Girls With Impact Crosses 20,000 Participant Milestone, Expanding Early Access to Business and Leadership Training for Young Women
GWI graduates participate in the organization's “Pack for Impact” in 2025. These young women represent just a few of the 20,000 participants who have been equipped for success through GWI.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2026
Greenwich, CT – As Women’s History Month comes to a close, Girls With Impact (GWI) today announced it has reached a major milestone: serving more than 20,000 young women across all 50 states and over 60 countries, challenging the notion that young women are not ready for real-world success.
“Girls are already building. We’re just waiting too long to prepare them,” said Jennifer Openshaw, Founder & CEO of Girls With Impact. “We are seeing a generation of young women who are ambitious and capable, but too often not given access to real-world business and leadership skills early enough. That gap has real consequences for their future opportunities.”
Founded in 2017, GWI equips young women ages 14 to 26 with the confidence, capabilities, and connections needed to succeed and lead starting on Day 1 in the workplace.
The milestone comes at a critical moment. Women make up nearly 60% of college graduates, yet hold only about 9% of Fortune 1000 CEO roles, even as 77% of Gen Z women aspire to start businesses. Many still hesitate to identify as leaders.
It challenges a long-standing belief that young women need to wait until they are “ready.” In reality, readiness is built through experience.
“I can think of no better way to invest in the future of our economy than the investment that we make in the young female leaders emerging with the help of Girls With Impact,” says Larry Wieseneck, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at TD Securities.
Research shows that girls’ confidence drops sharply around age 14, just as critical decisions about their futures begin. GWI addresses this pivotal moment by delivering accessible, instructor-led training in business, financial literacy, and leadership, meeting young women where they are: online, in schools, and through community partnerships.
Through its live, instructor-led programs, GWI provides hands-on foundational training in business, financial literacy, and leadership, helping participants translate confidence into real-world capability.
To date, participants in the program have:
Developed and pitched real business ideas
Built a future-ready mindset, along financial literacy and decision-making skills
Gained exposure to professional mentors and real-world business scenarios
Strengthened leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
Many participants go on to:
Pursue leadership roles in school and community settings
Enter college with a clearer sense of direction and career ambition
Apply their confidence, business acumen, and financial skills in real-life jobs and roles
Roughly 75% of participants come from low- to moderate-income households, and nearly 85% are young women of color. After completing the program, 90% of graduates report feeling more prepared to succeed in real-world roles.
This approach addresses a broader national challenge: while women make up nearly half of entry-level roles, they represent only about one in four C-suite leaders — a gap that begins early, shaped by access, opportunity, and confidence-building experiences.
“Confidence without real-world experience is not enough,” added Openshaw. “If we want to see more women in leadership, we have to start earlier, and take seriously what young women are already capable of doing.”
As demand continues to grow, GWI is expanding its reach through partnerships and community-based initiatives, with a goal of serving 50,000 participants by 2030.
For more information, visit www.girlswithimpact.org
About Girls With Impact
Girls With Impact (GWI) is a national nonprofit preparing the next generation of women leaders to succeed and lead starting on Day 1 in the workplace. Through live, instructor-led training, mentorship, and community engagement, GWI equips participants ages 14 to 26 with the confidence, capabilities, and connections essential for long-term success. To date, GWI has served more than 20,000 young women nationwide and in over 60 countries. Learn more at girlswithimpact.org. GWI Sizzle Reel