May 15, 2025 • 24 mins
Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, sits down with Kate, proud Girl Scouts’ alumni, to have an inspiring conversation about how Girl Scouts instill lifelong lessons, as well as empower young women to lead, dream, and thrive. From nostalgic memories of earning badges to Bonnie’s bold vision for an inclusive future, this episode uncovers how Girl Scouts create transformative moments that ignite girls’ potential — no matter their background or starting point. We dive into Bonnie’s personal journey, from her teaching roots to leading a global movement, and hear Kate reflect on how Girl Scouts sparked her own path. Together, they explore the power of mentorship, diversity and life-changing programs like cookie sales and scholarships. Join us to discover why every girl gets to shine — and how you can be part of their story!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hi, guys, Welcome back to Post Run High. A few
weeks ago, I got to go on a run and
sit down afterwards with Bonnie Barzakowski. She is the CEO
of Girl Scouts of the USA, and I was so
excited for this one because Girl Scouts was a big
part of my childhood. I grew up in Glenark, New Jersey,
which is one of those tiny towns where everybody knows everybody,
and I went to a Catholic grammar school with the
(00:25):
same forty kids from kindergarten through eighth grade, and for
a large chunk of those grammar school years, all of
the girls in my grade were part of Girl Scouts
and my mom was actually one of our volunteer troop leaders,
which made it even more special for me because I
got to see my mom become a role model not
just for me, but for the other girls around me
(00:46):
and guys, we could do a whole episode on my
mom or with my mom, but just to give you
a little bit of context, my mom worked for a
nonprofit called Healing the Children for most of my life,
and she also coached lacrosse in town, and she actually
coached the high school girls lacrosse team when I was
growing up, not when I was in high school, but
when I was little. So acts of service, especially for
(01:06):
young women, have always been something that she cared deeply
about and that I grew up around. And I think
that's what made Girl Scouts feel so important to me.
It was another space where I saw women leading, giving back,
creating community. And I'm guessing, if you guys are listening
to this, maybe you had something like that too. Maybe
it was Girl Scouts, maybe it was a sports team,
(01:28):
or a youth group or a club, or even just
a group of strong women in your life who modeled
those values. Whatever it looked like, I think we can
all remember how formative those kind of environments can be
and how it really teaches you values that stay with
you for your whole life. So when I got the
opportunity to sit down with Bonnie, who started as a
volunteer troop leader like my mom and now leads the
(01:48):
entire national organization, it really felt full circle. Bonnie and
I talked about mentorship, confidence, and the importance of showing
up for the next generation. It's a short conversation today,
but I really hope it reminds you of the people
who helped shape you and maybe even inspires you to
be that person for somebody else. So here is my
conversation with Bonnie. I hope you guys love it. Let's
(02:10):
get into it. What is up? Welcome back to a
post run high. I'm here with Bonnie today. Bonnie is
the CEO of Girl Scouts. We just got back from
a one and a half ish mile run. How are
(02:32):
you feeling awesome? Yeah, Bonnie's a runner. You were a
pro out there. Everybody always gets nervous with their breath control,
like when they're on the run, but you were completely fine.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I'm used to running and talking at the same time.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So I found out during the run that Bonnie's a
twin and you and your twin sister love to run together.
So I'm sure those are really good, like YAP sessions,
you know, where you get good at kind of talking
and running.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
We text each other during the week and ago, I
hope we have a twenty miler this weekend because we
have a lot to catch up on.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Oh my god, it is so cute. I also said
to Bonnie while we were running that I am a
twin as well, as you guys know. I have a
twin brother, so I feel like I attract twins, like
I've had a lot of twins on the show. What
was it like growing up with an identical twin sister?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I always say it's a blessing to get your best
friend born with you. So it's been awesome. Yeah, we're
so identical though. Even my grandkids will be like, are
you my grandma?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
And she loves it.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Are you guys the youngest in your family?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
No, we have a sister that's eleven months older, and
then my twin sister and me, and then we had
two brothers.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So y'ad a big old family. And you're from Saint Louis.
What was it like growing up in Saint Louis?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
It was awesome growing up?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, So we lived in Saint Louis most of our lives.
My husband and I have been married thirty seven years.
So we lived in DC and in Charlotte, but we've
been back in Saint Louis Charlotte.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
North Carolina years. We're big fans of North Carolina. Here
any thoughts for you that came up on our run.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
You know, just hearing you say that your mom was
your troop leader, Like, I like just ended up with
a million questions because I think it's just so neat
for you go back and now ask your mom some
of those things, because the women who have given and
men have given so much to help girls have Girl
Scouting experience. So to me, I was I found myself
thinking about that.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
When I found out that I was having you on
the show. I was so excited because Girl Scouts was
such a big part of my life and also my
family's life when I was a young girl. And I
think Girl Scouts is such an incredible organization.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And I guarantee girls that were in your troops still
talk about, oh, your mom and the impact that she
had on their lives.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Absolutely, they absolutely do. And a lot of respect for
the Girl Scout troop leaders out there, because you know.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
I'm forever grateful. Yeah, yeah, folks like your mom.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Right, So let's talk about you though, and like how
you ended up getting into the Girl Scouts organization.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
And yeah, So I was running fitness centers for women,
which I loved. It was changing young women and women
of all ages their lives. And I was asked to
come on the local Girl Scout board and was so
interesting because they said to me, you know, we'd love
for you to join our board. You're passionate about women
and girls, and I'm like, I don't know anything about
Girl Scouts and I didn't I wasn't a Girl Scout myself.
And so they're like, you're exactly what we need do
(05:00):
We want people who know everything, and we want people
who really don't know anything. And so I joined the
board in twenty ten and hook line and Sinker, I've
been all in ever since. I just found myself constantly saying,
how did I not know that Girl Scouting did all
of this for girls across the country and around the world.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
People that don't know explain to us what girl Scouts is,
how early you can get involved, and kind of the
importance of Girl Scouts for young women and young girls.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So the piece that I tell people all the time,
there is no other organization that provides girls the variety
of experience that girl Scouting provides. So as young as
kindergarten girls can come in and think of the badges
that you earned when you were in Girl Scouts and
think of the variety that existed. So I often find
our older girls, whether they decide that they're going to
go into biomedical engineering, or they're going to go into coding,
(05:49):
or they're going to go into law. So many girls
tie back what they choose to do in life from
an experience they had in Girl Scouting, And I often
think that means without Girl Scouting, would they ever have
even known that existed. So the variety that we provide
so often when I say to folks that I'm with
Girl Scouts, they'll be like, Oh, I love Girl Scouts
the cookies, and the cookies are so much more than cookies.
(06:10):
They're the largest girl let entrepreneurship program in the world.
So to your point, the skills that you learn through
all of that, there's so much more cookies, crafts camp.
We've done that for one hundred and thirteen years. We
still do that, and we do so much more.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
How can you get your daughters involved in Girl Scouts?
Like where are the organizations? Like are they at every
school or is that something you guys are like working towards.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, so they can go onto girl Scouts dot Org
and actually plug in zip code and it'll show them
like the closest Girl Scouting for them. And I'm going
to answer the second party your question, which is that
what we are trying to do is get girl Scouting.
There's twenty five million girls kindergarten through twelfth grade in
the United States, and I want every girl to know
that they have the opportunity to be in Girl Scouting.
(07:03):
And so for caregivers, I'm like, please help us make
that possible, because the number one thing that stands in
the way is we need volunteers. We need people who
will do what your mom did back when you were young.
We need that today, right.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And it was amazing finding out also while we were
running that you started out post college as a teacher.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I do think thinking back to first grade, that's why
I love people get used to me saying a little
girl doesn't get to be five twice and so girl
Scouting starts at five in kindergartens. So yes, having been
a first grade teacher, I see the power of what
all happens in those young minds at that age. So
for me, girls can join Girl Scouts at any point
kindergarten through twelfth grade. But I so want our young
kindergarteners and first graders to get started in girl Scouting
(07:43):
because they don't ever get to go back and rewind
that time in their life.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Again, No, it's so true. I mean I have so
many friends that I wouldn't have made if it weren't
for Girl Scouts and like, you know, my mom being involved,
and like as you said, like there are so many
girls that like credit that time to her and just
it really is like a fundamental period in people's lives.
What made you want to you know, work for nonprofits
and get into this line of work.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Actually I tie that back.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I mean I would say back in high school, I
remember a young girl that I went to school with.
Her dad made to comment at one time, and it
was it's a phrase I've always loved, and it's aspire,
don't envy. And so when you think of the things
you want in life, how do you aspire? And that's
what we do to help young people, help them aspire,
help them see what they can do. And so for me,
(08:27):
that's that kind of piece of service is I've always said,
moments in time. How do you create moments in time
for people today that others created for you? So, in
answer to your question, a lot of people created moments
in time for me. I look back from young young,
elementary school, middle school, high school, you know, outside of
my family, the people that created moments in time that
now when I look back, changed my life forever. And
(08:48):
sometimes it could be a simple encounter taking just a
few moments. And that's what I find happens through girl scouting,
is that people take that moment in time that can
change a child's life forever.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Is there a moment in time in your life that
you kind of look back on and you know, maybe
as a story that you're comfortable sharing that you can
kind of pinpoint that ethos too.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yeah, there's so so many, so that another day, another time.
But the one that I will always say I share
with young girls is when I got out of high school.
My mom never went into high school, so she only
went through eighth grade, and when I was sixteen, she
went back and got her ged and so watching her
and my father, I realized I didn't have to go
on to you know, to college or to anything like
(09:28):
I could get a job. But it was my high
school counselor that was just like, you know, there's so
much out there, you know, and really encouraged me. So
I started college and I was one semester in and
decided that I wasn't going to continue and It was
a woman who I actually was doing student service hours for.
She worked in the counseling office, and she said, you
(09:49):
have five minutes. I'd never really talked to her, and
I said sure, and she goes a little bird, tell
me you're not going to come back in January, and
I'm like, no, I've just decided this isn't for me.
And maybe someday she's like, do me a favor. Come
back for one more semester. If come May this isn't
for you, you'll always know you gave it a full year.
(10:10):
And I don't think you'll ever have any regrets. But
if you don't come back in January, I fear you'll
look back and always wonder that woman gave me five
minutes of her time. I never really saw her again
on campus. I came back in January. The rest was history.
And I think about those five minutes. If she hadn't
taken it, how different my life would have been, And
(10:32):
so my level of gratitude. I've tried to find her
to be able to thank her. But so yeah, there's
so many of those moments in time. That's one that
I know changed my life forever, and for.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Our girl scouts.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Now, I say to them, whether they decide that they
want to go to a trade school or into the military,
or into a college or university, so many options. But
whatever they choose, get in and it's stay in it
long enough to be able to actually go.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I gave it that, and then change if it's not
what you need.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
I don't want people to be miserable, but I'm always like,
give it that she asked me to do. If I didn't,
may it wasn't for me. She's right, I could have
gone on and done something different.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
When you were in that mindset as a young girl, like,
what were you thinking you were going to go on
and do?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah? I think watching that my parents were great parents.
And my father worked on an assembly line putting light
bulbs together, and my mom worked at a grocery store.
And I looked at them and they had a happy life,
and we were a happy family. I figured I'd get
a job and do something, and there's nothing wrong with that.
I think for me, that's what I actually thought I
would do. I would get a job, I'd find somebody,
(11:32):
I'd get married, I'd have my own family, and all
that could have been great. But I absolutely love how
my life has turned out, which is why I always
reflect back on that moment.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
No, and it's amazing, And you've become such a leader
obviously for so many, especially as a CEO of you know,
an organization like Girls Scott. So I'm curious, like, what
does leadership mean to you? And how do you guys
define leadership.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I love that question because I often think people think
leader thinks it is a CEO, it's a president, it's
a leader in our own lives. So what I love
to tell our girl Scouts is I want to help
you have the skills to thrive in your life, leading
in your homes, in your community, in your workplace, wherever
you choose to work. If I'm a teacher, I'm leading
in the classroom. If I'm a parent, I'm leading in
(12:13):
my home. So to me, it's about having those skills
to help you and your family thrive and your community
as a whole.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Really quickly, I just wanted to say thank you so
much for listening. Your support means the world to me.
And if you're enjoying this episode with Bonnie, make sure
you follow the show so you never miss a conversation.
All right, back to the episode, from your perspective, what
do you think makes a good leader?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yeah, and almost sixty years old, I'll tell you I've
learned a lot, So I probab would have answered that
question different even a decade ago. For me, it's truly
recognizing that people are different, and different doesn't make somebody wrong.
So to understand styles, you know, things that people are
passionate about, how they show up to certain things. Being
different is just different, and how you can combine those
(13:03):
differences and to make just a powerful experience is just
so good. And so for me, I've learned to be
more of an empathetic leader. To know that I might
do something different than you doesn't make you wrong, me right,
or vice versa, just makes us different. So we have
our Gold Award is the highest award girls earning Girl Scouts,
and they have to do a project that will make
(13:24):
change within a community and it has to be sustainable.
So for me, it's just so fascinating to watch these
young women in the projects they do. And then we
give out one hundred and twelve scholarships one girl at
each Girl Scout council each year who aren't their Gold Award.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
And I read that you've helped increase that pool of
money for scholarships by a significant amount.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Right, Well, that was actually the local council that we
had a campaign, but we have on the national level.
We used to give out ten scholarships a year, and
we've grown that now to one hundred and twelve.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
I mean, that is incredible. Ten to one hundred and
twelve and that's been all while you've been the CEO.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I won't take all credit because it takes a team,
but yeah, it's happened up for the last couple of
years and a very passionate board of directors that wanted
to make sure that that was possible. So it takes
a lot and huge community support. We wouldn't be able
to do without people, you know, stepping in and supporting
in that way.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
We reference kind of some of the projects that the
girls have done. What are someone like the stand up
projects that you've seen that you're like, I can't believe,
like a twelfth grader, oh has.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Come up with this prob Yeah, I mean, and it
goes on and actually if you ever go to the
website you can actually go and read the projects. But
things like girls that see that they want more STEM
education at a school, they'll do their own STEM curriculum
to help young people with STEM. I love it robotics.
I think I shared one young woman who built a
wind turbine out of recycle material to power portion of
her family's home, Like I was doing that at seventeen.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
No, it's so wild. What do you think is the
most important skill somebody can learn when they're mentoring young girls?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Listen?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Like, we often think we know what our kids need,
and I always say that when we make decisions at
Girl Scouts, put that girl at the center of the
decision at all times. So in mentoring, really to be
able to see what does that child, what does that
girl need most, because often we can just think what
they need. But I think just pausing and being able
to listen and know what they mainly need is going
(15:10):
to be the most powerful thing for her.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
I feel like listening something that's so simple, but at
the same time it can be so difficult.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
I used to have a sticky note on my laptop
that said, never forget the Art of silence. Literally, I
had it there to remind myself that there's so much
power in listening. And you can tell me people have
said it. You have two ears in one mouth for
a reason. But you're right the intentionality that it takes, Yes,
two ears in one mouth.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
That's so cute. I've never heard that before, but yeah,
I'm going to say that because that's honestly really good
advice for women aspiring to have leadership roles, Like what
would you say are the keys to breaking through barriers
and like navigating those challenges because there's growing pains that
come with becoming a leader.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
One, it's following your passion.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Because I'll talk to women that will have reached levels
at different organizations and I'll ask them a similar question
and they're like, when I was enough about something, I
would take whatever steps it took and be open to
the mentors along the way that we're willing to step
in and lean in and be able to assist. Don't
go it alone. You know, know that there's an army
of people around you that want to be able to
(16:13):
help you.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
When you had just gotten into the role as like
CEO of Girls Guts, did you have a mentor that
you kind of leaned on.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I've had many mentors. Those long runs with my sister
had been the best. I always say that's like advice
that we give each other because we can be really
candid with each other in a way that you know,
we don't tell each other what maybe you want to hear.
We say what you need to hear. And that's the
best mentoring you can get.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Oh, that's so true. I mean, my twin and I
definitely go at it, which it is. It's the best.
It's like we have the best ideas together in the
same sense of humor. It's so true. The twin thing
is like unbeatable for people that aren't born with a
built in best friended mentor. Though, it is important to
find a mentor and foster somebody that can really give you,
like genuine advice, whether it's like a mom or a
cousin or an older sister brother.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
And we just said that it is finding that I
had a girlfriend who one time said to me, as
I come to you because I know you're going to
tell me what I need to hear. That's a mentor.
It's like, so, yeah, you're right, find that person.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Were there challenges that you experienced, like when you were
first starting out in the role that you kind of
had to grow through.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Yeah, I would say the biggest challenge is just remembering
we're in girls Scouting. We're the microchasm of the nation.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
We really are.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
So we have girls from all different backgrounds and beliefs
and where they've come from. And I have such a
respect for that because that's actually the future, so our
ability to have girls again who may think differently, be
different together they're learning from an out young age. What
that looks like at a time where I feel like
we need that because that's our future.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
What do you think is the future of girl Scouts?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
I see us just exploding? I really do.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
I think I was sharing recently with somebody. I remember
when my three children were young, and there was a
billboards at the time that said, do you know if
you read one book a night to your child, how
much more likely they will be to succeed? And I remembered,
like literally hyperventilating, going, I don't read a book each night,
and guess what, moms started reading a book each night.
I feel that's what girl Scouting is today. When I
(18:14):
see what families want for their young girls, we offer
what they want. So now the biggest thing for us
is making sure that we can have every girl who
wants to be a girl Scout get.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
To be It is amazing. I'm curious, like what initiatives
right now that you guys are doing are you super
passionate about and what are some that you want to
see happen in the future that you guys are maybe
working towards that people can be excited about or you know,
help us manifest.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
So I think what we offer, like the different badges
girls earned, we've stayed so relevant so current. I mean,
I think like we have cybersecurity badges today and I
always tell girls that didn't exist when I was your age.
So I feel we stayed really relevant in our programming.
The how we offer girl Scouting to girls is something
that is I'm very passionate about. I myself wasn't a
girl Scout, and when folks would ask me, it's like,
(19:01):
my mom really didn't know that much about girl Scouts,
And so for me, that's one obstacle that exists. It's
helping people truly understand who we are, what we do,
and really be in community. So communities who don't know
girl Scouting, how are we like showing up with them,
not for them, but with them so in a way
that they're like girl Scouting can be part of what we.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Do, absolutely, And it is interesting because like for me,
when I became one, like I just kind of associated
the Girl Scouts organization to be like almost a part
of the school, like every school kind of came with them.
But it's interesting knowing that that really isn't the case,
and knowing that you guys are working hard to like
educate more people on the organization even though it's been
around for so long and I would assume that everybody
(19:44):
knew about it, but it's just not the case.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
And I think sometimes for organizations that are as old
as we are one hundred and thirteen, it takes more
to have people remember how relevant we are today because
we've been around, they remember it from the last time
they were involved. And so it's making sure people see
Girl Scout logo and they're like, oh, Girl Scouts, and
like they know the brand. We got to make sure
they know what the brand stands for and what we
(20:07):
do today.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Tell us about the Girl Scout Cookie initiative and why
it's so important.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
So the Girl Scout Cookies have been a part of
the program for over one hundred years. Wow, and we
look back. If you think about it again, it's learning
those skills. You know, you're learning people's skills and money
management and business ethics and all the things that come
along with the Cookie program. I love the goal setting
and decision making piece because to me, that's part of
the entrepreneurship side of the Cookie program. So it's the
(20:32):
largest girl led entrepreneurship program in the world. And you're right,
it's more than when you see girls out there. I
encourage people stop and ask them, you know, what are
you going to do with your Cookie proceeds? Because one
hundred percent stays in that local Girl Scout council, with
the troop and with the council itself.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
So the girls can use.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
What they earned through the Cookie program to power their experiences,
whether it's community service or going on a camping event
or earning different badges. I mean, they choose what they
want to use it for. And if you ask women
like I went to a group of women CEOs Fortune
five hundred CEOs and it was awesome to hear them
talk about the Girl Scott Cookie Program, and every one
of them like one it was the steps to doing it.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
One is I was always the highest seller.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Women attribute so much of what they learned in that
program to skills they used today in the roles that
they hold today. So that's what we're developing in girls again,
from kindergarten all.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
The way through.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
What was the original cookie a short bread?
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Ah?
Speaker 1 (21:27):
And now how many cookies are there within.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
The so there's different varieties and so right now and
actually the very top one because I always get asked,
what's the biggest one? Is the girl Scott Finn Mint
that is the top seller every single year, So I'd
have to ask you, what is your favorite?
Speaker 1 (21:39):
I think I really liked all of them, Like I
always loved the short bread one as well. Oh gosh,
there's like the one that has peanut butter that is
like it go as a go to. I don't know
what the names are for any of them, but my
mom would get like one of every box. Yes, but
I was never the girl that sold the most amount
of cookies because definitely in our town that was like
I lived in New Jersey Town that was right next
(22:01):
to the train line where all the men would go
into work, like girls would literally just bring it to
their dad's office and then they'd get so many sales.
My dad was one of those dads that was like,
I'm you're not allowed to sell them to the office
because that was too easy. He was like, you have
to go door by door and try to sell the cookies.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I love it today that we so encourage so if
it whether it's their mom or their dad, whoever, we say,
don't just take in the order form, let them do
a little video, let them come in.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
And I love.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Girls today have their digital cookie sites, so they create
their own video about what they're going to be doing
with their cookie earnings. And it's so great to see
the entrepreneurship mindset that comes with it.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Well now with videos that must be really cute for
you guys to see.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
And they have their own little online marketing platforms. I
mean again, it has evolved, the programs evolved just as
we've evolved.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Absolutely, Oh gosh, it is so so cute. And yeah,
that to me was like my favorite part of every
year when we were like in elementary in high school,
when the girls got to come around knocking on our
door selling the cookies, we'd be like so excited to
get them. As a CEO the organization, right now, what
is the legacy that you want to leave.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
The legacy that I want to leave for Girl Scouting
is that every girl who wants to be gets to be.
And that when I think of the future alum generations
and how they'll look back and they'll speak to what
they've been able to learn and grow and how Girl
Scouting has helped them thrive. To me, that's the legacy
that I want.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Well, thank you so much for being on post run
high and run with me today. And it's cool to
talk to somebody that really has like an influential role
for young women. I mean, we're all about supporting girls
on this show and inspiring girls to be the best
version of themselves, and you really are the example of that.
So thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Thank you Kate.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Okay, guys, I am back Kate here. Thank you so
much for watching or listening. I hope this conversation inspired
you whether you're leading a troop, raising a daughter, or
just trying to be the kind of person others can
count on. And if this episode made you think of someone,
maybe your mom or a former teacher, a coach, a friend,
I'd encourage you to send it to them or just
(24:02):
text them or give them a call and thank them
for how they shaped you. As always if you're enjoying
Post ran High, it would mean the world to me
if you rated, reviewed, or shared our show. And if
you're watching this on YouTube, do not forget to subscribe
to our channel and hit that like button. We've got
so many more conversations coming that I cannot wait for
(24:23):
you guys to hear, So until next time, thank you
guys for being here and I will see you soon.
Hi, guys, Welcome back to Post Run High. A few
weeks ago, I got to go on a run and
sit down afterwards with Bonnie Barzakowski. She is the CEO
of Girl Scouts of the USA, and I was so
excited for this one because Girl Scouts was a big
part of my childhood. I grew up in Glenark, New Jersey,
which is one of those tiny towns where everybody knows everybody,
and I went to a Catholic grammar school with the
(00:25):
same forty kids from kindergarten through eighth grade, and for
a large chunk of those grammar school years, all of
the girls in my grade were part of Girl Scouts
and my mom was actually one of our volunteer troop leaders,
which made it even more special for me because I
got to see my mom become a role model not
just for me, but for the other girls around me
(00:46):
and guys, we could do a whole episode on my
mom or with my mom, but just to give you
a little bit of context, my mom worked for a
nonprofit called Healing the Children for most of my life,
and she also coached lacrosse in town, and she actually
coached the high school girls lacrosse team when I was
growing up, not when I was in high school, but
when I was little. So acts of service, especially for
(01:06):
young women, have always been something that she cared deeply
about and that I grew up around. And I think
that's what made Girl Scouts feel so important to me.
It was another space where I saw women leading, giving back,
creating community. And I'm guessing, if you guys are listening
to this, maybe you had something like that too. Maybe
it was Girl Scouts, maybe it was a sports team,
(01:28):
or a youth group or a club, or even just
a group of strong women in your life who modeled
those values. Whatever it looked like, I think we can
all remember how formative those kind of environments can be
and how it really teaches you values that stay with
you for your whole life. So when I got the
opportunity to sit down with Bonnie, who started as a
volunteer troop leader like my mom and now leads the
(01:48):
entire national organization, it really felt full circle. Bonnie and
I talked about mentorship, confidence, and the importance of showing
up for the next generation. It's a short conversation today,
but I really hope it reminds you of the people
who helped shape you and maybe even inspires you to
be that person for somebody else. So here is my
conversation with Bonnie. I hope you guys love it. Let's
(02:10):
get into it. What is up? Welcome back to a
post run high. I'm here with Bonnie today. Bonnie is
the CEO of Girl Scouts. We just got back from
a one and a half ish mile run. How are
(02:32):
you feeling awesome? Yeah, Bonnie's a runner. You were a
pro out there. Everybody always gets nervous with their breath control,
like when they're on the run, but you were completely fine.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I'm used to running and talking at the same time.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
So I found out during the run that Bonnie's a
twin and you and your twin sister love to run together.
So I'm sure those are really good, like YAP sessions,
you know, where you get good at kind of talking
and running.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
We text each other during the week and ago, I
hope we have a twenty miler this weekend because we
have a lot to catch up on.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Oh my god, it is so cute. I also said
to Bonnie while we were running that I am a
twin as well, as you guys know. I have a
twin brother, so I feel like I attract twins, like
I've had a lot of twins on the show. What
was it like growing up with an identical twin sister?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I always say it's a blessing to get your best
friend born with you. So it's been awesome. Yeah, we're
so identical though. Even my grandkids will be like, are
you my grandma?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
And she loves it.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Are you guys the youngest in your family?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
No, we have a sister that's eleven months older, and
then my twin sister and me, and then we had
two brothers.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So y'ad a big old family. And you're from Saint Louis.
What was it like growing up in Saint Louis?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
It was awesome growing up?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, So we lived in Saint Louis most of our lives.
My husband and I have been married thirty seven years.
So we lived in DC and in Charlotte, but we've
been back in Saint Louis Charlotte.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
North Carolina years. We're big fans of North Carolina. Here
any thoughts for you that came up on our run.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
You know, just hearing you say that your mom was
your troop leader, Like, I like just ended up with
a million questions because I think it's just so neat
for you go back and now ask your mom some
of those things, because the women who have given and
men have given so much to help girls have Girl
Scouting experience. So to me, I was I found myself
thinking about that.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
When I found out that I was having you on
the show. I was so excited because Girl Scouts was
such a big part of my life and also my
family's life when I was a young girl. And I
think Girl Scouts is such an incredible organization.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And I guarantee girls that were in your troops still
talk about, oh, your mom and the impact that she
had on their lives.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Absolutely, they absolutely do. And a lot of respect for
the Girl Scout troop leaders out there, because you know.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
I'm forever grateful. Yeah, yeah, folks like your mom.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Right, So let's talk about you though, and like how
you ended up getting into the Girl Scouts organization.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
And yeah, So I was running fitness centers for women,
which I loved. It was changing young women and women
of all ages their lives. And I was asked to
come on the local Girl Scout board and was so
interesting because they said to me, you know, we'd love
for you to join our board. You're passionate about women
and girls, and I'm like, I don't know anything about
Girl Scouts and I didn't I wasn't a Girl Scout myself.
And so they're like, you're exactly what we need do
(05:00):
We want people who know everything, and we want people
who really don't know anything. And so I joined the
board in twenty ten and hook line and Sinker, I've
been all in ever since. I just found myself constantly saying,
how did I not know that Girl Scouting did all
of this for girls across the country and around the world.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
People that don't know explain to us what girl Scouts is,
how early you can get involved, and kind of the
importance of Girl Scouts for young women and young girls.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So the piece that I tell people all the time,
there is no other organization that provides girls the variety
of experience that girl Scouting provides. So as young as
kindergarten girls can come in and think of the badges
that you earned when you were in Girl Scouts and
think of the variety that existed. So I often find
our older girls, whether they decide that they're going to
go into biomedical engineering, or they're going to go into coding,
(05:49):
or they're going to go into law. So many girls
tie back what they choose to do in life from
an experience they had in Girl Scouting, And I often
think that means without Girl Scouting, would they ever have
even known that existed. So the variety that we provide
so often when I say to folks that I'm with
Girl Scouts, they'll be like, Oh, I love Girl Scouts
the cookies, and the cookies are so much more than cookies.
(06:10):
They're the largest girl let entrepreneurship program in the world.
So to your point, the skills that you learn through
all of that, there's so much more cookies, crafts camp.
We've done that for one hundred and thirteen years. We
still do that, and we do so much more.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
How can you get your daughters involved in Girl Scouts?
Like where are the organizations? Like are they at every
school or is that something you guys are like working towards.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, so they can go onto girl Scouts dot Org
and actually plug in zip code and it'll show them
like the closest Girl Scouting for them. And I'm going
to answer the second party your question, which is that
what we are trying to do is get girl Scouting.
There's twenty five million girls kindergarten through twelfth grade in
the United States, and I want every girl to know
that they have the opportunity to be in Girl Scouting.
(07:03):
And so for caregivers, I'm like, please help us make
that possible, because the number one thing that stands in
the way is we need volunteers. We need people who
will do what your mom did back when you were young.
We need that today, right.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And it was amazing finding out also while we were
running that you started out post college as a teacher.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I do think thinking back to first grade, that's why
I love people get used to me saying a little
girl doesn't get to be five twice and so girl
Scouting starts at five in kindergartens. So yes, having been
a first grade teacher, I see the power of what
all happens in those young minds at that age. So
for me, girls can join Girl Scouts at any point
kindergarten through twelfth grade. But I so want our young
kindergarteners and first graders to get started in girl Scouting
(07:43):
because they don't ever get to go back and rewind
that time in their life.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Again, No, it's so true. I mean I have so
many friends that I wouldn't have made if it weren't
for Girl Scouts and like, you know, my mom being involved,
and like as you said, like there are so many
girls that like credit that time to her and just
it really is like a fundamental period in people's lives.
What made you want to you know, work for nonprofits
and get into this line of work.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Actually I tie that back.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I mean I would say back in high school, I
remember a young girl that I went to school with.
Her dad made to comment at one time, and it
was it's a phrase I've always loved, and it's aspire,
don't envy. And so when you think of the things
you want in life, how do you aspire? And that's
what we do to help young people, help them aspire,
help them see what they can do. And so for me,
(08:27):
that's that kind of piece of service is I've always said,
moments in time. How do you create moments in time
for people today that others created for you? So, in
answer to your question, a lot of people created moments
in time for me. I look back from young young,
elementary school, middle school, high school, you know, outside of
my family, the people that created moments in time that
now when I look back, changed my life forever. And
(08:48):
sometimes it could be a simple encounter taking just a
few moments. And that's what I find happens through girl scouting,
is that people take that moment in time that can
change a child's life forever.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Is there a moment in time in your life that
you kind of look back on and you know, maybe
as a story that you're comfortable sharing that you can
kind of pinpoint that ethos too.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yeah, there's so so many, so that another day, another time.
But the one that I will always say I share
with young girls is when I got out of high school.
My mom never went into high school, so she only
went through eighth grade, and when I was sixteen, she
went back and got her ged and so watching her
and my father, I realized I didn't have to go
on to you know, to college or to anything like
(09:28):
I could get a job. But it was my high
school counselor that was just like, you know, there's so
much out there, you know, and really encouraged me. So
I started college and I was one semester in and
decided that I wasn't going to continue and It was
a woman who I actually was doing student service hours for.
She worked in the counseling office, and she said, you
(09:49):
have five minutes. I'd never really talked to her, and
I said sure, and she goes a little bird, tell
me you're not going to come back in January, and
I'm like, no, I've just decided this isn't for me.
And maybe someday she's like, do me a favor. Come
back for one more semester. If come May this isn't
for you, you'll always know you gave it a full year.
(10:10):
And I don't think you'll ever have any regrets. But
if you don't come back in January, I fear you'll
look back and always wonder that woman gave me five
minutes of her time. I never really saw her again
on campus. I came back in January. The rest was history.
And I think about those five minutes. If she hadn't
taken it, how different my life would have been, And
(10:32):
so my level of gratitude. I've tried to find her
to be able to thank her. But so yeah, there's
so many of those moments in time. That's one that
I know changed my life forever, and for.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Our girl scouts.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Now, I say to them, whether they decide that they
want to go to a trade school or into the military,
or into a college or university, so many options. But
whatever they choose, get in and it's stay in it
long enough to be able to actually go.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
I gave it that, and then change if it's not
what you need.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
I don't want people to be miserable, but I'm always like,
give it that she asked me to do. If I didn't,
may it wasn't for me. She's right, I could have
gone on and done something different.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
When you were in that mindset as a young girl, like,
what were you thinking you were going to go on
and do?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah? I think watching that my parents were great parents.
And my father worked on an assembly line putting light
bulbs together, and my mom worked at a grocery store.
And I looked at them and they had a happy life,
and we were a happy family. I figured I'd get
a job and do something, and there's nothing wrong with that.
I think for me, that's what I actually thought I
would do. I would get a job, I'd find somebody,
(11:32):
I'd get married, I'd have my own family, and all
that could have been great. But I absolutely love how
my life has turned out, which is why I always
reflect back on that moment.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
No, and it's amazing, And you've become such a leader
obviously for so many, especially as a CEO of you know,
an organization like Girls Scott. So I'm curious, like, what
does leadership mean to you? And how do you guys
define leadership.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I love that question because I often think people think
leader thinks it is a CEO, it's a president, it's
a leader in our own lives. So what I love
to tell our girl Scouts is I want to help
you have the skills to thrive in your life, leading
in your homes, in your community, in your workplace, wherever
you choose to work. If I'm a teacher, I'm leading
in the classroom. If I'm a parent, I'm leading in
(12:13):
my home. So to me, it's about having those skills
to help you and your family thrive and your community
as a whole.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Really quickly, I just wanted to say thank you so
much for listening. Your support means the world to me.
And if you're enjoying this episode with Bonnie, make sure
you follow the show so you never miss a conversation.
All right, back to the episode, from your perspective, what
do you think makes a good leader?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Yeah, and almost sixty years old, I'll tell you I've
learned a lot, So I probab would have answered that
question different even a decade ago. For me, it's truly
recognizing that people are different, and different doesn't make somebody wrong.
So to understand styles, you know, things that people are
passionate about, how they show up to certain things. Being
different is just different, and how you can combine those
(13:03):
differences and to make just a powerful experience is just
so good. And so for me, I've learned to be
more of an empathetic leader. To know that I might
do something different than you doesn't make you wrong, me right,
or vice versa, just makes us different. So we have
our Gold Award is the highest award girls earning Girl Scouts,
and they have to do a project that will make
(13:24):
change within a community and it has to be sustainable.
So for me, it's just so fascinating to watch these
young women in the projects they do. And then we
give out one hundred and twelve scholarships one girl at
each Girl Scout council each year who aren't their Gold Award.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
And I read that you've helped increase that pool of
money for scholarships by a significant amount.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
Right, Well, that was actually the local council that we
had a campaign, but we have on the national level.
We used to give out ten scholarships a year, and
we've grown that now to one hundred and twelve.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
I mean, that is incredible. Ten to one hundred and
twelve and that's been all while you've been the CEO.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I won't take all credit because it takes a team,
but yeah, it's happened up for the last couple of
years and a very passionate board of directors that wanted
to make sure that that was possible. So it takes
a lot and huge community support. We wouldn't be able
to do without people, you know, stepping in and supporting
in that way.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
We reference kind of some of the projects that the
girls have done. What are someone like the stand up
projects that you've seen that you're like, I can't believe,
like a twelfth grader, oh has.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Come up with this prob Yeah, I mean, and it
goes on and actually if you ever go to the
website you can actually go and read the projects. But
things like girls that see that they want more STEM
education at a school, they'll do their own STEM curriculum
to help young people with STEM. I love it robotics.
I think I shared one young woman who built a
wind turbine out of recycle material to power portion of
her family's home, Like I was doing that at seventeen.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
No, it's so wild. What do you think is the
most important skill somebody can learn when they're mentoring young girls?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Listen?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Like, we often think we know what our kids need,
and I always say that when we make decisions at
Girl Scouts, put that girl at the center of the
decision at all times. So in mentoring, really to be
able to see what does that child, what does that
girl need most, because often we can just think what
they need. But I think just pausing and being able
to listen and know what they mainly need is going
(15:10):
to be the most powerful thing for her.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
I feel like listening something that's so simple, but at
the same time it can be so difficult.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
I used to have a sticky note on my laptop
that said, never forget the Art of silence. Literally, I
had it there to remind myself that there's so much
power in listening. And you can tell me people have
said it. You have two ears in one mouth for
a reason. But you're right the intentionality that it takes, Yes,
two ears in one mouth.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
That's so cute. I've never heard that before, but yeah,
I'm going to say that because that's honestly really good
advice for women aspiring to have leadership roles, Like what
would you say are the keys to breaking through barriers
and like navigating those challenges because there's growing pains that
come with becoming a leader.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
One, it's following your passion.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Because I'll talk to women that will have reached levels
at different organizations and I'll ask them a similar question
and they're like, when I was enough about something, I
would take whatever steps it took and be open to
the mentors along the way that we're willing to step
in and lean in and be able to assist. Don't
go it alone. You know, know that there's an army
of people around you that want to be able to
(16:13):
help you.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
When you had just gotten into the role as like
CEO of Girls Guts, did you have a mentor that
you kind of leaned on.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
I've had many mentors. Those long runs with my sister
had been the best. I always say that's like advice
that we give each other because we can be really
candid with each other in a way that you know,
we don't tell each other what maybe you want to hear.
We say what you need to hear. And that's the
best mentoring you can get.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Oh, that's so true. I mean, my twin and I
definitely go at it, which it is. It's the best.
It's like we have the best ideas together in the
same sense of humor. It's so true. The twin thing
is like unbeatable for people that aren't born with a
built in best friended mentor. Though, it is important to
find a mentor and foster somebody that can really give you,
like genuine advice, whether it's like a mom or a
cousin or an older sister brother.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
And we just said that it is finding that I
had a girlfriend who one time said to me, as
I come to you because I know you're going to
tell me what I need to hear. That's a mentor.
It's like, so, yeah, you're right, find that person.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Were there challenges that you experienced, like when you were
first starting out in the role that you kind of
had to grow through.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Yeah, I would say the biggest challenge is just remembering
we're in girls Scouting. We're the microchasm of the nation.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
We really are.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
So we have girls from all different backgrounds and beliefs
and where they've come from. And I have such a
respect for that because that's actually the future, so our
ability to have girls again who may think differently, be
different together they're learning from an out young age. What
that looks like at a time where I feel like
we need that because that's our future.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
What do you think is the future of girl Scouts?
Speaker 2 (17:50):
I see us just exploding? I really do.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
I think I was sharing recently with somebody. I remember
when my three children were young, and there was a
billboards at the time that said, do you know if
you read one book a night to your child, how
much more likely they will be to succeed? And I remembered,
like literally hyperventilating, going, I don't read a book each night,
and guess what, moms started reading a book each night.
I feel that's what girl Scouting is today. When I
(18:14):
see what families want for their young girls, we offer
what they want. So now the biggest thing for us
is making sure that we can have every girl who
wants to be a girl Scout get.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
To be It is amazing. I'm curious, like what initiatives
right now that you guys are doing are you super
passionate about and what are some that you want to
see happen in the future that you guys are maybe
working towards that people can be excited about or you know,
help us manifest.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
So I think what we offer, like the different badges
girls earned, we've stayed so relevant so current. I mean,
I think like we have cybersecurity badges today and I
always tell girls that didn't exist when I was your age.
So I feel we stayed really relevant in our programming.
The how we offer girl Scouting to girls is something
that is I'm very passionate about. I myself wasn't a
girl Scout, and when folks would ask me, it's like,
(19:01):
my mom really didn't know that much about girl Scouts,
And so for me, that's one obstacle that exists. It's
helping people truly understand who we are, what we do,
and really be in community. So communities who don't know
girl Scouting, how are we like showing up with them,
not for them, but with them so in a way
that they're like girl Scouting can be part of what we.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Do, absolutely, And it is interesting because like for me,
when I became one, like I just kind of associated
the Girl Scouts organization to be like almost a part
of the school, like every school kind of came with them.
But it's interesting knowing that that really isn't the case,
and knowing that you guys are working hard to like
educate more people on the organization even though it's been
around for so long and I would assume that everybody
(19:44):
knew about it, but it's just not the case.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
And I think sometimes for organizations that are as old
as we are one hundred and thirteen, it takes more
to have people remember how relevant we are today because
we've been around, they remember it from the last time
they were involved. And so it's making sure people see
Girl Scout logo and they're like, oh, Girl Scouts, and
like they know the brand. We got to make sure
they know what the brand stands for and what we
(20:07):
do today.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Tell us about the Girl Scout Cookie initiative and why
it's so important.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
So the Girl Scout Cookies have been a part of
the program for over one hundred years. Wow, and we
look back. If you think about it again, it's learning
those skills. You know, you're learning people's skills and money
management and business ethics and all the things that come
along with the Cookie program. I love the goal setting
and decision making piece because to me, that's part of
the entrepreneurship side of the Cookie program. So it's the
(20:32):
largest girl led entrepreneurship program in the world. And you're right,
it's more than when you see girls out there. I
encourage people stop and ask them, you know, what are
you going to do with your Cookie proceeds? Because one
hundred percent stays in that local Girl Scout council, with
the troop and with the council itself.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
So the girls can use.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
What they earned through the Cookie program to power their experiences,
whether it's community service or going on a camping event
or earning different badges. I mean, they choose what they
want to use it for. And if you ask women
like I went to a group of women CEOs Fortune
five hundred CEOs and it was awesome to hear them
talk about the Girl Scott Cookie Program, and every one
of them like one it was the steps to doing it.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
One is I was always the highest seller.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Women attribute so much of what they learned in that
program to skills they used today in the roles that
they hold today. So that's what we're developing in girls again,
from kindergarten all.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
The way through.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
What was the original cookie a short bread?
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Ah?
Speaker 1 (21:27):
And now how many cookies are there within.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
The so there's different varieties and so right now and
actually the very top one because I always get asked,
what's the biggest one? Is the girl Scott Finn Mint
that is the top seller every single year, So I'd
have to ask you, what is your favorite?
Speaker 1 (21:39):
I think I really liked all of them, Like I
always loved the short bread one as well. Oh gosh,
there's like the one that has peanut butter that is
like it go as a go to. I don't know
what the names are for any of them, but my
mom would get like one of every box. Yes, but
I was never the girl that sold the most amount
of cookies because definitely in our town that was like
I lived in New Jersey Town that was right next
(22:01):
to the train line where all the men would go
into work, like girls would literally just bring it to
their dad's office and then they'd get so many sales.
My dad was one of those dads that was like,
I'm you're not allowed to sell them to the office
because that was too easy. He was like, you have
to go door by door and try to sell the cookies.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I love it today that we so encourage so if
it whether it's their mom or their dad, whoever, we say,
don't just take in the order form, let them do
a little video, let them come in.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
And I love.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Girls today have their digital cookie sites, so they create
their own video about what they're going to be doing
with their cookie earnings. And it's so great to see
the entrepreneurship mindset that comes with it.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Well now with videos that must be really cute for
you guys to see.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
And they have their own little online marketing platforms. I
mean again, it has evolved, the programs evolved just as
we've evolved.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Absolutely, Oh gosh, it is so so cute. And yeah,
that to me was like my favorite part of every
year when we were like in elementary in high school,
when the girls got to come around knocking on our
door selling the cookies, we'd be like so excited to
get them. As a CEO the organization, right now, what
is the legacy that you want to leave.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
The legacy that I want to leave for Girl Scouting
is that every girl who wants to be gets to be.
And that when I think of the future alum generations
and how they'll look back and they'll speak to what
they've been able to learn and grow and how Girl
Scouting has helped them thrive. To me, that's the legacy
that I want.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Well, thank you so much for being on post run
high and run with me today. And it's cool to
talk to somebody that really has like an influential role
for young women. I mean, we're all about supporting girls
on this show and inspiring girls to be the best
version of themselves, and you really are the example of that.
So thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Thank you Kate.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Okay, guys, I am back Kate here. Thank you so
much for watching or listening. I hope this conversation inspired
you whether you're leading a troop, raising a daughter, or
just trying to be the kind of person others can
count on. And if this episode made you think of someone,
maybe your mom or a former teacher, a coach, a friend,
I'd encourage you to send it to them or just
(24:02):
text them or give them a call and thank them
for how they shaped you. As always if you're enjoying
Post ran High, it would mean the world to me
if you rated, reviewed, or shared our show. And if
you're watching this on YouTube, do not forget to subscribe
to our channel and hit that like button. We've got
so many more conversations coming that I cannot wait for
(24:23):
you guys to hear, So until next time, thank you
guys for being here and I will see you soon.
Host
Kate Mackz
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