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Why did you decide to start a non-profit/Girls in Stem?
“The summer before my freshman year, I attended an engineering camp, and all of our classes were in the engineering building. I remember my first day of class, I had to use the restroom. So I’m walking on the first floor looking for the bathroom, and I passed the men's restroom. To my confusion, there was not a women's restroom on this first floor. So I went up to the second floor, no luck, third floor, no luck. I finally found a women's restroom on the fourth floor of the engineering building. That gave birth to my yearn for a space where I could feel safe to be curious and not looked down upon for asking ‘stupid’ questions. A club like that didn't exist in my high school, so I took it into my own hands to start Girls in STEM as a freshman in high school.”
– via @storiesofaustin on Instagram
The Girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) (GiS) non-profit organization aims to empower and inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields through three pillars: Bridging the Gap (guest speakers), Girls Teaching Girls (STEM learning), and Paying it Forward (community outreach). The organization has a vision of reaching high schools across the country and abroad, making a larger impact and giving the meaning of "her why" a new perspective. GiS is a by girls, for girls, nonprofit fighting to close the STEM gender gap with over 40 chapters around the world.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their own business/non-profit?
Alice advises being scrappy, especially in the initial stages when resources may be limited. Fueling passion into drive and being proactive in taking opportunities, such as reaching out to people and getting creative, can lead to success.
How do you deal with fear and doubt?
Alice emphasizes not being afraid of rejection, as it is not necessarily a bad thing and can be a stepping stone towards growth.
What routines do you follow each day?
Alice strongly believes in wellness and practices an hour of movement each day, incorporating activities like tennis and ballet. She emphasized the importance of taking care of yourself, especially when having to wear multiple hats and being involved in various responsibilities.
Where do you see your GiS in five years? Ten?
Alice envisions expanding GiS’ impact by establishing 100 chapters domestically and abroad within the next 5 years. She aims to form long-term corporate sponsorships to sustain its operations and growth. In the next 10 years, she sees GiS having a significant presence as a core offering in multiple schools, incorporating empowerment curriculum and promoting gender equity and women in the workforce.
How does your GiS look different now vs. when you first started?
From her humble beginnings of doing pretty much everything, the organization has now evolved to have a structured approach with established curriculum and roles for social media, sponsorships, and an upperclassmen high school board. Alice’s role has transitioned from hands-on to more of a management and leadership role.
How do you set GiS apart from other girl-focused STEM non-profits in your industry?
GiS distinguishes itself by collaborating with other non-profits to create a significant impact on critical issues. Its focus on bridging empowerment with technical learning for girls in the 9-12 age group sets it apart from other organizations that mainly focus on fundraising for education in third-world countries or leadership development.
How did you market your GiS when it was brand new?
Alice emphasizes community presence and aims to create a domino effect of chapters by strategically being in spaces in which the target audience is present. Being in the right rooms and working to maintain and build relationships can help create opportunities for growth.
What is the hardest part of being an entrepreneur/founder/non-profit founder?
As a non-profit founder, Alice acknowledges the challenge of being pulled away from the greater good mission sometimes in order to balance the necessary business operations. Having to build a solid foundation on the business end while trying to stay in touch with the organization's mission can be frustrating at times.
What is your favorite part of being a non-profit founder?
Hosting an annual Girls in STEM summer expo in July/August and witnessing the impact on the girls is one of the Alice's most cherished moments. Seeing the takeaways and positive outcomes of the programs and initiatives motivates her to continue her efforts.
What qualities do you think every non-profit founder should possess?
Alice believes that passion and persistence are crucial attributes for a non-profit founder. She acknowledges that it is easy to lose touch with the initial motivation and face challenges, but persistence, belief in the mission, and leveraging passion can help overcome obstacles and scale the organization.
How have you grown personally from becoming an entrepreneur/non-profit founder?
Alice shared that her journey has most definitely shaped her educational and professional career. It has provided opportunities to develop a voice, bring ideas into fruition, inspire others, and navigate male-dominated spaces with more confidence. She believes that caring and taking action can lead to personal growth and meaningful experiences.
What have been some of your biggest learning experiences in running GiS?
Managing people, delegation, prioritization, and staying passionate despite challenges have been some of Alice's significant learning experiences. She acknowledges the importance of leading in a way that is encouraging and trusting.
What do you look for when choosing leadership roles?
Alice emphasized the importance of "showing up" and not just "talking the talk," demonstrating discipline by being present even when it's not glamorous or convenient.
What will you never compromise on with GiS?
Alice highlighted that she would never compromise on the pillars and mission of her organization, which include guest speakers, learning opportunities, and community outreach. Alice strongly believes that staying true to GiS’ core values is crucial for the success and longevity of the non-profit.
Who is your biggest role model?
Alice draws inspiration from Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal and author, who has been a role model for her in terms of being a working woman. She mentioned listening to Sophia's podcast and gaining insights from her experiences in entrepreneurship.
How did you raise funding or financially prepare for GiS in the beginning?
Alice highlighted the significance of harnessing resources and leveraging the expertise of others in the beginning to navigate the complexities of finances and legal aspects.
Any advice about setting up a non-profit in terms of legal/accounting?
Alice emphasized the importance of seeking legal and financial advice as a nonprofit founder. She acknowledged that as the face and ambassador of the organization, it starts with her to secure sponsorships and funding from those who believe in her and the mission.
Benefits of 501c3 status?
Alice shared that obtaining a 501c3 status for her nonprofit has been advantageous, as it provides greater incentives for corporate donors to contribute and support the organization's initiatives.
How do you plan financially for the future of GiS?
Alice mentioned that her nonprofit has a designated director for finances and budgeting within their mini board to ensure the sustainability and growth of the organization.
Have you ever taken out a business loan? Would you recommend it?
Alice noted that in the beginning, she had to use her own money to purchase a few physical supplies for GiS meetings. However, she emphasized the importance of encouraging a scrappy mindset and finding creative ways to support the organization, such as through member dues and leveraging available resources.
How do you lead with your strengths and values?
Alice highlighted the importance of knowing and leading with her strengths and values. She identified herself as a connector and innovator, and shared that she leads by coming up with new ideas and inspiring others to join the mission. She also emphasized the importance of surrounding herself with team members who have different strengths, such as in business, finances, and logistics. She emphasized the values of integrity and serving the younger version of herself that needed community, and recognizing that both she and the STEM field may evolve, requiring openness to growth and listening to the needs of girls on the ground.
Alice as an entrepreneurial leader:
Alice has demonstrated entrepreneurial leadership through her proactiveness, resourcefulness, passion, persistence, leadership development, collaboration, and values. Alice saw a need her freshman year of high school (proactive), put her idea into fruition (resourcefulness), founded the organization based on a genuine connection to the mission (passion), stayed the course throughout challenges (persistence), shifted and delegated responsibilities as GiS expanded (leadership development), partnered with other non-profits, surrounded herself with team members who had strengths in areas where she needed more help (collaboration), is committed to the pillars of GiS, and uses her strengths of connection and innovation to inspire others to join the movement (values).
About The Authors:
Kate Wills '25
Human Dimensions of Organizations
Faith Guerrero '23
Management
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