Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis (Girls Inc. Indy) is opening two new spaces this fall that will give girls and young women even more ways to explore their interests and prepare for life after high school and college.

Career Lab: Building Skills for the Future
The new Career Lab, launched in August, serves young women ages 18-24 who are ready to take a more focused step toward a sustainable career. Funded through the IAAQLI grant initiative, the program builds on the career exploration that begins in Girls Inc. programs like InspireHer and carries that support into young adulthood.

Through Career Lab, participants will work with mentors to identify their goals and map out a path that makes sense for them. They’ll have opportunities to strengthen interview and job-readiness skills, build financial literacy, pursue certifications and internships, and connect with employers and post-secondary programs.

Girls Inc. Indy’s Programs team has already been meeting with young women to learn more about what they want from the program and what support would be most useful as they work toward their goals.

For Emily Henson, Senior Director of Program Impact & Evaluation, Career Lab is an important extension of the support Girls Inc. provides as young women move into adulthood.

“We are incredibly proud of the work our girls do throughout high school and all they overcome as they prepare for life at 18. But we also know that turning 18 is not the finish line—it is just the beginning.

Early adulthood brings an entirely new set of challenges. Young women are learning how to build professional networks, manage their finances, regulate their emotions and stress, navigate college and careers, advocate for themselves, and develop practical skills like résumé writing and interviewing. These are critical years, and having someone in your corner can make all the difference.

That is what Career Lab is designed to provide. Robbin Payne, our Program Manager, is the kind of woman every girl in Indianapolis would be lucky to have in her corner. She will work alongside each young woman to set goals, identify her strengths, navigate challenges, and build a path toward the future she wants.

We don’t want to simply prepare girls to reach adulthood. We want to make sure they have the relationships, resources, skills, and confidence to build a life they are proud of.”

Podcast Studio: A New Space to Share Stories
A new podcast studio, created in partnership with Audiochuck, will bring another kind of learning experience to the Girls Inc. Indy office.

The studio will be incorporated into programming and give participants a chance to learn more about storytelling, communication, and digital media while working with professional podcasting equipment.

The new space will also serve as the home of Leadership Lounge, a program designed to give girls a platform to share their perspectives while building communication, leadership, and technical skills. Henson says the program reflects Girls Inc. Indy’s belief that girls should have opportunities not only to speak up, but also to learn how to use their voices with confidence and purpose.

“Our girls have something to say. They are passionate, thoughtful, and caring young women who want to make a difference. They are living in this world, experiencing it in real time, and developing ideas, perspectives, and opinions that hold tremendous value. We believe they deserve opportunities not only to express those ideas, but to learn how to use their voices with confidence, purpose, and impact.

That is why we are so excited about the development of Leadership Lounge. This program gives our girls a platform to elevate their voices while also challenging them to become stronger communicators, deeper thinkers, and more curious leaders. They will learn how to ask thoughtful questions, engage in meaningful conversations, listen to perspectives different from their own, advocate for what matters to them, and understand the responsibility and power that come with having a voice.

But Leadership Lounge goes beyond what happens behind the microphone. Our girls will also be behind the scenes, learning the technical skills required to bring a podcast to life. They will gain hands-on experience with audio and video production, recording, editing, storytelling, interviewing, and the technology that supports the entire production process.

We are incredibly proud that Leadership Lounge brings together two of our key priorities: developing strong, confident leaders and creating meaningful opportunities for girls to engage with STEM. They aren’t simply learning about these skills—they are putting them into practice and creating something that belongs to them.

Their first episode will premiere live at TogetHer on Friday, September 25, and I cannot wait to see these young women step into this space, take ownership of their voices, and show our community exactly what they have to say.”

Together, these new offerings reflect the same goal: giving girls and young women space to try something new, learn what they’re capable of, and leave with experience they can build on.

We’re excited to see the Career Lab and podcast studio come to life and to share more from the participants using them. Stay tuned for more updates by following Girls Inc. Indy on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.