor and business leader, I often reflect on how grateful I am for the opportunities I had as a teen, access to real-world business and leadership training that shaped my journey, built my confidence and gave me the courage to reach for more. That foundation continues to inform how I show up today: mentoring young women, encouraging them to remain coachable, and staying teachable myself, always learning and evolving.

The greatest leaders I’ve known didn’t just tell me I had potential, they showed me.