In business, picking the right name for your product is important. Sounds like the Junior League of Lancaster has got that figured out.
In 2010, JLL started a High School Girls Business Plan Competition. Great program – designed to promote business knowledge for girls, giving them a foundation for success as they pursue careers beyond high school – but kind of a clunky name. Enter Girls in Business, the program’s new name. Says Kirsty Houck, Girls in Business Assistant Chair: “We are excited about our new name because we feel that it accurately describes our mission in a more succinct manner. In addition to a new name we have a brand new logo that we absolutely love.”
And what a program it is! The competition is open to all girls in Lancaster County in grades 9-12 (including home-schoolers) and it requires the girls to create and design an original business plan. The competition is a starting point for students to share ideas, gain exposure to business development, and build confidence in communication skills. The top 10 finalists will be asked to present their business plan to a panel of judges in hopes of winning $1000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, and $250 for 3rd place. The award money is to be used for future academic pursuits or funding to start their business.
Another new feature to be introduced this year involves pairing each finalist with a mentor who has relevant business experience. The mentor will be a member of the Junior League who is business savvy and has real world experience to share with the participants. In addition to being advocates for the competitors, the mentors will meet with the finalists to help critique their presentation and help prepare them for the question and answer portion of the competition.
Truly a win-win situation for all the participants!