As the equipment and event rental industry faces a looming talent pipeline shortage, it is important to know that Girl Scouts provides a solution. Beyond the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program and the focus on getting girls outdoors, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is the world’s largest leadership youth development organization.
Girl Scouts and the American Rental Association (ARA) are excited about exploring partnerships with equipment rental industry leaders to inspire the next generation of girls to pursue careers in this field. Consider offering scholarships for Gold Award Girl Scouts who are bettering your community or are demonstrating an interest in rental. Invite Girl Scouts to participate in industry events, tour your facilities and meet industry professionals.
Visit girlscouts.org/en/council-finder.html to reach out to your local Girl Scout council and connect on opportunities.
Although in my corporate career I have served in many leadership roles, including in big law at the Chicago firm I worked for almost 30 years, I am most honored to currently serve as GSUSA National president. I witness how girls discover and use their voices to create the future they want for themselves and others, as well as how much communities benefit from Girl Scouting.
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program that helps girls take the lead in their own lives and in the world. Girl Scouts are champions in their communities today, preparing to be the workforce leaders of tomorrow. Girl Scouts prepare for a lifetime of leadership — from lobbying the city council with her troop to holding a seat in Congress, from running her own cookie business to leading a Fortune 500 company. Girl Scout alumni are more likely to graduate college, hold leadership roles and feel satisfied in their lives.
These results are even more significant for girls who earn their Gold Awards, the preeminent youth leadership honor and highest award in Girl Scouting. Gold Award Girl Scouts create and execute projects that address a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue and have a measurable and sustainable effect. They become innovative problem-solvers, empathetic leaders, confident public speakers and focused project managers.
Throughout the organization’s 110-year history, girls have been introduced to various professions through these programs. Girl Scouts was founded in 1912 with the vision that all girls would learn skills that would earn them meaningful employment — a somewhat radical idea for the time.
Girl Scout programs help girls build 21st-century skills for 21st-century careers. Many industries face an urgent need for visionary thinkers to carry the mantle into the future. Girl Scouts is part of the solution with its leadership pipeline full of collaborative go-getters and innovators who have the curiosity, motivation, and tenacity to take on any challenge and shine. You can support Girl Scouts who are already learning the skills they will need tomorrow, while making our world a better place today.
Karen Layng is president of M.A.I.T. Co. To learn more about the Girl Scouts visit girlscouts.org.