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October 5, 2002
Girls Going Places/An Income of Her Own Entrepreneurship Conference to be held in CT on October 16th
Saturday, October 5, 2002
Connecticut Post
Financial planning for girls offered
By STEPHANIA H. DAVIS
The Girls Going Places/An Income of Her Own Entrepreneurship Conference is more than just a day off from school for area girls ages 12 to 16.
Many will leave with ideas for their own businesses or perhaps a decision on a major at college. But all will certainly depart with one message: the financial future doesn't take care of itself.
"Unfortunately, many women are passing their financial insecurities on to their daughters and nieces," said Lee Ann Youngquist, director of the program. "Not only do studies show that girls tend to spend more than their male counterparts, but they are also less likely to invest as well. Through the program, we hope to encourage young girls to become financially independent adults."
The conference, to be held Oct. 16 in Alumni Hall at Quinnipiac University, is part of a larger program of the Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America called the Women's Initiative. The Initiative includes programs to guide women to financial expertise. Four years ago a national competitive scholarship program for 12- to 16-year-old girls was instituted.
"But it wasn't enough," said Youngquist, who works out of the New Haven office of Guardian Life. "We wanted a platform to deliver the message that women need to take control of their own financial futures."
During the free conference, girls will be paired with one of the 50 or so area businesswomen who have volunteered to participate. A board game called "Hot Company" will introduce participants to the history, vocabulary and ethics of business ownership. There will also be seminars on business fundamentals such as business plans and financing. And girls will get a chance to develop ideas for their own company or product.
"I believe you can teach entrepreneurship to anyone at any age," said Matt Smith, executive director of the Quinnipiac University Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Institute. He encouraged the program, which has been held in other parts of the country but never in the Northeast, to come to Connecticut. "This is our chance to prove it."
To register for the program or for more information guidance counselors or other school officials should call Lee Ann Youngquist at 203-787-1008 or visit www.girlsgoingplaces.com. | 
