By Kathy Higgins, President, BCBSNC Foundation and VP Corporate Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina

For more than 80 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has recognized the power of girls through our sponsorship of the Girl Scout Gold Awards, the highest honor in Girl Scouting. This year, our organization was proud to take that a step further as the presenting sponsor of the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow Luncheon.

This signature event provided an opportunity for young women and community leaders to share their knowledge and be inspired by their collective experiences. Girl Scouts in attendance had either completed the work toward their Girl Scout Gold Award or were in the process of earning it. For participating community leaders, it was an informal mentoring opportunity to support and guide girls as they develop the skills and confidence they’ll need on their lifelong leadership journey.

My life has been shaped by inspiring mentors who have instilled in me the values that continue to guide me. These mentors are a thread that runs through all of my accomplishments and even my disappointments. My mentors include relatives, teachers, sports coaches, supervisors and friends who have shared lessons they’ve learned from their own mentors and life experiences.

One of the most important lessons passed on to me is the opportunity we have to nurture those who can learn from us. Whether we achieve a success or experience a failure, we owe a debt to those who taught us to win and lose with dignity and grace.

As we gain experience and knowledge, we can help others to become fuller versions of themselves and to support their development of the courage, confidence and character that will launch them into a lifetime of leadership. Mentoring is an experience that will expand their viewpoints as well as our own. To help girls meet their fullest potential, more young women need to be exposed to mentors who can understand and appreciate their challenges.

It’s important to remember that we have so much to learn from each other. Mentoring is rewarding for everyone involved. Whether formally or informally, I hope you’ll engage with the upcoming generation of girl leaders as we did at the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow Luncheon and as we will continue to do to help Girl Scouts unleash their power to take charge and change the world.

Thanks for sharing Kathy! To learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award and our council partnerships visit our website!