International Day of the Girl 2026: How to Help Girls Embrace Their Leadership Potential

This week marks International Day of the Girl, a global moment to celebrate girls everywhere. Lean In Girls is a free leadership program that helps girls build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills. We spoke to Lean In Girls facilitator Denazia Pettway about the challenges girls face on their path to leadership, and how the adults in their lives can help.

In addition to her work as a Lean In Girls facilitator, Denazia is a student support coordinator with Communities In Schools (CIS) of Michigan. She makes sure students' basic needs are met and connects families facing homelessness, food insecurity, attendance challenges, and transportation barriers to resources. She calls herself "a community resource."

Why is it important for girls to see that they can be leaders?

Girls need to know their voices matter and that they can make a difference. I help students recognize their strengths and connect with opportunities to grow.

Leadership can begin with sharing an idea, helping a classmate, or advocating for yourself. When adults recognize those everyday actions, girls begin to see themselves as leaders.

Especially for girls of color, seeing a woman lead who looks like them, like their mom, their aunt, or their grandmother, lets them see it in themselves. They can imagine more: "My mom might not have done it, but I have an auntie who did. I can do that."

Learn more about Lean In Girls

What challenges do you see girls facing when it comes to embracing their leadership potential? What holds them back?

Girls often receive mixed messages: be confident, but don’t be too outspoken; have ambition, but make sure everyone likes you. Being labeled “bossy” or worrying about judgment can make them hesitate to share their ideas. They also have access to so many images and they are constantly sizing themselves up against adults in the media. It's beating them down before they even get a chance to fully stand up.

In my work, I also consider what else a student may be navigating. Unmet basic needs, difficult peer relationships, or feeling disconnected from school can make stepping into leadership feel overwhelming.

That is why building relationships matters. Sometimes a girl needs a consistent, caring adult who listens and helps her recognize her strengths before she feels comfortable taking a risk. We should never assume a quiet student has nothing to say.

What are some concrete ways adults can help build confidence and ambition in the girls in their lives?

To build confidence in girls, take their ideas seriously, and give them real opportunities to make decisions. Ask what interests them and what they would like to change, then help them put those ideas into action.

That could mean leading a group activity, helping plan an event, or participating in a service project. Give specific feedback, such as, “You helped everyone feel included,” or, “You spoke up even though you were nervous.” This helps girls recognize their own leadership skills.

We also need to make room for mistakes. Girls should know they can ask for help, struggle with something, and still be capable. That reflects a belief at the heart of CIS: young people thrive when they have caring adults, supportive environments, and opportunities to contribute.

We’ve seen a rollback in commitment to gender equality in the U.S., and some disturbing recent news stories make clear the urgency of addressing gender bias and misogyny. How do you talk to girls about this daunting environment?

I believe in being honest without creating fear. Gender bias, social media, and the pressure to fit in already affect how girls see themselves. I want them to know that unfair treatment does not define their worth or their potential.

I create safe spaces to listen and help girls build confidence, set healthy boundaries, recognize unhealthy relationships, and seek support from trusted adults. Adults also have a responsibility to challenge harmful behavior.

I also want girls to understand they don't have to change who they are. They don't have to change how they think, how they dress, or how they look or act to feel empowered or accepted. You have it in you. You deserve respect. You deserve it all. And you're not facing this alone. You have people like Lean In Girls and Communities In Schools who are willing to go to bat for each and every one of you.

What is your favorite Lean In Girls session to run?

I'd pick session one, Redefine Leadership. It first gets their perspective on what a leader looks like, and then it challenges it. That challenge is what helps everything grow. Now they're looking at themselves like, "Wait a minute, I didn't think about this before, but could I be a leader? Could that be me?" People say fourth and fifth graders aren't thinking like that, but a lot of them are. They think about the future heavily. It starts to trickle down, and it expands what they believe is possible.

Learn more about Lean In Girls