INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FORUM OF CONNECTICUT ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH GIRLS WITH IMPACT TO ADVANCE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STAMFORD, CT
October 11, 2022
STAMFORD, CT – The International Women’s Forum of Connecticut (IWFCT), an affiliate of the International Women’s Forum (IWF), and the non-profit Girls With Impact (GWI), an organization headquartered in Connecticut, today announced a partnership to change the futures of young women in the Nutmeg State.
“The old adage that ‘girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice’, is taking on a new meaning in Connecticut,” said Marie Meliksetian, President of IWFCT.
“When we see the talent in our young women and the ideas they are bringing to life with national impact – all through the modern business training of GWI – it is clear that they are being empowered to pave the way for women in leadership, entrepreneurship and women-owned business to help spice-up and stimulate our economy,” she added.
“Girls and young women will have stronger, more financially secure futures with this critical education while helping Connecticut’s employers enjoy a stronger, diverse talent pipeline. It is my hope that every employer in our state steps-up to follow in the IWFCT’s footsteps.”
IWFCT is an invitation-only membership organization and part of a network of 74 affiliates of the International Women's Forum (IWF) worldwide. IWF is comprised of more than 7,000 diverse and accomplished women from 33 nations on six continents. Members include leaders from across all industries of public and private companies to non-profit organizations – IBM, SalesForce, Accenture, Yale, Quinnipiac, Eastern Connecticut State University, Gaylord Hospital and Hospice just to name a few.
This partnership includes three key elements: (i) Directly sponsoring underserved women in CT to experience the GWI Business Academy; (ii) Engaging members to serve as mentors, passing on their skills to support their careers; and (iii) encouraging the employers of the IWFCT members to back GWI to advance diversity and build the state’s pipeline of diverse female talent.
“Having the International Women’s Forum as our partner speaks volumes about the times we are in,” added Jennifer Openshaw, CEO of Girls With Impact. “These are women who have been in the trenches and see that progress has been little over decades. Together, we’re going to change that.”
Members of the IWFCT met in late August where they met Arianna Anderson, 14, a student at Pathways Academy of Technology & Design, whose mother heard about the fully-funded tuition opportunity – made possible by corporations and community foundations -- through social media. Arianna created “Writers Wonder” as her Girls With Impact business venture. She said the program “had a huge impact on her confidence and career skills,” adding that her venture was designed to help girls build their own confidence through the power of writing.
Arianna and hundreds of young women throughout the state have graduated from Girls With Impact’s mini-MBA, a program fully funded thanks to supporters that include these corporations: BiC, Eversource, First County Bank, Purdue Pharma, United Rentals, Wells Fargo, and XPO, and these foundations: American Savings Foundation, Carter Morse Foundation, Connecticut Community Foundation, Fairfield County Community Foundation, Petit Family Foundation, People's United Community Foundation, TD Charitable Bank Foundation, and Torrington Bank.
Registrations are being taken now for programs starting in the Winter. Fully funded seats are available to those low- and moderate-income families. Learn more at www.girlswithimpact.org
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Editor’s note: Pictures here from an August 24 meeting with IWFCT members at the home of GWI CEO Jennifer Openshaw on the possible partnership. Captions saved. Credit Girls With Impact.
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About Girls With Impact
Girls With Impact, a 501c3, is the nation’s only live, online mini-MBA for under-served young women, offered year-round. The Business and Leadership Academy moves learners from ideation to a business plan and venture pitch, driving improvements in confidence, leadership, college readiness and professional skills for success. The organization started in 2017 when the World Economic Forum, in Davos, brought attention to the need to increase the number of women in leadership. Girls With Impact partners with corporations and foundations who make our work possible. Visit www.girlswithimpact.org. Watch this.
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Contact:
International Women’s Forum of CT
Marie Meliksetian, IWFCT
Girls With Impact
McKenna Belury
(860) 266-8633