Power Hour Akron
Play Like a Girl has teamed up with Bridgestone Americas to shine a light on women who are breaking boundaries in a variety of diverse career fields where women are historically underrepresented. Together, we will engage inspiring women role models—from early career professionals to C-Suite executives—in Power Hour, a speed mentoring event series that inspires and encourages girls to take their rightful place in any field.
Power Hour is designed to connect women professionals from all backgrounds and walks of life with motivated middle and high school girls seeking insights about college and careers—with a specific focus on opportunities for advancement in male-dominated fields like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Power Hour is fueled through partnerships with employee resource groups made up of women and male allies committed to driving change by empowering women and accelerating their progress into leadership at partner companies.
At this 90-minute Power Hour event, your student will experience:
- An icebreaker or connection activity over a delicious grazing table
- Fireside chat with a woman leader from the sponsoring company
- Two 20-minute speed mentoring sessions guided by Play Like a Girl staff and employee volunteers.
Partner companies like Bridgestone also host small groups of students at their corporate headquarters or other facilities for Inside Look, an experiential learning and industry field trip, as an extension of their commitment to the Power Hour program. Check our event calendar for the next Inside Look.
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to start time.
What to Wear (or Bring)
All Play Like a Girl guests must wear long pants (athleisure wear or denim jeans are ideal) and sneakers or flat, closed-toed, and closed-heeled shoes (no sandals, clogs, or high heels). Long hair must be pulled at or above shoulder length. Loose-fitting clothing and accessories (long-hanging jewelry, scarves, or ties) are not permitted. Headscarves worn for religious reasons are permitted but must be tucked in securely.
Students may bring a wallet and cell phone. Other personal bags or items must be left in the car or in a secured room on site. Outside food and drink will not be permitted.
LATE ARRIVAL, CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY
A program participant who has incurred three (3) documented “same-day cancellations” and/or “no-shows” may be subject to restriction from any future programs or events and dismissal from Play Like a Girl entirely, in accordance with policy guidelines.
Power Hour Boston
Play Like a Girl has teamed up with Bridgestone Americas to shine a light on women who are breaking boundaries in a variety of diverse career fields where women are historically underrepresented. Together, we will engage inspiring women role models—from early career professionals to C-Suite executives—in Power Hour, a speed mentoring event series that inspires and encourages girls to take their rightful place in any field.
Power Hour is designed to connect women professionals from all backgrounds and walks of life with motivated middle and high school girls seeking insights about college and careers—with a specific focus on opportunities for advancement in male-dominated fields like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Power Hour is fueled through partnerships with employee resource groups made up of women and male allies committed to driving change by empowering women and accelerating their progress into leadership at partner companies.
At this 90-minute Power Hour event, your student will experience:
- An icebreaker or connection activity over a delicious grazing table
- Fireside chat with a woman leader from the sponsoring company
- Two 20-minute speed mentoring sessions guided by Play Like a Girl staff and employee volunteers.
Partner companies like Bridgestone also host small groups of students at their corporate headquarters or other facilities for Inside Look, an experiential learning and industry field trip, as an extension of their commitment to the Power Hour program. Check our event calendar for the next Inside Look.
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to start time.
What to Wear (or Bring)
All Play Like a Girl guests must wear long pants (athleisure wear or denim jeans are ideal) and sneakers or flat, closed-toed, and closed-heeled shoes (no sandals, clogs, or high heels). Long hair must be pulled at or above shoulder length. Loose-fitting clothing and accessories (long-hanging jewelry, scarves, or ties) are not permitted. Headscarves worn for religious reasons are permitted but must be tucked in securely.
Students may bring a wallet and cell phone. Other personal bags or items must be left in the car or in a secured room on site. Outside food and drink will not be permitted.
LATE ARRIVAL, CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY
A program participant who has incurred three (3) documented “same-day cancellations” and/or “no-shows” may be subject to restriction from any future programs or events and dismissal from Play Like a Girl entirely, in accordance with policy guidelines.
Power Hour Dallas
Play Like a Girl has teamed up with Bridgestone Americas to shine a light on women who are breaking boundaries in a variety of diverse career fields where women are historically underrepresented. Together, we will engage inspiring women role models—from early career professionals to C-Suite executives—in Power Hour, a speed mentoring event series that inspires and encourages girls to take their rightful place in any field.
Power Hour is designed to connect women professionals from all backgrounds and walks of life with motivated middle and high school girls seeking insights about college and careers—with a specific focus on opportunities for advancement in male-dominated fields like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Power Hour is fueled through partnerships with employee resource groups made up of women and male allies committed to driving change by empowering women and accelerating their progress into leadership at partner companies.
At this 90-minute Power Hour event, your student will experience:
-
- An icebreaker or connection activity over a delicious grazing table
- Fireside chat with a woman leader from the sponsoring company
- Two 20-minute speed mentoring sessions guided by Play Like a Girl staff and employee volunteers.
Partner companies like Bridgestone also host small groups of students at their corporate headquarters or other facilities for Inside Look, an experiential learning and industry field trip, as an extension of their commitment to the Power Hour program. Check our event calendar for the next Inside Look.
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to start time.
What to Wear (or Bring)
All Play Like a Girl guests must wear long pants (athleisure wear or denim jeans are ideal) and sneakers or flat, closed-toed, and closed-heeled shoes (no sandals, clogs, or high heels). Long hair must be pulled at or above shoulder length. Loose-fitting clothing and accessories (long-hanging jewelry, scarves, or ties) are not permitted. Headscarves worn for religious reasons are permitted but must be tucked in securely.
Students may bring a wallet and cell phone. Other personal bags or items must be left in the car or in a secured room on site. Outside food and drink will not be permitted.
LATE ARRIVAL, CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY
A program participant who has incurred three (3) documented “same-day cancellations” and/or “no-shows” may be subject to restriction from any future programs or events and dismissal from Play Like a Girl entirely, in accordance with policy guidelines.
Power Hour Los Angeles
Play Like a Girl has teamed up with Bridgestone Americas to shine a light on women who are breaking boundaries in a variety of diverse career fields where women are historically underrepresented. Together, we will engage inspiring women role models—from early career professionals to C-Suite executives—in Power Hour, a speed mentoring event series that inspires and encourages girls to take their rightful place in any field.
Power Hour is designed to connect women professionals from all backgrounds and walks of life with motivated middle and high school girls seeking insights about college and careers—with a specific focus on opportunities for advancement in male-dominated fields like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Power Hour is fueled through partnerships with employee resource groups made up of women and male allies committed to driving change by empowering women and accelerating their progress into leadership at partner companies.
At this 90-minute Power Hour event, your student will experience:
- An icebreaker or connection activity over a delicious grazing table
- Fireside chat with a woman leader from the sponsoring company
- Two 20-minute speed mentoring sessions guided by Play Like a Girl staff and employee volunteers.
Partner companies like Bridgestone also host small groups of students at their corporate headquarters or other facilities for Inside Look, an experiential learning and industry field trip, as an extension of their commitment to the Power Hour program. Check our event calendar for the next Inside Look.
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to start time.
What to Wear (or Bring)
All Play Like a Girl guests must wear long pants (athleisure wear or denim jeans are ideal) and sneakers or flat, closed-toed, and closed-heeled shoes (no sandals, clogs, or high heels). Long hair must be pulled at or above shoulder length. Loose-fitting clothing and accessories (long-hanging jewelry, scarves, or ties) are not permitted. Headscarves worn for religious reasons are permitted but must be tucked in securely.
Students may bring a wallet and cell phone. Other personal bags or items must be left in the car or in a secured room on site. Outside food and drink will not be permitted.
LATE ARRIVAL, CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY
A program participant who has incurred three (3) documented “same-day cancellations” and/or “no-shows” may be subject to restriction from any future programs or events and dismissal from Play Like a Girl entirely, in accordance with policy guidelines.
Power Hour Nashville
Play Like a Girl has teamed up with Bridgestone Americas to shine a light on women who are breaking boundaries in a variety of diverse career fields where women are historically underrepresented. Together, we will engage inspiring women role models—from early career professionals to C-Suite executives—in Power Hour, a speed mentoring event series that inspires and encourages girls to take their rightful place in any field.
Power Hour is designed to connect women professionals from all backgrounds and walks of life with motivated middle and high school girls seeking insights about college and careers—with a specific focus on opportunities for advancement in male-dominated fields like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Power Hour is fueled through partnerships with employee resource groups made up of women and male allies committed to driving change by empowering women and accelerating their progress into leadership at partner companies.
At this 90-minute Power Hour event, your student will experience:
- An icebreaker or connection activity over a meal
- Fireside chat with a woman leader from the sponsoring company
- One 30-minute speed mentoring session guided by Play Like a Girl staff and employee volunteers
Partner companies like Bridgestone also host small groups of students at their corporate headquarters or other facilities for Inside Look, an experiential learning and industry field trip, as an extension of their commitment to the Power Hour program. Check our event calendar for the next Inside Look.
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to start time.
LATE ARRIVAL, CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY
A program participant who has incurred three (3) documented “same-day cancellations” and/or “no-shows” may be subject to restriction from any future programs or events and dismissal from Play Like a Girl entirely, in accordance with policy guidelines.
Inside Look Spotlights Women in STEM
Play Like a Girl continues its nearly 20-year legacy by leveraging the skills gained from sport to propel young women into competitive, male-dominated careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In 2004, Dr. Kimberly Clay established the organization in Birmingham, Alabama. Today, Play Like a Girl is committed to shining a light on inspiring women role models in an effort to inspire girls everywhere.
Three recent events underscore this commitment to such initiatives and the importance of exposing girls to women from diverse backgrounds and fields who are breaking boundaries in an effort to inspire the next generation of women leaders.
One-of-a-kind Career Experiences
Turner Construction and Play Like a Girl partnered for the organization’s hugely popular Inside Look program to commemorate Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day last month. Highlights included student interactions with women engineers, bilingual occupational safety professionals and Latina CEO of C&F Company among others, a tour of an active construction site, and a hands-on construction activity during which middle school students explored construction with model assembly components used to erect a structure inspired by those Turner engineers construct all across the country.
This engineering-focused Inside Look at Turner Construction exposed girls to engineering careers and gave them a glimpse of what a day in the life of an engineer is really like. Turner Construction’s project at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown served as the perfect backdrop for this learning event. Since 2018, more than 300 middle school students have toured 27 corporate offices, plant facilities, working labs and sports stadiums and conducted hands-on experiments to learn more about STEM concepts and careers across all industries and sectors. Some of the most memorable experiences were hosted by Bridgestone Americas, Tesla, Tristar Medical Center, Walmart Labs, and the San Francisco 49ers; see program highlights on YouTube.
Recently, Lipscomb University hosted an Inside Look learning session that explored a wide range of pharmaceutical careers. Student pharmacists and faculty gathered a group of Play Like a Girl participants in the College of Pharmacy Compounding Lab, giving the girls an exclusive up-close opportunity to see how medications are compounded and put their skills to work making hand sanitizer. During the tour, students learned about the many safety mechanisms in place throughout the lab and interacted with the instrumentation and models while learning basic skills like taking a patient’s blood pressure or giving her a shot.
During a recent trip to the Boston area for a New England Patriots game spotlighting Play Like a Girl, Workhuman treated a few of our girls to an intimate behind-the-scenes tour of its North America headquarters. The multinational tech company co-headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts and Dublin helps companies meet today’s biggest human capital challenges - including unprecedented turnover, employee engagement, hybrid work environments, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) - through the Workhuman Cloud®, a secure SaaS platform that provides the industry’s best-in-class Social Recognition® solution designed for employees to recognize and reward each other.
Real Life Role Models Matter
Starting and persisting in a STEM field can be an intimidating experience for young women. Only 8% of STEM employees were women back in 1970, compared to 28% in 2022, according to research from the U.S. Census Bureau. One way to help motivate young women to pursue a career in STEM and help them develop their skills to be successful is mentorship. Inside Look has a huge impact beyond career exposure; the program provides students with visible role models from diverse backgrounds to help students gain confidence and, ultimately, perform better in school.
More importantly, girls who establish healthy mentoring relationships and social networks early in life are more likely to pursue challenging opportunities like a STEM career as adults. Role models and mentors from your company can inspire young women and teach them the resilience needed to create a more diverse, high-performing STEM industry.
Give Girls An Inside Look at Your Company
The Inside Look program is a great way to advance your company’s DE&I agenda while providing a meaningful engagement opportunity for employees. It is also an exciting opportunity to raise visibility for your company’s social impact work aimed at leveling the playing field for women in some of the fastest-growing, highest-paid jobs—STEM or not.
Inside Look provides female middle school students from underrepresented groups the opportunity to learn about exciting, cutting-edge jobs at leading companies, the steps they can take toward a career in any given industry or sector, and what opportunities they have for future employment at the partner company. Students get out of the classroom and have fun with activities that reinforce what they have learned in school.
Inside Look also fosters team building and community engagement among corporate employees. Through this program, your company can come together to advance the mission of a charitable cause that everyone can proudly support. In addition, it is a great way to build corporate spirit and to establish closer relationships among employees, customers, and partners. Your Inside Look program also provides employees with opportunities to take on a leadership role while engaging in impactful community service.
Partner companies host up to 35 students and adult chaperones, plan and lead all educational activities, and provide attendees with a healthy meal and promotional swag to mark the experience. Each Inside Look program is three hours in length, and typically takes place on Thursday and Friday when students are out of school for a seasonal break or Saturday during the school year from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. to accommodate highly motivated but often busy students who are juggling multiple sports, extracurricular activities or other obligations that may prevent their participation.
Interested in hosting an Inside Look at your company or start up? Email partner [at] iplaylikeagirl [dot] org to host an Inside Look experience at your office, lab, plant or other facility.
Hustle Until Your Haters Ask If You’re Hiring
Take that career advice from Samaira Mehta — one of the youngest mentors at our Women’s Leadership Summit March 8th in Nashville!
Here’s how to tune in☝️for our special International Women’s Day celebration. Meanwhile, check out our interview with Samaira????below!
PLAY LIKE A GIRL: Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do?
SAMAIRA MEHTA: I’m Samaira, the creator of CoderBunnyz. When I was six years old, my dad introduced me to coding through a prank project that included a button that read "Press this if you're beautiful," but would disappear each time I pressed it. I was immediately curious about how he got the button to do that. Eager to create similar projects, I learned how to code myself. I often spent time coding and even creating my own "flappy bird" game (and, as a 7-year-old, that was something to be proud of!). However, after finding out that my friends thought coding was tedious and complicated, I became determined to develop a way to make coding fun for my friends. I worked long days learning how to better my coding and then transferred my knowledge onto a board game. Since my friends loved board games, I decided to use a board game to introduce them to coding - hoping they would eventually like coding too. And that’s how CoderBunnyz was created. The game helped to change my friends’ minds and made them love coding. That was a hugely rewarding experience. It was a challenging journey, but today my games (plural because I have now expanded to multiple games) sell on Amazon and Walmart. CoderBunnyz has even trended at #1 out of all of the best sellers on Amazon. Because of my work, I’ve gotten to work platforms like Vogue, United Nations, and have even received a letter of praise from former First Lady Michelle Obama.
PLAG: Share a recent interaction with another woman or girl that you found inspiring.
SM: Often I speak with my grandmother over the phone. I have grown to find her one of the most inspiring women in my life. My grandma is the most compassionate and caring person I know. She never fails to help others, especially those in need. Her heart is bigger than the entire universe, reflected in her donations of food and money and her assistance to the less privileged. Grandma was also one of the first women in our family to go to college; she was the only girl in her business and economics class and the only woman on her university’s cross country team. Her efforts inspire me to continue to work hard and be a benevolent person. She undoubtedly embodies the spirit of what I like to call a "girl boss" - the mindset of a fearless woman leader who doesn't shy away from breaking boundaries.
PLAG: What difference would it have made for you to have had Play Like a Girl in your life as a girl or young woman?
SM: If I had Play Like a Girl in my life during my early years, it would have made a profound impact on my life. I would have grown up and thrived with the support of many other girls, just like myself. I would have built meaningful, lifelong friendships and connections that would guide me throughout my journey. That’s what sport and community does for girls and women. Luckily, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Play Like a Girl since 2018. We’ve teamed up to inspire the next generation of coders, scientists, artists and mathematicians, and I know we’re making a real different toward leveling the playing field and building a diverse pipeline of women in STEM.
PLAG: What does "ready for any field" mean to you?
SM: Ready for Any Field means being ready to not just survive but thrive in any situation you find yourself. Opportunities are important but not enough. Girls need to be prepared for the opportunities, and the only way to bridge this gap is to start while we’re young. This way, as women, we can fully prepare to embrace, work and compete in technology and any field with equity, not privilege.
PLAG: Why is sisterhood (or women supporting women) important to you?
SM: Personally, I have been a huge feminist since a young age. When I noticed few girls were attending the coding workshops I was teaching, I began to hold workshops dedicated to girls only to make them feel more welcome. Now, I have been named a “champion for girls in technology” by the United Nations. Through first-hand experience, I am convinced that when girls see themselves in a room filled with other girls doing the same things, they are all motivated and lifted, believing they can achieve greatness too. This "girls supporting girls" ethos is crucial for girls to have faith in themselves and believe in their own capabilities.
PLAG: How does mentorship from and collaboration with other women help you grow and learn?
SM: Mentorship is key to success in any endeavor. Mentors are like a torch that helps you find your way through a dark tunnel. I am lucky to have three amazing individuals as mentors in my company and in my life. My mom and dad are also supportive and I’m really really grateful for that. When I did the research to find out what board game creation involved, I learned about the iterative process of sketching, prototyping, design, playtesting and, finally, mass production. My family has helped me every step of the way. My dad has always been there to guide me on the technology side of things. He’s been an advisor whenever I’ve needed it. My mom helps with the finances, production and marketing. My external mentors have a huge impact in my life and business too. One of my mentors is a teacher here in California who bought some of my games for his classroom. He became a friend to our family and, now, mentors me. All of these people have helped me grow and become a better individual and business owner over the years.
PLAG: What is the best piece of advice you've received from a woman role model, mentor or colleague?
SM: [bctt tweet="The best piece of advice I’ve received is to “work while they sleep, learn when they party, save like they spend, and live like they dream.” —says young tech prodigy, Samaira Mehta. Her work is CoderBunnyz, a coding game aimed at closing the digital divide." username="iplaylikeagirl"]
While everyone is out partying or having a good time, I’ve learned to work hard because I know that I will reap the rewards of my hard work later. Dedication and persistence guarantees that I get to live the life others dream of living - IRL :)
PLAG: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
SM: What’s really important for youth today is that we don’t see barriers. We don’t see limits to things that we can create. We have a whole other mindset that lets us dream big and dream of things adults can’t even imagine possible. All of these crazy ideas deserve to be heard. I would advise my younger self to not listen to the naysayers or those who say my dreams aren’t possible, but rather dream big and work hard towards achieving those dreams.
PLAG: What advice do you have for younger girls who want to follow in your footsteps but may be afraid to ask for help (mentorship or guidance)?
SM: I’ve learned a lot during my journey, so I’d tell girls who have big ambitions to start that business, launch that movement, and create that product. To full realize your potential, I suggest you:
- Explore, observe, and find what you are truly passionate about. That problem, idea, or thing that you are passionate about is what you should work towards
- It's OK to dream. It starts with a dream, a very big dream, but you have to work extraordinary amounts to achieve that dream.
- Throughout that process ask for help! You don't have to do it alone. In fact, you normally can't do it alone!
- Stop. Breath. Think. Make a plan. If you just start without a path and a plan, you're more likely to crash along the way.
- Go for it...and have patience and persevere. It might take longer than you think. You may have to change your path. You may have to modify or change the goal. But you don't have to give up.
Finally, I think one of the major things I have learned and want to share with all my sisters is that time expands to accommodate your passions and priorities. I go to school, do homework, I am a dancer, I run a company, hold workshops, I’m a teacher/educational content creator, professional motivational speaker. I’m constantly traveling to different places. I’m working on an AI research project. And I’m still a 13-year-old who hangs out with her friends and goes to the beach. But I love all of it! I love everything I do. And I truly believe if you are passionate about anything, time will expand to accommodate all our passions and priorities.
Connect with Samaira on Instagram and join Play Like a Girl in our mission to build a diverse pipeline of women in STEM by encouraging girls that they can do anything and be #ReadyforAnyField. ⚡️
Win a chance to be mentored by game changing women in Nashville! Tell us how sport has prepared you to succeed in any field by submitting your original photos, videos or art via Instagram or Twitter using #ReadyforAnyField. No purchase necessary. Void in AK & HI and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 48 contiguous US & DC. Starts 2/21/22; ends 2/28/22.
Failure As Fuel for Success
Meet software engineer Dr. Teresa Vasquez — one of the mentors at our 2022 Women's Leadership Summit!
Dr. Teresa Vasquez, affectionately known as "Dr. T," was born to a Guatemalan immigrant and Creole woman from Louisiana. Her father always said that he “wanted a football player, but what he got instead was the best blessing in the world…a daughter.” Actually, he actually got both -- Dr. T played women’s professional football too!
Her mother died when she was five years old, leaving her father to raise three young children. Dr. T's dad ignited her passion for problem solving as a child, helping her with electrical and mechanical engineering projects. She credits these experiences as the start to her passion for technology and software engineering.
Dr. T is one of very few doctoral level educators who are exploring the intersection of assistive technology and adult education in Nashville. She is active in the tech community, serving on various boards that promote diversity in the field with a specific emphasis on neurodivergent and Black software engineers.
Dr. T will be a mentor at our Women's Leadership Summit, March 8th in Nashville. She believes that failure should not paralyze girls and women, keeping them from realizing their full potential. Instead failure should fuel their success. With her help, we will launch a year-long campaign, Ready for Any Field, to inspire middle school girls to pursue their passions - whether it's science, technology, sports or the arts.
Enter to win Executive Access tickets to the Women's Leadership Summit to be mentored by a group of game changing women — see details below to learn how— and check out our interview with Dr. Teresa Vasquez. ????✨
PLAY LIKE A GIRL: Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do? How does your work intersect science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)?
DR. TERESA VASQUEZ: Hi, I am Dr. Teresa Vasquez, but you can call me Dr. T. I lead technical teams to success by being myself and helping people feel valuable. A lot of what I do as a technical leader depends on how I can encourage and support other engineers to be their best selves. We all need someone to believe in us and I do that by using my technical skills and passion to build things. I use math and science to build logic and engineering and technology to help people meet their goals. There is no better feeling than getting to help someone, which in turn helps me.
PLAG: Share a recent interaction with another woman or girl that you found inspiring.
TV: I was questioning my purpose and one of my mentees became my mentor. She spoke life into me and encouraged my journey by reminding me of my success and impact. It helped me to get out of my slump and to refocus my vision and goals.
PLAG: What difference would it have made for you to have had Play Like a Girl in your life as a girl or young woman?
TV: If I had a resource like this, I would have been able to achieve my calling more quickly with fewer mistakes. As a girl, I did not have many, if any, women mentors in my life and Play Like a Girl would have been a huge part of learning and sharing my real self earlier in my career.
PLAG: What does "ready for any field" mean to you?
TV: 'Ready for Any Field' means seeing the beauty in the abstract and knowing that no matter where you end up, your journey and experiences are important and that STEM is the foundation for every professional career you’ll ever pursue.
PLAG: Why is sisterhood (or women supporting women) important to you?
TV: We know each other’s pain and fears especially in STEM careers. When we share information, we grow more confident and can support others more. Sisterhood brings a level of intimacy and knowledge that can propel us toward our goals - together.
PLAG: What is the best piece of advice you've received from a woman role model, mentor or colleague?
TV: "You can do anything because anything you love and touch will turn to gold."
PLAG: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
TV: I'd tell little T to not shrink to fit in. Take up all the space you need because your courage will inspire others once you find it.
PLAG: What advice do you have for younger girls who want to follow in your footsteps but may be afraid to ask for help (mentorship or guidance)?
TV: [bctt tweet="Fear is the killer of creativity and innovation. Failure is the path to success. Beyoncé said it best: “I see it, I want it, I stunt, yellow-bone it. I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it...” --says Dr. Teresa Vasquez" username="iplaylikeagirl"]
The grind is your journey and if you want it, you can have it. All you have to do is grab it. You can accomplish it, but you need to “get in formation” and get support for what you want so you can get there faster. Don’t be afraid of rejection and use your youth as an advantage because someone will always want to help you along your journey.
Believe that you are valuable because you are. WE NEED YOU more than you’ll ever know. You are a part of OUR story too and by allowing fear to keep you from getting in the game, you’re impacting us all because we need your unique self so that we all can win. Help us by asking for help.
Follow Dr. T on Instagram and join Play Like a Girl in our mission to build a diverse pipeline of women in STEM by encouraging girls everywhere to embrace failure as fuel to build confidence and be #ReadyforAnyField. ⚡️
Win a chance to be mentored by game changing women in Nashville! Tell us how sport has prepared you to succeed in any field by submitting your original photos, videos or art via Instagram or Twitter using #ReadyforAnyField. No purchase necessary. Void in AK & HI and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 48 contiguous US & DC. Starts 2/21/22; ends 2/28/22.
Women's Leadership Summit - Ready, Set, Go!
How will you celebrate International Women's Day?!
Join us for the Play Like a Girl Women's Leadership Summit: Ready Set Go!, a hybrid conference experience inspired by our popular girls' mentoring program, Meet + Mentor. We will host a 4-hour digital event before a live audience on Tuesday, March 8 starting at 2pm ET/1pm CT/11am PT shining a light on women role models who are breaking barriers and inspiring the next generation.
In early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, our team leaned in with innovative online experiences authentic to our brand DNA. Among them is our Meet + Mentor program which was created to connect girls with positive women role models and mentors from diverse backgrounds and fields who are paving the way for future generations of trailblazing leaders.
It is now more important than ever to elevate these women to inspire the next generation. This International Women’s Day, we will continue to inspire girls and women across the U.S. by spotlighting prominent role models, trailblazers and influencers including meteorologist and amateur golfer, Kristina Shalhoup; healthcare executive, Dr. Shanell McGoy; young tech entrepreneurs, Samaira Mehta and Medha Aiyah and many more.
This curated event includes three inspiring, interactive and educational sessions featuring women role models and fun, compelling interactive content specially designed for women and girls. The event will also feature live conversations with attendees across the country, stories of transformation, an at-home networking experience, and talks with thought leaders who are helping women and girls prepare to lead - on and off the field of play.
Now in its second year, the Women's Leadership Summit is part of our ongoing commitment to level the playing field for girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The cross-generational experience will explore two important themes underpinning our year-long social marketing campaign, Ready for Any Field:
- If She Can See It, She Can Be It: Why Role Models Matter
- Ready for Any Field: Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in STEM
Donations and ticket sales from the Summit will help fund the Meet + Mentor program for middle school girls in Nashville. Additionally, funds will help us create and pilot a digital Play Like a Girl curriculum to be made accessible to girls and women nationwide through campus and corporate chapters launching in 2023. The curriculum will focus on confidence, college readiness and STEM careers.
To join the hybrid conference experience, visit www.iplaylikeagirl.org/summit to register. With ticketing options for digital ($35) or live, in-person ($125) access, you can select the option that best fits your schedule.
The digital event will be hosted as a Zoom Meeting and live streamed on Play Like a Girl's Facebook and YouTube channels. The event will remain available for on demand viewing across all platforms through the duration of Women's History Month.
The live event will culminate with a special cocktail hour featuring our signature Play Like a Girl Executive Auction. This one-of-a-kind auction is made possible by top leaders and senior executives from companies like Asurion, Bridgestone Americas, HCA, and others who graciously donate their time to be auctioned off to raise funds in support of our work.
Sarah Patton of Social Bliss Events, a Nashville-based event production company, has collaborated with Play Like a Girl to create and deliver this state-of-the-art hybrid Summit experience.
Follow @iplaylikeagirl on social media to join in the celebration using hashtags #ReadyforAnyField and #ReadySetGo22.
Media interested in additional information can email [email protected].
Storytelling & The Art of Failure
Failure is an important part of the engineering process. While youth (especially girls) fear failure, STEM professionals have and continue to fail many times in their careers. In this workshop, you will learn storytelling skills to help you artfully communicate your experiences with failing - and the lessons learned - to younger audiences.
The last half hour of the workshop will offer an opportunity to connect with local role model programs and network with other mentors.
This event is hosted by the San Diego STEM Ecosystem, Women in STEM working group as part of the Role Model Initiative.
To register, click HERE