Inspiring Girls USA Launches New Financial Program for Young Women

Inspiring Girls USA is proud to announce it is further accelerating its support of young girls across the United States by hosting a new financial program for young women ages 16-19. In partnership with BlackRock, a leading global asset manager, Inspiring Girls USA has created a seminar aimed at increasing girls' knowledge of personal finance and investing.

The seminars will also provide a unique opportunity for the young women to learn about career paths in the finance industry and to meet women role models who have already achieved success in the field. These women will share their professional backgrounds and offer career advice. Research consistently shows that gender stereotypes play a huge role in negatively impacting girls, limiting their potential in various areas. This is exemplified by "The Global Gender Gap Report" produced by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2021, which highlights the underrepresentation of women in certain industries and roles due to societal perceptions about gender and work. In the finance industry specifically, McKinsey & Company's "Women in the Workplace" report (2020) reveals a stark gender gap, with only one in four C-suite leaders being women and only one in 20 being women of color. These statistics underscore the urgent need to address gender biases and promote diversity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace.

Inspiring Girls USA is committed to combating this bias by providing easy access to online and in-person activities and resources with women role models. These sessions are designed to broaden girls’ minds, reduce stereotypes, and increase their expectations of future success.

“Cultivating financial literacy skills early on is essential for young women who aspire to make an impact in the finance industry and beyond. Inspiring Girls USA’s partnership with BlackRock provides a unique opportunity for girls to gain valuable knowledge and insights about the industry, while also developing skills for financial independence. By empowering the next generation of women leaders in finance, we are working towards a more diverse and inclusive industry that reflects the needs and values of our society." - Erin Brown, Executive Director of Inspiring Girls USA

“At BlackRock we are committed to helping more and more people experience financial well-being. Our Financial Inclusion Network helps to bring a targeted focus on economic mobility and financial inclusion in our supporting communities and we are extremely pleased to partner with Inspiring Girls on furthering these goals.” – Anne Ackerley, Head of BlackRock's Retirement Group and member of the Financial Inclusion Team Executive Committee at BlackRock