From Local Roots to Global Impact: My Journey with GFR from Polish Schools to BCG Partnership

From small classrooms in Poland to the strategic boardrooms of global partnerships, my journey with building the Girls Future Ready Foundation is a tale of humble beginnings, resilience, and transformative collaborations. As the founder of this organization, I’ve seen firsthand the power of vision fueled by personal experiences and the strength found in unity toward a common goal. This is our story, of turning aspirations into tangible realities for thousands of young women across Eastern Europe.

Background

Briefly about my background: I was born in Poland, but when I was 6 years my family moved abroad to live in Helsinki, Finland, where I attended school. My adventure into the world of educational empowerment began when I was just nine years old. A brief period spent in a Polish school exposed me to the stark reality of English language education in my home country. The dated learning methods contrasted sharply with the colorful books that sparked my own love for the language in Finland.I embarked on a mission to collect and donate English books, transforming the learning experience for children in my home country. What started with a single book drive of 200 books evolved into a project that, over 6 years, contributed more than 25,000 books to schools, preschools, and children’s hospitals throughout Poland. The President of Lodz, Ms. Hanna Zdanowska, got engaged in the project and would travel to schools with me to read to kids and explain why English is an important part of being #futureready.

When I was 15, I established the Girls Future Ready Foundation to empower young girls in Eastern Europe with essential skills like self-confidence, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and a global mindset. We’ve launched six international programs, each designed to bridge the gap between traditional education and the demands of the global world.

#HerStory Masterclass

Among these, the #HerStory Masterclass program stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision. Here, we approached BCG to partner with us. The #HerStory Masterclass Program is a flagship initiative of the Girls Future Ready Foundation, which, for the past 5 years, has hosted monthly practical workshops with accomplished women from all over the world. We have been honored to host women like Magdalena Bogdziewicz, Ambassador of Singapore, Dianne Chipps Bailey, Head of Philanthropy at Bank of America, Natalia De Barbaro, best-selling author, Ola Pucicka, Head of LinkedIn CEE, and many more! The program is a favorite at the foundation, empowering hundreds of girls annually!

This journey from a young girl collecting books to leading an organization that partners with global giants is a vivid reminder that dreams, when pursued with determination and support, can indeed become reality.

Here, our partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has been nothing short of transformative. BCG’s commitment to female empowerment resonated with our mission, creating a synergy that has elevated our efforts to unprecedented levels. Together, we’ve hosted practical workshops led by accomplished women from diverse fields, offering our participants a window into potential futures. And after long discussions in the BCG Boardrooms, we were honored to welcome them as an official patron of this program.

The first #HerStory Masterclass titled, ‘Breaking the Mold: Elevating Consulting with the Eye of the Woman’ by Agnieszka Kulas, Managing Director and Partner at BCG Poland, was an inspiring conversation about the role of women in the consulting industry.The next Masterclass hosted by Sandra Pretczynska-Plichta, consultant and author of the BCG x Vogue report ‘Sustainability and AI in Fashion.’ illuminated the latest trends in fashion, sustainability, and AI, bringing a real-life consulting case study.

The Masterclass was also documented by a graphic recorder, Magda Witosinska, who is also a laureate of the #HerStory mentorship program at Girls Future Ready.

The most recent Masterclass, led by Julita Goluch, Project Leader in BCG, tackled the complexity of unlocking your inner leader and embracing one’s leadership archetype for impactful decision-making. Participants engaged in personal elevator pitches, discovered their leader type and tackled important questions.

The ongoing partnership with BCG is set to bring more innovative and impactful projects, further empowering the young women in our community. Our story at Girls Future Ready is far from over. Inspired by Agnieszka Kulas’s words:

“Do not autoeliminate yourself. Give yourself a chance. You are good enough.”

This belief is at the heart of everything we do, fueling our mission to empower every young woman to see her potential.