“Next Girl Up gives you the opportunity to give back in a way that’s truly meaningful — in a way that shapes lives. It’s unlike any other program I’ve seen, and being part of it has been just as impactful for me as I hope it has been for the girls.”
My name is Lauren Simonelli, and I’m currently the Director of Product Management at Hydrow. For most of my career, I’ve worked in product development across a range of startups, and I’ve had the opportunity to be part of companies as they’ve grown from early-stage ideas, and even once through acquisition by a large public organization.
Throughout that journey, one thing has been consistently true: I was often one of the very few women in the room. Sometimes the only one.
That experience stayed with me. While I was proud of the career I had built, I couldn’t ignore how much confidence it takes to speak up, share ideas, and lead in spaces where you don’t see many people who look like you.
That’s what motivated me to become a Next Girl Up facilitator. I wanted to help change that reality by giving young women the skills and confidence early on, before they ever walk into those rooms, so they’re prepared and unafraid.
One of the biggest surprises for me was just how advanced the curriculum is. Topics like business and finance can easily feel dry or overwhelming, especially for high school students. But Next Girl Up has managed to turn those subjects into something engaging and fun, without watering them down. The girls are learning the foundations they’ll need, and they’re enjoying the process at the same time.
There were so many meaningful moments throughout the program, but one that really stuck with me was the day we worked on vision boards. I couldn’t believe the creativity, the ideas, and the size of their dreams. Seeing how boldly these girls imagined their futures was so inspiring.
From a facilitator’s perspective, the experience was incredibly manageable. The Next Girl Up team has put a lot of thought into the curriculum. You can rely on it completely, which makes preparation easy, but there’s also plenty of flexibility to make the sessions your own. That balance made it simple to manage, even with a busy professional schedule.
Over the course of the program, the growth I saw in the students was the best part, especially in their confidence. I watched girls who were initially too shy to participate in group discussions transform into those who volunteered to stand in front of the room and present their ideas with confidence.
If someone is considering becoming a facilitator, I would absolutely recommend it. Next Girl Up gives you the opportunity to give back in a way that’s truly meaningful — in a way that shapes lives. It’s unlike any other program I’ve seen, and being part of it has been just as impactful for me as I hope it has been for the girls.