17 Things We Learned at the #STFSummit

The She's the First annual leadership summit (#STFsummit) was this past weekend at Microsoft in New York, NY. Panels, discussions, presentations, and networking events focused on effective advocacy, quality education, feminism and diversity, and more.

Speakers included Michelle Tan (Seventeen magazine), Jonathan Kalin (Party with Consent), Meighan Stone (Malala Fund), pictured below.

1. She's the First is sponsoring 529 scholars worldwide.

With the help of several campus chapters on college and high school campuses, along with sponsors, mentors, and partnerships, She's the First has expanded their network to help more girls finish their education.

2. That campus chapters are matched with scholars when they fundraise, so they know who they're helping.

She’s the First allows the campus chapters to stay connected with the scholar they are helping.

3. That She's the First commits to the scholars, sponsoring their education until they finish.

Instead of helping them for a year or two, She’s the First emphasizes a quality and complete education.

4. That "failure is the best thing that can happen to you" can be a good presentation opener.

Jen Glantz of Bridesmaid for Hire opened her workshop with this advice, and by the end of it had the audience convinced it was a good idea to completely rethink their approach to fundraisers, careers, or recruitment. Likewise, failure can effectively help you out of your comfort zone, which could help you in the end after all.

5. Elevator pitches.

Whether you’re at a networking event or a job interview, elevator pitches are both important and nerve-racking. The summit allowed the campus reps to practice their pitch with the other attendees, but also had speakers and presenters give examples.

6. The meaning & importance of quality education.

A panel discussion brought up new perspectives on quality education, addressing questions like “What is a good education? How can we help students prepare for their future? What do we need outside of the class curriculum to help them succeed?”

7. That "I don't know" can and should be "I don't know yet." – Hannah Brencher, More Love Letters

8. That feminism is not a bad word.

“Feminism” usually gets a bad rep, but the speakers in the panel about diversity in feminism made it sound like a good idea. Essentially, feminism means equality- or in simpler terms, being able to express yourself as you’d like, without judgement. The panelists (pictured) included Michelle Tan, editor in chief of Seventeen, Renee Joslyn from Clinton Global Initiative, and Jonathan Kalin, founder of Party with Consent.

9. How to break the box.

Boxes being the stereotype or category somebody else puts you in. In other words, how to do your own thing without worrying about everyone else. "If you happen to fit in somebody else’s box, that’s convenient… You do you" -Michelle Tan, Seventeen Magazine

10. That Malala's documentary premieres soon.

The release date is October 2, 2015.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cug1-eTOVSk)

11. "If you educate a woman, you educate a nation" - John Wanda, Arlington Academy of Hope, Uganda

In addition to American panelists, the summit included speakers from the partnering schools. Arlington Academy of Hope encourages girls education, as it was founded with a requirement of 50% girls enrollment.

12. "We don't know what it looks like to have a whole generation of educated women" -Maggie Doyne, CEO of Blinknow Foundation

13. "In 15 years they're going to be the ones that solving the problems" –Maria Rose Glater, executive director of AfricaAid

By allowing them to be education, we can help the girls learn how to help their communities.

14. That a good question during a job interview could be "what do you do for lunch."

When finding a new job, sometimes it’s difficult to know what it would be like to work there day to day. By asking this, you can see if they eat together or everyone eats in their own office, for example.

15. That She's the First works for empowerment as well as education.

In addition to sending the girls to school, She’s the First works to empower them to help their communities. Likewise, we recognize that everyone faces their own challenges, and that everybody has the potential to do great things.

16. The importance of ethical storytelling, and how it fits in to She's the First.

The golden rule being “if you would say it with her right next to her, go ahead!” –Christen Brandt, co-founder and director of international operations, She’s the First

17. How to get inspired for a semester of fun & fundraising!

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