“Making a Difference” is Orange County Business Council’s feature series that brings the face and voice of OCBC
members to life by sharing how they’re making a difference in their communities.
October 2024
Giving girls opportunities to pursue and thrive in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers is an all-around good proposition. Good for women’s economic stability given higher paying jobs, and good for workforce diversity. With college enrollment traditionally dominated by females, however, why aren’t more females graduating with science degrees, and eventually entering STEM careers? Read on to see what three Orange County Business Council (OCBC) investors—Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire, Girls Inc. of Orange County, and Girl Scouts of Orange County—together with other OCBC investors that are local major employers are doing to close this gap and prepare the future workforce of the nation’s sixth most populous county, Orange County, California.
Big Brother Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire
Q: With STEM careers being mostly male dominated, girls have fewer role models to look up to for inspiration. What is your organization doing to encourage, influence and inspire college-bound female students to study STEM majors and eventually enter the STEM workforce?
A: At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire, our Workplace Mentoring program pairs young people with corporate mentors for monthly sessions, both on-campus and virtually. For the 2024-2025 year, we’re launching two new cohorts in partnership with the CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange County (CLAOC), focusing on STEM. The first cohort, starting in September, partners with Edwards & Medtronic on engineering and more than half of the participants are female. In October, a second cohort begins with Johnson & Johnson, focusing on the medical field, with 80% of mentors being engineers and 75% female. We anticipate a strong representation of female mentees from UC Irvine, Chapman University, and Cal State Fullerton with an interest in the sciences.
Q: How do you help girls develop the skills they will need to succeed, while still making it fun?
A: Our Workplace Mentoring program bridges the social capital gap, connecting young people with professionals who share their experience and insights. We create a fun and engaging environment where mentees interact with both peers and mentors. For example, they learn life skills such as interview techniques through mock interviews, balancing discussions with hands-on experiences. The goal is to ensure that the experience is enjoyable and worthwhile for everyone involved.
Q: Does your organization offer hands-on experience in order for students to explore various fields, and help them narrow down what they want to do?
A: Yes, our corporate mentorship program provides a safe space for college and career exploration. We recognize that in STEM, seeing is believing. Imagine being a young woman in college, shadowing a scientist at Johnson & Johnson, learning how she’s developing the next breakthrough in cancer treatment! By elevating young professional women in these fields, we show the next generation what’s possible. Mentees learn from mentors, panelists, and peers, gaining confidence and clarity in their chosen fields.
Q: Who are some of the local companies and employers that your organization collaborates with to build a bridge for future girl scientists, doctors, researchers, astronauts, engineers, architects and more?
A: We collaborate with the CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange County (CLAOC), Edwards, Medtronic, and Johnson & Johnson. A complete list of partners is available HERE.
Q: How does your organization give girls the confidence to succeed in math and science?
A: We build confidence by connecting girls with mentors who serve as role models, demonstrating that success in math and science is achievable. Through consistent support and guidance, young women are encouraged to pursue their interests and overcome challenges, knowing they have a network of professionals rooting for their success.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do what you do?
A: We draw inspiration from our community and the incredible individuals we work with. For example, Maria Aparicio from Johnson & Johnson has been a passionate advocate for our programs, helping to establish a key corporate partnership. She inspires us by showing what can be achieved through dedication and collaboration.
Q: What is your organization planning to do in the future in its continuing mission to introduce and prepare girls to pursue careers in science?
A: We plan to continue developing innovative mentorship models that meet our community’s evolving needs. Our post-secondary workplace mentoring program has grown steadily, and we aim to expand further by increasing cohort sizes, deepening partnerships, and welcoming new collaborators. If your organization is interested in partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire, learn more HERE.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: Our Workplace Mentoring program has had a significant impact, with measurable success in helping young people build confidence, develop skills, and pursue higher education and careers, especially in underrepresented fields like STEM. Past mentors report benefits like increased employee engagement and job satisfaction, while past mentees share an increase in confidence and access to essential connections to drive future success.
Q: What is your organization’s favorite part about doing this kind of work in Orange County?
A: Our favorite part is seeing the tangible difference we make in the lives of young people. Whether it’s a mentee finding their passion or a mentor rediscovering the joy of giving back, the positive impact we have on the community is truly rewarding.
Girls Inc. of Orange County
Q: With Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers being mostly male dominated, girls have fewer role models to look up to for inspiration. What is your organization doing to encourage, influence and inspire college-bound female students to study STEM majors and eventually enter the STEM workforce?
A: Girls Inc. of Orange County is committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent girls from pursuing STEM careers by creating a supportive and inspiring environment. Serving the community for 70 years, we foster a strong STEM identity among our participants by using empowering language and reframing negative self-perceptions. Programs like Girls Meet the Workforce play a pivotal role in this mission, offering girls the opportunity to connect with female mentors and role models from a variety of STEM fields. Through career panels, guest speakers, and direct mentorship, we introduce girls to successful women in STEM, demonstrating that these careers are not only attainable but also rewarding. Our collaborations with companies that have STEM positions provide tangible examples of career pathways and the diverse opportunities within the STEM industry. Importantly, we ensure continuous exposure to STEM from elementary through college and career, nurturing interest and confidence at every stage of their education.
Q: How do you help girls develop the skills they will need to succeed, while still making it fun?
A: At Girls Inc. of Orange County, we believe learning should be educational and enjoyable. Our STEM programs are designed to spark curiosity and nurture creativity through engaging hands-on activities. Students explore concepts such as space technology, water conservation, data/advocacy, and renewable energy, all while having the freedom to choose project topics that align with their interests. For example, this might be seen in projects where students design their own eco-friendly homes, examine college admissions data for a college they’re interested in, create a robotic claw inspired by biomimicry for a specific function, or develop a video game.
We provide many opportunities for students to influence the direction of their lessons, ensuring that their learning experience is both relevant and exciting. They develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through interactive projects and practical challenges, with the flexibility to pursue topics they are passionate about. Our approach starts with elementary students, introducing them to fundamental STEM concepts. As they progress through middle and high school, they build on these fundamentals to make connections both within and across disciplines, ensuring ongoing engagement and skill development throughout their educational journey.
Q: Does your organization offer hands-on experience in order for students to explore various fields, and help them narrow down what they want to do?
A: We offer numerous hands-on experiences that allow students to explore various STEM fields and discover their passions. Students design and prototype solutions to real-world problems, gaining practical, real-world experience. Our programs provide opportunities to develop critical skills in workplace dynamics, leadership, and career exploration under the guidance of female mentors. For example, the Girls Meet the Workforce Program includes an externship component, where girls work alongside female professionals, gaining invaluable insights and mentorship. Additionally, immersive, hands-on learning opportunities cover a wide range of STEM topics, helping students narrow down their interests and potential career paths. This continuous exposure from elementary through college and career ensures that girls have ample opportunities to explore and refine their interests in STEM fields.
Q: Who are some of the local companies and employers that your organization collaborates with to build a bridge for future girl scientists, doctors, researchers, astronauts, engineers, architects and more?
A: We understand the importance of community and industry partnerships in building a bridge for future girl scientists, doctors, researchers, engineers, architects, and more. Girls Inc. of Orange County collaborates with several esteemed local companies and employers to support our mission. These partnerships include Allergan/AbbVie, Ingram Micro, CHOC, Edwards Life Sciences, UCI Public Health, Taco Bell‘s engineering and finance departments, the Orange County Department of Education’s IT department, Boeing, Anaheim Public Utilities, and Thermal Vac. Through these collaborations, we provide girls with insights into various STEM careers, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to engage with professionals who are making a difference in their fields. These partnerships are crucial in showing girls the diverse opportunities available to them and inspiring them to pursue their dreams in STEM.
Q: How does your organization give girls the confidence to succeed in math and science?
A: Building confidence in math and science is at the core of our STEM programming at Girls Inc. of Orange County. We promote a strong STEM identity by acknowledging and celebrating when girls apply STEM practices such as problem-solving and critical thinking. Our programs are designed to make girls feel like active participants in their learning process, encouraging them to embrace challenges and persevere. We teach valuable data analysis, research, and advocacy skills, which further build confidence by demonstrating practical applications of their learning. By equipping girls with these skills and creating an environment where they feel supported and capable, we empower them to succeed in math, science, and beyond. Our commitment to continuous exposure from elementary through college and career ensures that girls build and maintain their confidence in STEM subjects throughout their formative years.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do what you do?
A: The 10,000+ girls we serve annually inspire us. Our participants are curious to learn and eager to bring positive change to their community. We’ve witnessed third graders negotiate to sell their business products with “sharks” in front of an audience of 300 people. We’ve prepared girls to speak publicly in forums such as the Santa Ana City Council meeting or the State Attendance Review Board meetings advocating for program and mental health accommodations, respectively. Our girls are simply amazing, and they inspire our continuous improvement.
Q: What is your organization planning to do in the future in its continuing mission to introduce and prepare girls to pursue careers in science?
A: We will continue to expand our reach by collaborating with youth-serving organizations, including Imagine Science Orange County (ISOC) which consists of Girls Inc. of Orange County, Orange County 4H, Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove, and Boys and Girls Club of Huntington Valley. ISOC develops comprehensive curriculum for high-quality out-of-school-time STEM programs and provides extensive training for educators to deepen their STEM knowledge and build a strong STEM identity.
As we expand our programming, we will focus on key skills and practices such as coding, design thinking, sustainable practices, and data science. These skills are critical for preparing girls for diverse career opportunities in an evolving technological and professional landscape.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: Girls Inc. of Orange County is making a difference in our community in many ways. Our educational programs, emphasis on leadership development, and focus on college and career readiness are preparing the next generation of leaders for the workforce and beyond. More than this, though, Girls Inc. of Orange County is one of the only spaces in our community that is explicitly made for girls, providing a safe and supportive environment where they can express themselves, build friendships, and explore their interests without fear of judgment or discrimination. In a pro-girl environment, girls’ strengths and opportunities are celebrated, and girls develop positive relationships with girl peers and women mentors. While girls may lack opportunities for leadership development in mixed-gender environments, in girls-only spaces, all leadership positions within the organization are filled by girls. At Girls Inc., girls are taken seriously for the people they are now and the women they will become.
Q: What is your organization’s favorite part about doing this kind of work in Orange County?
A: Engaging with the community. We’ve had the privilege of being part of some girls’ lives from kindergarten through college. When girls stay with us for any amount of time, we learn about their lives and often meet their caregivers through our community outreach. It is always gratifying to hear how one program or a summer experience transformed a girl’s life and what she believes is possible for herself.
Girl Scouts of Orange County
Q: With Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers being mostly male-dominated, girls have fewer role models to look up to for inspiration. What is your organization doing to encourage, influence, and inspire college-bound female students to study STEM majors and eventually enter the STEM workforce?
A: Girl Scouts of Orange County (GSOC) is all about setting girls up for success in life. We offer an all-girl environment that provides a safe space for them to create, innovate, grow, and develop life-long passions—a significant part of that includes introducing girls to the incredible skills and limitless opportunities STEM offers. Every year, GSOC hosts approximately 45 exciting and engaging programs inspiring Girl Scouts to learn more about STEM through dynamic hands-on projects and by providing access to strong female role models. Some of those hands-on projects have included launching rockets, designing and building racecars, exploring 3D printing, and even getting to learn the cool science behind “dry ice” and how ice cream is made. Last year alone, we reached more than 8,000 Girl Scouts and community members.
Our dedicated STEM Manager collaborates with GSOC’s STEM Patrol, a group of 30 volunteers, featuring talented women from leading companies like Boeing, Medtronic, and Amazon, who generously donate their time and expertise to support and develop GSOC’s STEM programming.
Workforce development is also a key focus and, in addition to our inspiring signature “Dreams to Reality Career Exploration” event, GSOC held a STEM Career Exploration Event last Fall focusing on influential conversation, valuable insights, and mentorship between Girl Scouts and women succeeding in the STEM space—including an aerospace engineer from Northrop Grumman, a digital cartoon animator, and a plasma physicist working on clean energy systems.
Q: How do you help girls develop the skills they will need to succeed, while still making it fun?
A: Fun is embedded in our organization’s DNA. Because Girl Scouts of Orange County serves more than 15,000 girls from pre-K to 12th grade, we understand the critical importance of blending STEM skill development with fun, so we design the programs to align with the girls’ interests, grade levels, and boundless creativity.
Examples include teaching practical skills. We hosted a soldering workshop where the girls engineered printed circuit boards with some fun twists; the circuit boards not only lit up, but they were shaped like cats. At one of our welding workshops, girls welded metal flowers and then spray-painted them giving them some personal flair. Similarly, when introducing automotive engineering to second and third grade Brownies, they built functional race cars from our colorful Girl Scout cookie boxes, decorated their creations with stickers and glitter, and then raced them to learn what worked and didn’t work so they could refine them to go even faster. By incorporating activities that resonate with their passions and allowing them to express their personalities, we ensure that learning is both enjoyable and effective.
Q: Does your organization offer hands-on experience in order for students to explore various fields, and help them narrow down what they want to do?
A: To empower our Girl Scouts, the bulk of our STEM-related offerings focus on hands-on experiences across various fields including robotics, engineering, and creative technology so girls can explore their interests and narrow down possible career aspirations. One of our favorites is our annual STEM Expo, which features 35 interactive booths offering engaging activities galore and is attended by hundreds of girls each year.
Also, our STEM Manager prioritizes working with and training troop leaders to connect the girls with relevant STEM careers. Some examples are a Girl Scout who loves art might want to explore animation, while a girl passionate about animals might delve into veterinary sciences. Through exploration, Girl Scouts can decide what career path resonates with them.
In addition to our hands-on programs, Girl Scouts of Orange County also offers Girl Scouts of all ages access to an online resource called The Inspire Program which helps them discover what excites them most. The Inspire Program features in-depth videos of incredible women detailing their diverse STEM careers from a Naval Aviator to a Cardiothoracic Surgeon to a Marine Biologist and many more. After a Girl Scout learns about the various STEM professions of her choice, she can take career exploration to another level by diving even further and completing related career activities that we call “Take Action” projects.
Q: Who are some of the local companies and employers that your organization collaborates with to build a bridge for future girl scientists, doctors, researchers, astronauts, engineers, architects and more?
A: As a nonprofit, Girl Scouts of Orange County relies on and values its many community partners who provide funding and opportunities for program development. The following businesses recognize the importance and power of STEM for the future success of Girl Scouts and are members of GSOC’s STEM Consortium: Broadcom Foundation, Blank Rome, LLP, Capitol Group, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Municipal Water District of Orange County, Parker Aerospace, Samuel P. Adams Trust and Western Digital. GSOC also collaborates with Boeing and Northrop Grumman. In addition, GSOC has an invaluable partnership with the Society of Women Engineers – Orange County that further strengthens our commitment to connecting Girl Scouts with accomplished female STEM professionals.
Q: How does your organization give girls the confidence to succeed in math and science?
A: Girl Scouts builds confidence in math and science in various ways. We prioritize achievement and growth over competition, creating a safe space that empowers girls to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and explore new opportunities without fear of failure. Case in point, a fourth grader recently took a computer science workshop where she developed her own online video game, something she had never done before. Her parents reached out to GSOC to let us know their daughter is now “begging to do more and try more.” That’s just one of countless GSOC STEM success stories.
Because representation matters, we also build confidence by introducing the girls to inspiring role models—in person or through our virtual Inspire Program. By connecting girls with professionals in STEM fields, we help them see the real-world applications of their studies and the possibilities for their futures. In addition to our supportive all-girl community, GSOC provides life skills programming that helps girls develop self-confidence, self-esteem, a positive body image, and find their true authentic selves.
Q: Who or what inspires your organization to do what you do?
A: Girl Scouts of Orange County is inspired by our founder and trailblazer, Juliette Gordon Low. Low’s visionary spirit founded a movement to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Every day we are further profoundly inspired by the tenacity and creativity of our Girl Scouts. Their natural curiosity and enthusiasm drive our continuous development of innovative STEM programming. A kindergarten Girl Scout was asked, “If you were in charge of STEM, what would you do?” and she said, “We would fly to space.” Our Girl Scouts dream big and we are here to encourage them to keep reaching for the stars and to stay imaginative. While GSOC’s STEM program might not send Girl Scouts to space just yet, we remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries and creating exciting opportunities that bring us closer to those dreams.
Q: What is your organization planning to do in the future in its continuing mission to introduce and prepare girls to pursue careers in science?
A: STEM is constantly evolving. Changing. Every day. And GSOC is at the forefront of the change, providing new and innovative opportunities for Girl Scouts. We’re thrilled about our upcoming initiative to launch a Makerspace at our Argyros Girl Scout Leadership Center in Newport Beach, CA. Opening in October 2024, this Makerspace will be equipped with tools for STEM exploration, design, and creativity, allowing Girl Scouts to engage in hands-on activities like digital design, 3D printing, and engineering. By developing essential skills that employers are looking for including the ability to adapt, innovation, and even sustainability, Girl Scouts are equipped with 21st-century skills that will help prepare them for STEM careers and beyond.
GSOC wants to do more than introduce and prepare girls to pursue STEM careers. We are also committed to developing programs that build metacognition and resilience. Through conversations with women in STEM careers in Orange County, we’ve learned that while attracting women to STEM fields can be challenging, retaining them is even more so. This insight shapes the development of our programs. We aim to empower our girls to feel confident in their abilities and to persevere in the face of challenges, ensuring they are well-prepared to succeed and thrive in their future STEM careers.
Q: How is your organization making a difference in Orange County?
A: Through specialized programs, workshops, and mentorship, Girl Scouts of Orange County introduces girls to STEM fields, helps them develop critical skills, and fosters a passion for innovation. By focusing on real-world applications and creating a nurturing space for learning, we empower girls to build confidence, pursue STEM careers, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Studies show that girls who participate in STEM programs at an early age become more interested in STEM and STEM-related careers. GSOC proudly serves as a workforce development pipeline.
Q: What is your organization’s favorite part about doing this kind of work in Orange County?
A: Our favorite part about working in Orange County is the vibrant and diverse landscape of technology, medical, and science fields—right in our own backyard. With some of the top employers in the area being Providence, Kaiser, Edwards Lifesciences, Bank of America, and Boeing, we have access to an incredible network of professionals who are deeply invested in supporting STEM programming.
We are fortunate to collaborate with many inspiring women who contribute their expertise and enthusiasm to our Girl Scout community. Orange County’s robust array of career opportunities and activities for women enriches our programs and provides a wealth of possibilities for the girls we serve. This dynamic environment not only enhances our STEM initiatives but also helps us connect our Girl Scouts with real-world role models and experiences.
