Each week during November’s #MembershipMatters Campaign, we’ll highlight the story of a Step Up member in her own words. Ready to join her as a member of the national network of women inspiring girls to fulfill their potential? You can become a member here.
I initially joined Step Up somewhat impulsively at one of the shopping events. They had this wonderful teen speaking and her story really inspired me. The Luminary Circle membership seemed like a lot, but then when they mentioned you could pay it in monthly installments it wasn’t so bad. The investment in these young women’s futures plus the network of the other members makes it worth it.
It’s interesting, because initially when I joined I did it to help others through mentoring and giving back. I did have doubts about what I had to offer, and being in a room with women who had these great careers was a bit intimidating. I realized along the way that the benefit that I received from mentoring was way more than I ever anticipated. I would tell these young women that they should go for their dreams and that they could be anything they wanted, but I wasn’t living that myself. It has inspired me to follow my own advice and pursue my passions. The support I receive from the group also makes taking those risks less daunting. It’s nice to belong to a community of strong women.
It’s such a diverse group of women, including lawyers, scientists, stylists and entrepreneurs. With all the pressures that young girls face today, it’s important for them to be exposed to strong confident women. And it’s equally important for us as professional women to realize how strong and confident we are. I like how Step Up provides the outlet for both to happen.
- Naana Grant-Acquah
Senior Analyst, Fresenius-Kabi USA
