If you ask around at your organization, you will likely find individuals with one particular thing in common: their ties to Girl Scouts. Since 1912, Girl Scouts has followed its strong mission that “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Girl Scouts grow up to become leaders in the workplace and in their communities.
Our region is home to the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE). The organization is heading into October with excitement as they honor International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11 and welcome Girl Scout council CEOs and Board Chairs from around the country to Milwaukee for this year’s Board Chair conference.
In the following Q&A with GSWISE CEO Ana Simpson, she provides insight into her role at the organization, touches on GSWISE’s impact and current initiatives and shares how Girl Scout alumni can remain involved.
- You stepped into your role as CEO of GSWISE just under two years ago. What has been the most rewarding part of the job thus far?
Stepping into this role has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my career. The most rewarding part has been witnessing — and helping shape — the development of the next generation of leaders. Girl Scouts aren’t just learning skills; they’re becoming the kind of employees companies want to hire: resilient, collaborative, confident, dedicated and ethically grounded.
Every day, I see firsthand how our programming is building a strong pipeline of future talent for this region. Whether it’s through STEM exploration, leadership development or entrepreneurship-focused programming, Girl Scouts are gaining real-world experience that translates directly into proven professional success. And as CEO, I have the privilege of helping create the legacy I want to leave behind — one where girls from all backgrounds have the opportunity to discover their strengths and lead with purpose.
It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that the work we’re doing today is shaping the workforce of tomorrow — and that Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast is playing a key role in cultivating the future of our business community.
- How does GSWISE engage with and impact the region’s business community?
Girl Scouts are this region’s future workforce and business leaders, so it’s imperative that we provide opportunities for local Girl Scouts to connect with the area’s business community in various places and spaces.
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast has a robust network of partners in the business community who support the organization in a variety of ways, including: providing mentorship and/or resources for Girl Scouts working toward their Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards; leading Girl Scouts through engaging educational workshops and sessions focused on leadership and career development; hosting badge-earning events that teach core life skills and STEM competencies; and providing gifts to fund experiences and opportunities for girls of all ages and backgrounds in our seven county jurisdiction.
By fostering these positive relationships, we are playing a key role in cultivating the region’s business and workforce pipeline. There are more than 120,000 local Girl Scout alum in the area and more to come – we can’t wait to see how these Girl Scouts take what they learn into the professional world as leaders and entrepreneurs.
- What fundamental lessons or skills learned in Girl Scouts help to prepare individuals for success in the professional world?
Girl Scout programming focuses on four pillars: life skills, entrepreneurship, outdoors and STEM. These programming pillars all uniquely translate to success in the professional world.
For example, through life skills programming, Girl Scouts develop competencies in areas such as advocacy, digital media, financial literacy and communication — all essential for personal and professional success. In STEM, they engage in hands-on learning in fields like engineering, cybersecurity and computer programming, building technical skills that align with high-demand career paths. Our entrepreneurship programming, including the Girl Scout Cookie Program, equips Girl Scouts with practical business experience. They learn how to develop marketing strategies, manage sales and inventory, deliver excellent customer service, operate in e-commerce environments and practice online safety. These experiences provide a strong foundation in business operations and leadership, preparing Girl Scouts to thrive in today’s workforce and contribute meaningfully to the region’s economic future.
As we facilitate this programming, Girl Scouts are participating in three processes: girl-led, learning by doing and collaborative learning. These three processes help girls build essential soft skills, like resiliency, teamwork, independence, problem-solving, confidence, honesty and care for the community. By developing these skills, Girl Scouts are uniquely poised for professional success.
But, don’t just take it from me! The research shows how effective this is, and alums often attribute Girl Scouts as the foundation for their success. 84% of Girl Scout alum hold leadership roles as adults and 68% of alum (compared to 60% of non-alum) are satisfied with their career. It’s no surprise that more than half of the women in Congress and serving on the Senate are Girl Scout alum.
- International Day of the Girl (Oct. 11) recognizes and promotes the rights and well-being of girls worldwide. How is GSWISE honoring this global observance?
International Day of the Girl is a widely celebrated observance in the Girl Scout Movement. It’s important for us to recognize the power of girls everywhere – and highlight, discuss, and take action to advance the rights of, and opportunities for, girls across the globe.
Every year, Girl Scouts introduces a fun, free activity guide with progressive activities that grow with each program grade level. Often, troops and service units meet on International Day of the Girl to complete activities together and celebrate their own achievements and ways they are making a difference.
While we celebrate this important observance, we also consider every day a day of the girl. Girl Scouts of all ages are learning about civic engagement, advocacy and democracy, as well as communication skills and recognizing and respecting each other.
This year, our council had a special opportunity, as four Girl Scouts from our council were selected to represent Girl Scouts nationwide on an international stage at the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). These Girl Scouts spent a year learning about global gender rights, youth advocacy, and more and had the unique opportunity to speak to global leaders about their perspectives.
- Can you share a few of the exciting initiatives that GSWISE is currently working on?
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast has so many exciting things coming down the pipeline! The Girl Scout Cookie Program is just around the corner, and this year, we are adding a new cookie – Exploremores™ – to our lineup. Customers love the sweet treats, but it’s more than cookies! When Girl Scouts participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, they learn five key skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. So, between January through March, look out for Girl Scouts to get your cookie classics and the new cookie.
We also continue to provide new opportunities for our older Girl Scouts. In 2026, we are offering a free learning trip for 50 girls to Washington, D.C. This trip will provide college tours, cultural experiences and plenty of educational tours and visits. Leading up to the trip, Girl Scouts will be earning their Democracy badges. On top of this, we’re working with more local colleges and universities to provide Gold Award Girl Scouts with special scholarships to recognize their work and dedication.
Looking closer, there are two exciting initiatives coming up for the council. We’re launching an exciting brand awareness media campaign – She Will – that illustrates the opportunities and experiences we provide that set Girl Scouts up for lives of impact. We’re also releasing a new report in partnership with our three sister councils in the state. The Wisconsin Girl Report highlights the current challenges and complex social environments girls face in our state, as well as opportunities for organizations like Girl Scouts to unlock girls’ potential amidst these unique circumstances.
- How can Girl Scout alumni remain active in the Girl Scout community, helping to mentor and empower the next generation of strong and confident leaders?
We urge local alum to stay connected with the Girl Scout sisterhood! Here are a couple of ways to get involved as an alum in our community:
- Volunteer: Whether you volunteer as a troop leader, a troop helping hand or with the council, you’re helping serve Girl Scouts and building our future strong, confident leaders. You can serve as a mentor and continue to build on your own unique leadership skills.
- Donate: When you support Girl Scouts, you help give girls more opportunities to discover their strengths and values, connect and communicate effectively with others and take action to implement positive changes in our communities. Your support funds outdoor experiences, community outreach programs, mental health programming and more. It’s easy to give back – and any amount helps us provide new opportunities for girls in our region.
