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INDIANAPOLIS — While many of us fine-tuned our career skills in college, or at a trade school, there’s one group who is working on their skills as young as grade school.
They are part of the largest girl-run business in-fact, and Girl Scout cookie sales are more than just a fundraiser for the budding businesswomen.
“Selling Girl Scout cookies has taught me how to handle money, [and] how to set goals,” says Girl Scout Monzerrat Monntesdeoca.
While the money Girl Scout troops will make will go towards a major reward, the skills they will walk away with will make for an even greater bonus in the future.
“There’s decision making, and then there’s communication, and business ethics, and money management and all those are tied together within our leadership experience where we want girls to have courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place,” explains Danielle Shockey, the CEO of Girls Scouts of Central Indiana.
It’s not only preparing them for life but the workforce.
Monntesdeoca describes what she has learned.
“Getting the chance to talk to more people, and just stepping outside of my comfort zone, just talking to strangers,” she said.
Shockey says they are also building websites, communicating through e-mail to sell their cookies and their brand, and greeting people.
“I think all of that when you look at that through that lens,” Shockey explains, “is the power of the Girl Scout cookie program.”
It’s also an opportunity to expose young women to entrepreneurship.
“It’s not just start-up’s and innovative ideas,” Shockey says, “There’s also social entrepreneurship, and so we know when the girls take these skills, and they put them into place, in making the world a better place, which is part of our goal with Girl Scouts, it really does all kind of trace back to the success and what they learned in the cookie program.”
So while you Do-Si-Do with your Thin Mints and Thanks-A-Lot’s, some girls may be scouting your job.
“When we look at Fortune 500 companies, only 5% of women CEO’s are in those roles, and we feel very confident the skills learned in Girl Scouts will help our girls achieve to grow that number beyond 5% in the future.”
To learn more about the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, or to purchase Girl Scout cookies, click here.
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