Girl Scouts get ready for business at Cookie Leadership Institute

Cookie season is less than a month away. Have you created your cookie business plan yet?

Girl Scouts from all over the Council recently had some help developing their Cookie Program goals at the Cookie Leadership Institute.

Nicole Stuart, president of Top Guard Security and 2017 Girl Scout Famous Former.

Nicole Stuart, president of Top Guard Security, and Carol Curtis, president and founder of Noah Enterprises, Inc., came by A Place for Girls to help girls get ready to achieve their goals. The two Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast Famous Formers were joined by Lilliea Jackson, sales operations manager at Little Brownie Bakers

During the leadership session, Lilliea showed Girl Scouts how to think like a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) ™ and develop their own cookie business plan.

Lilliea showed Girl Scout Morgan from Troop 963 how to create her own
business plan for the upcoming Cookie Program. 

Girl Scouts learned how to define their own brand by choosing a business a name, tagline and logo that made them unique and how to create a marketing message that customers would love. They also learned how to set a goal that would help them see the results they needed achieve their goals.

It can be challenging to be a girl in the business world, as Nicole told the girls during the leadership session. But being a Girl Scout alumna herself, she knows that Girl Scouts have what it takes to succeed in any arena—including business.

Nicole coached Girl Scout Hannah from Troop 648 on creating her
marketing message and how to achieve her cookie goals.

Carol said she is used to being the only girl in the room sometimes, but that doesn’t stop her from taking the lead in tough situations. Sometimes that means working together as a team and being respectful of everyone’s ideas.

“I have to show them that I am able to solve problems and do the right thing,” Carol said. “What I do is offer my suggestion and then ask others what their ideas are and create a solution using ideas from everyone.”

Both Carol and Nicole told the Girl Scouts that teamwork is an important aspect of successful planning.

Even though she was very shy, Nicole said she knew that getting out there and talking to people was a must to make her business grow. Now, she has the largest security business in Hampton Roads, with over 850 employees.

A Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast Famous Former, Carol told the Girl Scouts
in attendance that they, too, have what it takes to succeed in business.

“You don’t have to be the most popular girl in school to succeed,” Nicole said. “You just have to set a vision and work hard and see that vision through.”

At the beginning of the Cookie Season earlier this year, it snowed a lot! But Girl Scouts made the most of those snowy days and went door to door anyway.

Carol told the girls that sometimes, even she has a day that doesn’t go the way she had planned, but by working hard towards her goals, she turns those not-so-perfect days into successes.

“When you have those challenges, you just say it’s ok,” Carol. “You’re going to make the best you can of today and tomorrow will be even better.”

Annual Cookie Kickoff prepared Girl Scouts for sweet success

Were you one of the 1,600 people that came out to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center for the Cookie Kickoff on December 9?

From Troop 273, Girl Scouts Cameron Wright, Shelby Smith,
Samarrah Whiting, Nycia Walker, Leah Wright and Aryanna Weaver
stopped by the official Cookie Kickoff photo booth.

If you were, you already know there was tons of fun—and learning—to be had by all.

Girl Scouts from all over the Council came out to the event, eager to learn what it takes to successfully manage their own cookie program. Stations were set up to help girls learn how to manage money, set and achieve their goals, people skills and business ethics.

Junior Girl Scout Evelyn Parrish from Troop 1344 in Yorktown got a
close look at one of the aquarium's komodo dragons.

Of course, the Cookie Kickoff wouldn’t have been complete without a cookie tasting booth. Did you get to taste one of your favorite Girl Scout cookies?

TowneBank sponsored this year’s kickoff, and their assistant vice president Stacey Hasty—a Girl Scout alumna—talked to girls about money management and goal-setting. She thinks the program is a great way for girls to develop leadership skills!

Girl Scout Daisy Chinasa Troxler from Troop 14 told TowneBank Assistant
Vice President Stacey Hasty about her experience with money management. 

“It’s an opportunity for them to shine and get them to talk to others,” Hasty said. “It also teaches them basic finance skills and how to set and achieve. It’s just beneficial on so many levels.”

While learning all about the upcoming Cookie Program, Girl Scouts and their families also got to check out many of the aquarium’s exhibits, including an up-close look at komodo dragons, jellyfish, sharks and this year’s cookie mascot, the sea turtle!

Troop 57 Girl Scout Cadette Samantha Bailey got some face time with this
year's cookie mascot at the Cookie Kickoff.

If you visited the touch tank, you could even reach in and pet one of the many types of stingrays swimming around.

Girl Scout Junior Bianca touched a stingray—she said it was awesome, even if the stingray felt a little slimy!

Girl Scout Junior Biana Marcelin from Troop 78 spent some time
with the stingrays at the touch tank, along with GSCCC's Chris Ramos-Smith. 

How does your troop plan to use their cookie proceeds this year? Troop 1119 from Williamsburg said they hope to plan a multi-day camping trip, while Yorktown’s Troop 1052 will put their proceeds towards an outing at Ocean Breeze Water Park and next year’s holiday gift giving to an organization in need.

 Are you all set to sell cookies on January 6?

If you have photos from the kickoff and want to share them on social media, use #cookiekickoffgsccc so others can find them!

Norfolk's Troop 4159 took a quick break next to the wave machine
for a group photo.