Malden, MA (July 20, 2021) – Over the 2021 academic year, Malden Catholic partnered with Girls With Impact to provide a live, online “mini-MBA” entrepreneurship and leadership training program for Grades 10 and 11 students in the Girls Division.    

During the 2021 spring semester, students participated in a unique 10-week entrepreneurship academy designed specifically for young women with experts from Harvard University. The students were trained in the areas of business, problem solving, design, marketing, public speaking and financial literacy. Each student created an original concept and moved through the process of developing a business plan and venture pitch under the guidance of MBA coaches from around the world.

Students prepared and presented pitch presentations for their new ventures, which varied from passion projects to nonprofits and business services. Coaches evaluated each project, and the pitches were shared with parents and school administrators as well. The ventures ranged from a confidence-boosting app for teens to an allergy app called “Easier Eats” and included charity fundraising promotional items such as custom journals made from recycled paper called “Upcycled Journals” and customized phone cases entitled, “Case with a Cause.” 

Ashley Reardon ’23, from Saugus showcased her project, “Spirit Ring,” which is a product that alerts wearers if a drink is tampered with. “The Girls With Impact program helped me conceptualize a stylish, affordable product and build a solid plan that can turn my passion for helping others into a reality,” stated Reardon. “The guidance we received from our coaches was invaluable and I cannot express how much this experience has meant to me.”

After completing the Girls With Impact training, Chi Vu ‘22, a MC student who lives in Vietnam, was able to launch a student-led mentoring and tutoring nonprofit business entitled “Intelligo Project.” “Intelligo is a student-led non-profit organization that helps grade K-12 students with free virtual tutoring and mentoring sessions in the subjects of English, Math and World History provided by MC students along with students in Vietnam.” According to Vu, “I created Intelligo to help combat education inequality and we now have easily accessible resources for students everywhere.”  

According to Jennifer Openshaw, CEO and Founder of Girls With Impact, “It is time to offer students an opportunity to lead from the top and feel confident about creating a business or being the next CEO of a corporation. Girls With Impact gives them the platform to drive that change and, in the process, build critical work readiness skills, a way to differentiate themselves for college or career, and a path to becoming a CEO,” she noted.

Rose Maria Redman, Principal of MC added, “Malden Catholic curriculum is designed to improve individual growth mindset, leadership principles and success outcomes for all of our students. We are delighted to have provided a foundational program such as Girls With Impact that teaches leadership and entrepreneurial skills and creates invaluable real-world experiences for MC students.”   

After graduation from the course, students received a certificate of completion and were invited to join the Girls With Impact Boardroom program where students are paired with mentors who assist with venture commercialization. As part of the Girls With Impact Boardroom, students will also network with their peers from around the country.

To learn more about Girls With Impact, visit https:///www.girlswithimpact.org.

ABOUT MALDEN CATHOLIC

Since 1932, Malden Catholic High School has shaped emerging leaders in our community, claiming a Nobel Laureate, a Senator, two ambassadors and countless community and business heads among its alumni. Annually, graduates attend some of the nation’s most renown universities including Harvard, Georgetown, Brown, Cornell, Tufts, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Amherst College. Foundational to student success is Malden Catholic's codivisional model which offers the best of both worlds, single-gender academics during the day and integrated social and extracurricular opportunities after school. Malden Catholic is known in the community for its rigorous academics, SFX Scholars Program and award-winning STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with electives such as Robotics and Engineering Design. Malden Catholic curriculum is designed to improve individual growth mindset, leadership principles, success outcomes along with integrating the Xaverian values of trust, humility, compassion, simplicity and zeal. https://www.maldencatholic.org/

ABOUT GIRLS WITH IMPACT

Girls With Impact is the nation’s only live, online business and leadership program for young women. The innovative program, featured in The New York Times, is designed to train the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators. It has served young women in all 50 states and in 11 countries. More information is available at https://www.girlswithimpact.org or contact Sara Segall at sara.segall@girlswithimpact.com.