Girl Scouts event links New Jersey teens with business leaders

Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey will host D.R.I.V.E. HER Forward on Aug. 12 at Topgolf Mount Laurel, connecting girls in grades 7-12 with executives, entrepreneurs and mentors. The event aims to build workforce pathways in fields from STEM to media and trade, with support from Bristol Myers Squibb, NJM Insurance Group and Bovio Rubino Service.

Why it matters: - Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey is using a leadership event to connect older girls with real career networks, not just classroom advice. - The program is meant to help teens explore pathways into STEM, media, finance and trade fields. - Local corporate backing ties youth development to New Jersey’s future talent pipeline.

What happened: - GSCSNJ will host its signature D.R.I.V.E. HER Forward event on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at Topgolf Mount Laurel. - The program is designed for girls in rising 7th grade through graduating high school seniors. - Participants will meet business executives, entrepreneurs and industry experts for networking, mentorship and career exploration. - The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Topgolf Mount Laurel, 104 Centerton Rd., Mount Laurel. - Corporate sponsors include Bristol Myers Squibb, NJM Insurance Group and Bovio Rubino Service.

The details: - The event opens with a fireside chat featuring Karen Rogers, 6ABC meteorologist and journalist, and Marianne Aleardi, president of SJ Mag Media. - Rogers and Aleardi will discuss career transitions, navigating technical industries, leading with confidence and staying resilient under pressure. - After the keynote, girls will join breakout sessions or Career Connection Circles with professionals across a dozen or more corporate and regional sectors. - Catalina Walsh, GSCSNJ Girl Champion Coordinator, said girls need strong community backing to prepare for leadership roles in STEM, media, finance and trade. - Walsh also said Girl Scouting is more than badges and serves as a workforce-development pathway. - Angela Rubino-Hines, president of Bovio Rubino Services, said building a strong workforce requires investing in young talent before they enter the job market. - Rubino-Hines said the sponsors want to give young women networks, visibility and opportunity. - GSCSNJ said the event is part of its broader effort to give girls leadership experiences and confidence through direct contact with adult mentors and business leaders. - GSCSNJ serves girls across nine counties in Central and Southern New Jersey. - GSCSNJ says its mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character.

Between the lines: - The event shows how youth organizations are leaning on employer partnerships to make career exposure more concrete and local. - The focus on older girls suggests GSCSNJ is trying to reach students at a decision point, when career interests and post-high-school plans are starting to form. - The business sponsorships also signal that regional employers see value in shaping future talent earlier.

What's next: - GSCSNJ is inviting corporate partners, media and supporters to learn more about workforce programming. - Interested groups can visit more information or contact Lisa Kricun, vice president of fund development, at lkricun@gscsnj.org. - GSCSNJ says businesses can support local Girl Scout workforce programming through partnerships and corporate giving.

The bottom line: - D.R.I.V.E. HER Forward is built to turn a networking event into a practical on-ramp to leadership and career exploration for New Jersey girls.