Founder and Director, Strong Girls, Strong Women
“Thank people who have made things happen for you.”
Lindsay Hyde is the Founder and Director of Strong Women, Strong Girls, Inc.. The mission of Strong Women, Strong Girls is to utilize the lessons learned from strong women throughout history to encourage girls and young women to become strong women themselves. By building communities of women committed to supporting positive social change, Strong Women, Strong Girls works to create cycles of mutual empowerment for women and girls. Currently, Strong Women, Strong Girls is annually serving over 400 at-risk girls and engaging 120 college undergraduate women as volunteer mentors. In the past 12 months, Strong Women, Strong Girls volunteers have dedicated over 12,000 hours of service to their communities.
Having grown up in a single parent household living with just her mother, Lindsay had a powerful understanding of the role that strong female role models could play in the lives of young girls. Wanting to provide other girls with the opportunity to be mentored by strong women, Lindsay founded Strong Women, Strong Girls during her freshman year in college.
Lindsay graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 2004 with a joint degree in Sociology and the Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. Lindsay's leadership has been recognized in Seventeen Magazine and Glamour Magazine. She is the recipient of a Do Something BRICK Award and the 2005 YWCA of Cambridge Outstanding Women of the Year award. Most recently, Lindsay was honored with a Jefferson Award for the Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Younger.
How did you become interested and involved in mentoring and community service?
My mom is a rockstar. Growing up, I saw her laying floor tiles and rewiring electricity, so it never occurred to me that there was something a woman could not do. I wanted to provide young girls with similar role models, so I organized a girls group at elementary school and read about famous women each week with them. In college, there was no similar girls’ program, so I called Boston schools to form my own group using the same curriculum from the previous group. The support came and the pieces fell into place and allowed me to follow my dream. It’s now my full-time job and we’ve expanded to mentor 400 girls in 33 schools through 120 college women in seven colleges in two cities.
What prompted you to become a leader?
I had so many people around me that were encouraging. My mom and teachers encouraged me to try out my leadership skills in a safe environment. They believed in my ability to make things happen. I failed a little bit, but I still felt like I had some of those skills that would make leadership happen. My mom always asks “What is the absolute worst case scenario?”
What obstacles have you faced in achieving your goals?
Every nonprofit organization always has a funding shortage. I think, Gosh if we had that extra money we could do this…
How has your experience been shaped by being a woman?
It has completely shaped who I am. Being a women gives you the opportunity to let you lead in a collaborative, unique way, and it’s helped me to imagine different possibilities to reach my goals. We can be barrier breakers.
What lessons have you learned from your experiences?
It’s been an exciting three years making this program work. In the beginning, I didn’t even know the questions I needed to ask to get things moving, much less the answers. I’ve learned to surround myself with people who could be critical and supportive who can call me out or push me in the right direction. Also, when you have a big vision, and see an opportunity for change, it’s hard to feel content starting small, but I’ve found you must start small and learn those little lessons before trying to get big. Most importantly, it’s vital to thank people who have made things happen for you.
If you had the chance, would you have done anything differently?
I would have taken more pictures so I could document the girls in the Strong Women Strong Girls program so we could celebrate their successes more. I should have enjoyed the moment more and taken time to linger over them. It’s also important to understand the challenges you face and learn from them while appreciating the process that makes the company work.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I still want to be working in service, possibly running for public office. I know it’s possible to make change in really positive ways.
What advice do you have for young girls who have leadership aspirations?
Find a mentor someone who can be your advocate– and find more than one. We have this idea of having just one mentor, but several can help you. You have to give to them as well, share your challenges and your accomplishments. Also, don’t be afraid to start small before you jump in. Finally, say thank you! People are invaluable; they’ve invested in you.