Worcester Business Journal

22 Worcester Business Journal | October 29, 2018 | wbjournal.com F O C U S O U T S T A N D I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S 2014 ALUMNAE S ince Girls Inc. of Worcester CEO Victoria Waterman won her Outstanding Women in Business Award in 2014, some things have not changed. She is still CEO. She still reads before bed. e need for girls' empowerment still exists, except now it's ramped up by the #MeToo movement – putting advocacy issues on the front burner. "It's a very important conversation focused around women, not girls. But Girls Inc. platforms combat bullying, sexual harassment and sexual violence," Waterman said. "One in every five girls has experienced that." e national effort has sparked the multiyear Girls Inc. campaign #GirlsToo, with the tagline "Respect starts young" and brought renewed relevancy in context of the headlines of the day. A child who grew up speaking Armenian at home in Rhode Island along with her twin brother, Waterman found her voice and her way to make a difference almost by accident. A mortgage company employee, the housing crash of 2007-2010 had Waterman looking at options. "I had to reinvent myself, overnight. One of my successes at the mortgage company was an article I wrote on what to do with your house when you divorce. It turned into a program and success story for the organization," she said, "starting organically, very unintentionally." at led to Waterman's presidency with Leading Women of Massachusetts and then to Girls Inc., first serving on its board, then as president. Part of Waterman's role has been to ensure its financial stability. Girls Inc. turned 100 years old in 2016. A four-year STEM leadership program for girls from 8th to 12th grade has them spending time at four colleges and doing externships at companies like Boston Scientific and EcoTarium, she said. e first cohort just emerged, with a 100-percent graduation rate and more than $1 million earned in college scholarships. Over half will be the first generation of their families to attend college, Waterman said. e group's successes continue to grow, as does its necessity and Waterman's passion for the cause. - Written by Susan Shalhoub Victoria Waterman Current role: CEO of Girls Inc. in Worcester W

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