Today’s Girl Scout Cookie CEO = Tomorrow’s Leaders

TODAY’S GIRL SCOUT COOKIE CEO = TOMORROW’S LEADERS

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t’s Girl Scout cookie season.

For many Americans, that means rushing to buy boxes of delicious treats, but for the Girl Scouts themselves, it means so much more than helping to satisfy an annual craving.

During cookie season, while Girl Scouts are planning, selling, taking orders, distributing, and delivering, they’re also gaining fundamental knowledge about economics, entrepreneurship, salesmanship, the value of hard work and more.

Whether it’s the annual cookie program or one of the other many community activities in which they are involved, these Girl Scout “Cookie CEOs” are learning the value of goal setting, decision-making, money management and business ethics. All those concepts are a part of what makes the Girl Scout experience so unique and particularly important in setting girls up for lifelong achievement.

Lifelong learning and achievement are the foundation of the organization, and many successful business leaders — CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs — got their start as Girl Scouts.

On the pages that follow, meet four Arkansas business leaders who represent today’s Cookie CEOs. These women serve as strong examples to young girls of the role Girl Scouts and its many programs can have in their future successes.

Cori Wilson

Project Manager Crossland Construction Co., Rogers

Favorite Girl Scout Cookie?

Thin Mints

(frozen, of course!)

What lessons from your Girl Scout days do you incorporate as a female leader today?

Growing up, my family was a military family that had to move a lot. At each new location we moved to, I was able to join a Girl Scout troop. The Girl Scouts provided me with a sense of belonging and familiarity, even in a new place. This learned skill to confidently adapt to change during childhood has translated to my adulthood style of leadership — go with the flow! Always be willing to face a challenge with an open mind and a good attitude.

In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership traits?

Girl Scouts provides girls with opportunities to work toward many different goals, whether that be through patches earned or cookies sold. Each patch or goal requires a Girl Scout to be self-driven and put in the work to achieve that goal. By encouraging girls to put in the work, the Girl Scouts foster each girl’s path toward leadership.

What is your favorite memory as a Girl Scout?

My favorite memory as a Girl Scout is from my time in a troop in Florida. I attended a summer camp, and my mother came with me. We stayed in cabins in the woods, participated in activities to earn patches, and I lost a tooth! To a little girl, it was such an exciting adventure.

Margaret Bell Hughes REALTOR️ The Property Group, Little Rock

What lessons from your Girl Scout days do you incorporate as a female leader today?

The Girl Scouts instilled in me valuable skills such as effective collaboration, a sense of pride in my accomplishments, encouragement to step out of my comfort zone and the confidence to embrace new challenges. Moreover, the commitment to community service was a cornerstone of my Girl Scout experience, instigating a profound sense of responsibility towards the well-being of others.

In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership traits?

Girl Scouts plays a vital role in nurturing both independent and social skills essential for a successful leader. The organization focuses on instilling qualities such as sound decision making, a strong understanding of business ethics and the ability to collaborate seamlessly with others. By fostering a spirit of exploration and self-discovery, Girl Scouts empowers girls to develop the mindset needed to navigate the complexities of their personal and professional lives.

Favorite Girl Scout Cookie?

Thin Mints

What is your favorite memory as a Girl Scout?

During my elementary school years, my family moved to a new state. To help us both make new friends, my mom enrolled me in Girl Scouts. I found joy in all the badge activities and selling cookies door to door. One of my early memories is the bridge-up ceremony, where I first experienced the sense of pride that comes with personal accomplishments.

importance of perseverance. There were moments when doubts arose, but my fellow Girl Scouts and I learned not to Favorite Girl give up. Now, as a leader, I understand that perseverance Scout Cookie? pays off, and my accomplishments with my team speak Caramel deLites volumes.

(Samoas) Teamwork is another crucial lesson. Our troop, comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds, worked together seamlessly. We undertook projects and tasks collaboratively, earning badges and celebrating each other’s achievements. The camaraderie we shared taught me the value of a strong team. Today, I lead with the knowledge that success is a collective effort. The confidence gained from those experiences is immeasurable, and I still maintain strong connections with many of my Girl Scout sisters. In times of need, I wouldn’t hesitate to call on them, highlighting the enduring bonds formed through shared challenges and victories.

Jill McDonald,

Co-owner, The Croissanterie, Little Rock

What lessons from your Girl Scout days do you incorporate as a female leader today?

In my current role as a woman leader, I find that the lessons from my Girl Scout days continue to shape my approach. One key lesson is the

Taren Robinson,

In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership?

Participation in Girl Scouts fosters and develops leadership in several ways. The challenges presented in various activities contribute significantly to building confidence. Stepping into the unknown and emerging with newfound knowledge translates into success in different facets of life — be it in academics, career, relationships, entrepreneurship or personal growth.

Being part of the Girl Scouts has equipped me with the strength and confidence to navigate such challenges. It is one of the many empowering and female-forward groups that have shaped my journey.

Today, as a teacher, chef, business owner and entrepreneur, I understand the importance of continuous learning and teaching.

What is your favorite memory as a Girl Scout?

My favorite memories as a Girl Scout are selling the most cookies, which my mom was none too happy about because we had to deliver them all. Secondly, Camp Taloha in Pine Bluff. It was a time spent with my best friends and Girl Scout sisters, creating memories.

Owner, Blueprint Event Solutions, Little Rock What lessons from your Girl Scout days do you incorporate as a female leader today?

As a woman leader navigating these challenging times, I believe that emphasizing kindness and resilience is essential. I actively engage in mentorship to support young women in my industry. Empowering the next generation of leaders is my one of my passions.

Favorite Girl Scout Cookie?

Thin Mints

In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership traits?

Participating in the Girl Scout cookie program was significant for me. It helped to cultivate my business acumen. It not only honed my sales and organizational skills from a young age but also instilled the importance of maintaining customer relationships. Each year before cookie season started, I sat down with my mom and dad to go over our sales strategy.

What is your favorite memory as a Girl Scout?

One of the most treasured moments from my Girl Scout experience was our summer camp adventure, which was essentially glamping before glamping became popular. The anticipation of packing and preparing for the trip was thrilling.

Our troop prided itself on efficiency — we were always the first to set up our tent and have our sleeping bags ready to go. During our daily hikes, we made it a mission to find the most beautiful rocks and flowers, turning each excursion into a treasure hunt of sorts. While we may not have been the best at starting campfires, we certainly excelled at crafting triple-decker s’mores — a skill that proved to be far more valuable in our eyes! I hold these memories close, as they are destined to last a lifetime.

Today’s Girl Scout is tomorrow’s leader.

Her dreams are our dreams.

Girls are what Girl Scouts is all about. Their dreams, ideas and ambition are part of our DNA. Today’s girls want to shoot movies, build robots, speak up for what they believe in, help others, change a law.

Girl Scouts gives girls the tools to fuel their ambition, try new things, learn from failure, and make the world a better place.

Girl Scouts is a world where girls can do, and be, whatever they dream.

Today’s Leaders Helping Tomorrow’s Backed by trusted adult volunteers and millions of alums like our Today’s Cookie CEO leaders, Girl Scouts gain the courage, confidence and character to be our future leaders in building a better world.

Join. Volunteer. Give. Reconnect.

To learn how you can support our future female leaders, contact us at info@girlscoutsdiamonds.org or 800-632-6894.

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