Sylvia Scott is the founder of the Girls’ C.E.O. Connection and author of Realizing A Vision, Your Toolkit For Success Words Of Wisdom For Young Female Entrepreneurs. My passion is to help high school girls build bright and fulfilling self-sufficient futures. It’s my mission to cultivate independent thinking within a global community of young female entrepreneurs. My goal for the Girls’ C.E.O. Connection is to equip and motivate the girls with the proven skills and characteristics of accomplished women entrepreneurs. My personal commitment is to expand opportunities for them within entrepreneurship. This is my story…
How My Entrepreneur Journey Started
My vision in high school was to be in the fashion industry and own a women’s clothing boutique. As a result I majored in fashion merchandising and business. The vision to own a clothing store became stronger. Fast forward a few years. After attending a fashion merchandising and promotion school in New York City I was approached to buy a boutique in Breckenridge, Colorado. The deal fell through because the owner’s ex-wife to be stopped the sale. I learned three important lessons. 1.) You are not always in charge of your career path. 2.) If the seller is in the process of a divorce, don’t even think about making a purchase. 3.) Plan for success AND failure.
Changing My Entrepreneur Focus
In 2005 I was accepted to the M.B.A. program at Babson College in Massachusetts. Business was my major with a focus on entrepreneurship. I had two part-time jobs in Boston. One was a co-development director for an artists ‘n entrepreneurship nonprofit for high school students. The other was with the Center for Women & Enterprise as one of its business training and development specialists. The position of special event manager was added to my schedule after the business specialist position became full-time.
As a result I got to coordinate a full-day mother-daughter entrepreneurship summit. The Center for Women & Enterprise and the northeast region Girl Scout Council co-hosted the event, “Your Money Your Power.” It was a tremendous success. I saw how high school girls loved the idea of a conference on entrepreneurship. That’s when I found one of my callings was to create and produce entrepreneurship conferences for high school girls.
Creating The Girls’ C.E.O. Connection
From that point on I wanted to provide a culture of support for young women to apply their creativity and innovation to reach their potentials through entrepreneurship. In 2009 I launched the first Realizing A Vision conference in Costa Mesa California. During a Realizing A Vision conference at Stanford University, I met Professor William Damon author of The Path To Purpose. Actually I persisted for a meeting and he finally agreed. He liked the conference and suggested I include mentoring in the program. Lesson learned–don’t give up when there’s someone important you want to meet. There have been several high school girls review the book Realizing A Vision Your Toolkit For Success, make comments and corrections. In reality it’s a work by teens (and myself) for teens. That’s the way it should be.
However, there are a few things I’ve come to realize this time around about being an entrepreneur… it’s harder than in the past. I’ve found it to be a lonely and very frustrating at times, but with the right friends, mentors, a good coach, and accountability partner I’ve able to turn my ideas into reality.
I have had my fair share of successes and failures. Has it been easy? No, but if I can do it, you can do it, even if you are in high school and college. Just think!! You might find yourself on Shark Tank or in a pitch competition with experienced entrepreneurs. And you shine over everyone else !
“I think the secret to success is having the right mindset. You’ve got to believe in yourself, that you can do it, even when things seem impossible.” Carrie Green, Founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association.
A Passion for Women Entrepreneurs Worldwide
I am an Ambassador for WED/Women’s® Entrepreneurship Day and e-mentor for female Afghan entrepreneurs enrolled in the Peace Through Business® Program under the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEWW).
I judge business plan competitions for U.S. and international entrepreneurs. Through the Coachella Women’s Business Center I evaluate business plans for women’s start-up businesses. I am also a mentor for women business owners in the growth mode. Some of it is done online and other one-on-one.
It will be exciting to see the release in October 2020 of Realizing A Vision, Your Toolkit For Success Words Of Wisdom For Young Female Entrepreneurs
“The light that Sylvia Scott shines in the lives of young women helps them to become capable, confident members of the global community and inspires them to create their own unique futures.” Judy Rose
