There are many ways adults can help, including:

• Familiarizing young girls with the role of CEO

• Introducing her to the story series we’ve created for girls ages 9 through 12

• Utilizing our conversation guides to discuss each story after she’s read it

• Becoming familiar with the 17 traits that are associated with CEO success

• Scanning for evidence of budding development of traits and providing positive reinforcement

• Setting the tone that development is important and fun

STORIES & CONVERSATION GUIDES

Our series of stories feature fictional female characters in high school who are developing and exhibiting the 17 traits associated with CEO success. These stories are an engaging and fun way to explore the traits. They can be read alone, in groups, and/or with an adult.

Each story includes a customized conversation guide designed to foster developmental conversations between the reader and the adult in her life. Ideally, after a young girl reads each story, an adult will take time to have a discussion with her utilizing the conversation guide. These conversations will help young girls apply the themes from the specific story to her own life and to investigate what the trait is, how it might look in her own life and how to continue to nurture and develop this trait.

TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH CEO SUCCESS

We’ve identified 17 traits that are linked to CEO success. These traits are the “bullseye” for development — whether you are 9, 19, or 29 years old — and we have identified what the traits might look like in young girls. We believe young girls are in the best position to develop the traits early on because they are usually incredibly willing to invest in the process.

A MENTORING MINDSET

Research shows that a mentoring mindset is the best way to encourage positive development in young girls. A mentoring mindset includes:

• Being curious and open-minded

• Scanning for evidence of success and progress

• Naming the positive behaviors and mindsets that young girls exhibit

• Catching yourself before you project your own experiences on a girl

• Encouraging self-reflection at every turn

• Asking questions rather than telling

• Keeping things positive

BUDDING SIGNS OF THE TRAITS

Understanding how these traits show up in a “budding form” is not easy. A trait that might irritate a parent (e.g., your daughter speaking the honest truth at all times even when it’s possibly inappropriate) might be the seed of a powerful CEO trait. As an adult guiding a girl, you will want to be careful not to extinguish the positive behavior while coaching about the nuanced challenging behavior (e.g., that was very insightful and maybe it’s best not to tell Aunt Judy just how much she complains and how tired we are of hearing her do it).

BECOME A POSITIVE DETECTIVE

You will want to become adept at scanning for any and all signs of progress and development of the early seeds of CEO traits. This means focusing entirely on what you see that is positive and worth celebrating. Mistakes are often driven by good intentions. Speak to the intention rather than the outcome. Always associate ABC to CEO with victories, curiosity and fun.

PERSONALITY STYLE MATTERS

Tailor the search for and development of traits to the specific child and her personality. For example, confidence may look one way in a very outgoing child and another in a more reserved child. Many people mistakenly judge the situation. They might assume the more outgoing child is more confident. In fact, the quiet child might be comfortable with her decisions, need less reinforcement from the outside world and could be growing into an incredibly confident young woman. Our judgment can be inaccurate, but nuanced observation and appraisal are more productive.

SETTING THE APPROPRIATE TONE

When developing young girls, setting a tone of play, curiosity, and fun is essential. This is not “serious,” although it is important work. Sparking a young girl’s desire to embark on the adventure of developing the 17 traits may set her on course for a lifetime of leadership. Bringing any judgment, even unspoken, will undermine all of your best efforts.

REFLECT ON YOUR OWN INSECURITIES & JUDGMENTS

Consider yourself with humility. Where might you unintentionally undermine a young girl’s ability to bloom and grow? We can be our own (and our children’s) harshest critics. Also, many of us have been raised in cultures that do not support girls developing some of the traits associated with successful CEOs. This work may challenge you and some of your perspectives. As such, this can be a great learning experience for everyone involved.