Meet Olivia, the Director of Operations at Girls Inc. of Monroe County. Olivia has grown through many roles within Girls Inc., from a young girl participating in Girls Inc. programming to a volunteer and now a leader within the organization. She credits Girls Inc. with instilling in her the confidence to believe in herself and to inspire others.

What are you up to now?
I am working as the Director of Operations at Girls Inc. of Monroe County! I feel so honored that I get to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold every day! And now I get to inspire our team to lead new generations of Girls Inc. girls!

What is your favorite Girls Inc. memory?
I have so many great Girls Inc. memories! I am fortunate to have memories as a young girl, a volunteer and now an employee. As a young girl, I always loved trying new things and learning new things at Girls Inc.! I remember feeling so comfortable in a pro-girl environment. As a volunteer and employee of Girls Inc., my favorite memories are the unplanned ones, spur-of-the-moment karaoke, dance parties, art galleries, building contests, card playing, science experiments gone wrong and more. However, the connections and friendships that I have built in all of my stages at Girls Inc. are what have impacted me the most.

What would you like to tell the supporters of Girls Inc.?
A huge thank you to our Girls Inc. supporters! Their support means so much to me and also to the current and future generations of girls. It is so important for girls to know that they have people in their corner rooting for them.

What advice would you give to girls knowing what you know now?
I want girls to know that no matter what challenges they may face in life, even if the journey isn’t exactly what you thought it would be, you can still achieve your dreams.

How did Girls Inc. help you grow as a ‘leader’ in your own life? 
Girls Inc. has instilled so much confidence in me throughout the years. Not only did I learn skills that would set me up to succeed in life, but also going to a place where I felt so supported and uplifted was what truly made the difference for me.

Can you share reflections on how you may have experienced a degree of economic or social mobility in your life — and how you think Girls Inc. played a part in that for you?
I feel that Girls Inc. gave me the confidence to believe in myself, and because of that, I have had opportunities to grow both economically and socially throughout my professional life. I learned to never doubt myself and the importance of being my own advocate!

Are there aspects of the Girls Inc. Experience that really helped you grow as a storyteller or as a person who knows the power of honing stories to make change?
Yes! During my time at Girls Inc. I had numerous opportunities to meet and see examples of strong female leaders! These experiences made me believe in my own power and helped me find the courage to use my voice for positive change.

Is there anything further you’d share around pro-girl spaces / environments or being part of a community?
There is something truly magical about a pro-girl environment. I have been lucky enough to witness this throughout my journey in many different roles at Girls Inc. It is a place where they can be messy, try new things, sing out loud, dance, use their voice, learn new skills and be inspired to reach their goals.