GLAM Equips Tomorrow's Female Leaders in Partnership with eBay Seattle

Girls aged 8-12 participate from 12 cities in three countries

CAMPBELL, Calif., Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Girls Leadership Academy Meetup (GLAM) announced today the success of the online leadership camp delivered on October 26-27 in partnership with eBay's Seattle, Washington office.

The Silicon Valley-based nonprofit delivered the program online to 37 girls aged 8-12, located in 12 cities in three countries. The award-winning curriculum includes interactive activities that teach the girls about business acumen, leadership skills, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), fields that are traditionally plagued with a gender gap.

eBay Seattle was the premier sponsor of this event, while iTalent Digital, GLAM's founding sponsor, participated as supporting sponsor.

Significantly, 34% of the attendees reported having little to no coding experience before this GLAM program. After the event, the majority said they were interested in continuing to code.

"eBay has been a valued sponsor of GLAM for several years and we are delighted to have had this opportunity to partner with their Seattle office for the first time," said Cecilia Landeros, Director of Operations at GLAM. "Corporate sponsors enable life-changing experiences for the next generation of women leaders by leading sessions, serving as role models, volunteering, mentoring, judging business pitches, and contributing financial support."

The girls learned how to create business plans and submitted recorded business pitches to a professional panel of judges for their final project. The girls who submitted first-, second-, and third-place business pitches received e-gift cards in recognition of their high scores. The other girls who submitted business plans also got e-gift cards as honorable mentions. The top business pitches can be viewed on GLAM's YouTube channel.

Plenary and break-out session leaders

• Renée La Londe, CEO and Founder of iTalent Digital and GLAM
• Xiaodi Zhang, VP of Seller Experience at eBay
• Inna Kirkilevich, Director of Software Development at eBay
• Michelle Warvel, VP of Product for Seller Experience at eBay
• Ilina Singh, CEO and Founder of Ilina's Art Throb and HarperCollins Author
• Julie Cheng, Sr Director of Advertising Engineering at eBay
• Rucha Patel, Architect Lead 2 at eBay
• Saniya Pazhyannur, Operations Intern at GLAM
• Chelsey Baker, CEO and Founder of National Mentoring Day
• Stephanie Luna-Lopez, Operations Specialist at GLAM

For a complete list of judges, session leaders and volunteers, visit GLAM's blog.

The unique GLAM curriculum teaches both hard and soft skills that have been identified as necessary for helping to reduce gender bias, bridge the gender gap, and build self-confidence to pursue STEAM careers, senior leadership, and entrepreneurship. The program is always offered free of charge so girls from all socioeconomic backgrounds and diverse cultural communities can participate.

GLAM's STEAM education and leadership program explores basic computer coding skills, encourages creativity and goal setting through vision boarding, provides leadership and teamwork experiences through business planning, and provides professional mentoring and training in public speaking and business pitching. Inspirational female role models and women leaders serve as volunteers and presenters.

After completing the program, eight-year-old Radha said, "This program is awesome! I loved the coding workshop and training to have a leader and entrepreneur mindset."

About GLAM
Girls Leadership Academy Meetup (GLAM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2016 by iTalent Digital CEO and Founder Renée La Londe from a desire to give equitable opportunities to girls and young women from all socioeconomic circumstances worldwide. More than 1,200 girls and 60 mentors from 23 countries have been empowered through GLAM's in-person and online events.

To engage with GLAM, explore our website, watch GLAMtv, read our blog posts, sponsor or donate to future events, follow @GLAMReadyToLead on social media, or email [email protected].

Contact: Cecilia Landeros, +1-408-496-6200, [email protected]

SOURCE Girls Leadership Academy Meetup (GLAM)