How does the ‘Academy’ work?

Below are the steps a student will go through:

1 - Reserve a place – students fill in a short form and complete checkout with or without provided scholarship code to reserve their place

2 - Introduction - Students recieve class information 2 weeks prior to the session start date

3 - Attend Classes Online – Students meet for a live, engaging online class led by their coach

4 - Updates - Students and Parents are updated with course status throughout the 5 or 10-weeks of live classes

5 - Graduation - Students and their guests are invited to join a graduation event, live-online. Students are emailed digital certificates of completion.

Watch our Academy in Action to learn more. 

What equipment is needed for the Academy?

• A computer with internet access, smart device / Ipad to join the weekly live classes via video conference

• A computer with internet access to be able to complete the weekly assignments

• Webcam on the computer is preferable but not absolutely necessary

• A quiet place to attend class each week

How big are Academy classes?

• 30 girls max. This allows us to have an engaging class with a powerful back-and-forth exchange

Who are your instructors What qualifications?

They are:

• Professionals experienced in entrepreneurship and business

• Hold an MBA and/or other related degrees

• Excited and committed to help girls succeed

Is there additional mentoring? What if girls have questions outside of the live classes?

Outside of the live classes, and during the orientation phase, girls have plenty of additional coaching and mentoring.

• Girls may email, text or contact our coaches through our learning platform any time if they have questions or issues with assignments.

• In addition to this, there are opportunities for 1:1 mentoring sessions with coaches.

• Assignments are reviewed weekly and feedback given to each student.

Who developed the program?

The program’s development was led by team of experts from Harvard Busieness School's Career Center, GWI's CEO -- who has taught business and entrepreneurship at New York University and to groups at Fortune 500 companies, GWI's Chief Learning Officer Susan Fleming, and a 30-year guidance expert, Linda Woods.

Who are the programs for?

Our programs are for girls, young women, and gender expansive youth ages 14-24 • Students from anywhere in the world may join our program, although class times are based on eastern time zones in the USA.

How long is the academy program?

The live, online academy program consists of 9 live classes.

Our summer live, online academy is 5 weeks

Are there class standards for behavior?

Yes, standards are:

• Respect for others – listen without interruption and respond to communications within a 24-hour time period

• Attendance – Attend class on time and at the specified times

• No distractions — No eating or texting during class

What happens if I miss a class?

Students must either attend, or watch the pre-recorded modules, for ALL classes. The program is structured so that each class builds on the next and missing a class would result in key components of the program being missed.

We provide students with bite-sized pre-recorded modules of each session within their Google Classroom course shell. If they have missed a class or expect to miss a class they can keep up with session by watching these modules.

If a student is not going to be present for a live class, please inform your coach in advance.

What does the program cover? What do the young women learn?

Our program is referred to a “mini-MBA” because we educate girls on many concepts learned in a true MBA program. Our program also includes many personal development learnings.

To view our curriculum overview, go here.

What’s the time commitment?

• We say 2 hours a week for a lifetime of success.

• Classes are 50-60 minutes each.

• Weekly exercises or “BringBacks” to move your project forward take about 1 hour.

• The entire program, including a 1-week orientation up front, is 10 weeks. Live classes are weekly for 8 weeks.

• Note – summer program is 5 weeks total (2 classes/week for 4 weeks, 4 hours/week commitment).

What is your teaching philosophy?

We say 2 hours a week for a lifetime of success. Classes are 50-60 minutes each.

Weekly exercises or “BringBacks” to move your project forward take about 1 hour.

The entire program is 10 weeks. Live classes are weekly for 9 weeks.

Note – summer program is 5 weeks total (2 classes/week for 5 weeks, 4 hours/week commitment).

Do you charge tuition?

Yes. Just as with the YWCA, swimming or other programs, it helps cover our professional coaches, technology, platform, curriculum, start-up kits and more.

Tuition fees are on a sliding scale, up to $995, based on financial need. This equates to about $30 per hour for the orientation, 8-week Academy, mentoring and review and in-person graduation. All course materials are included in this fee.

This program is worth substantially more for the education, network and business/venture development as well as the increased likelihood of scholarships and job earnings. Our program has been valued at $2,000.

Are tuition fees refundable?

Tuition fees are refundable (or transferable to a later program) up to 3 weeks before the start of the orientation phase of the program.

Within 3 weeks of the start of the program tuition fees may only be transferred to a later program and cannot be refunded.

Fee transfers to another Girls With Impact academy program may only be conducted one time.

Do you offer payment plans for tuition fees?

Yes, if payment of the tuition fee in one sum is challenging we can offer a 3 month payment plan.

Please contact us for details, programs@girlswithimpact.com.

Do you offer financial aid to international students?

International students may request financial aid but a needs-based award is not guaranteed.

Do you offer financial aid?

Financial aid is offered to students in the USA from low-moderate income households.

If you meet our financial aid requirements you will be awarded a funded / part funded place.

Please see here for our financial aid process.

Please indicate your need for financial aid by emailing ops@girlswithimpact.com.

What about school partner places?

If you have been awarded a fully-funded place through one of our school partners, your program fees will be covered by our corporate partners.

See here for a list of our school partners.

What documents will I have to provide as part of the financial aid application?

You will be informed if you qualify for financial aid based on your application.

What is the application fee?

The $20 application fee is payable by all students who require financial assistance for the program.

Why was Girls With Impact created?

• Our CEO and Harvard Business School professor Lynda Applegate recognized a gap in business among teen girls.

• Ms. Openshaw, as chief marketing officer for and co-author of Mercer’s global When Women Thrive research platform, was part of the global conversation about bringing more women into the workplace.  But she felt that to create a real pipeline of young women and to truly change the trajectory of women in the workplace, we need to start with this generation: teen girls.

Are you a for profit or nonprofit?

• Girls With Impact is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization with tax ID: 831742762

• Donations to Girls With Impact are tax deductible. Tuition fees are not tax deductible

Where can I find your privacy policy

Please click here to see our privacy policy.

I have a question not addressed here – what can I do?

Please email us at support@girlswithimpact.com. We’ll get right back.