15: Cultivating Confidence, Compassion, and Community: Mary Pat King's Vision for Girl Scouts

In this episode, Dr. Tonjua Williams sits down with Mary Pat King, CEO of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, to explore the profound and lasting impact of Girl Scouts on young girls’ lives. Together, they delve into how the organization fosters confidence, leadership, and essential life skills, empowering girls to reach their fullest potential. From the entrepreneurial lessons of the iconic Girl Scout Cookie program to the critical importance of family engagement, Mary Pat shares insights into how Girl Scouts equips girls for success. They also discuss the organization's efforts to expand its reach to underserved communities, ensuring every girl has the opportunity to thrive. Join Dr. Tonjua and Mary Pat for an inspiring conversation on how Girl Scouts is shaping tomorrow’s leaders and creating a ripple effect of positive change in the lives of young women. KEY POINTS:  [02:07] - Mary’s introduction to Girl Scouts  [03:09] - The passion for building youth confidence and potential [07:00] - How Girl Scout programs develop skills in STEM, health, and outdoors [13:25] - The entrepreneurial learning in the Girl Scout cookie program [18:17] - Some public community events hosted by Girl Scouts [20:43] - Concerns about social media's impact on youth mental health [24:19] - Mary's leadership development through Positive Intelligence program [32:07] - The role of mentorship and high awards coaches in Girl Scouts [41:34] - Mary Pat's advice for aspiring leaders on humility and self-care QUOTABLES:  "I love to see confidence grow. I love to see youth who didn't think they could do something, and then they do it." - Mary Pat King "Girl Scouts is one of the few programs where the mother, the grandmother, the aunt, the sister, can be side by side, experiencing things for the first time together." - Mary Pat King GUEST RESOURCES: Mary Pat King  LinkedIn | @marypatking RESOURCES: St. Petersburg College Website | St. Petersburg College Facebook | @stpetecollege  IG | @stpetersburgcollege YouTube | @SPC  LinkedIn | @st-petersburg-college  X | @spcnews  Standing In The Gap is produced by EPYC Media Network | Visit at https://www.epyc.co/