Inspiring girls is IGO’s main goal. They connect girls with role models regarding different passions and interests. They have so many women you can interview and speak with.

– Rebecca Bannister

By Ashley Gilbert

Sophomore Rebecca Bannister has been working for several months with the Inspiring Girls Organization (IGO) to bring an incredible opportunity to Granada Hills Charter (GHC). Bannister helped organize the girl’s empowerment panel that took place on November 27 as a part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. 

IGO partnered with Cacharel for the panel, a French perfume company, and featured actress Skai Jackson, an ambassador of Cacharel. In inviting Jackson to speak, IGO sought to inspire and educate attendees about professional career opportunities, along with other questions girls may have about entering the workforce. 

Bannister has been working with the organization for the past five years, and last year was promoted to the role of ambassador for IGO. As an ambassador, she participates in a one-year program where she works in collaboration with different IGO hubs and chapters around the world. Through this program, she was allowed to host the panel. 

“I worked alongside the incredible Erin Brown from Inspiring Girls,” Bannister said. “She helped me to connect and reach a broader audience. I also connected with Ms. Quintana. I realized that we could do this with IB students and it could be such a great, interesting panel.” 

Bannister hoped to help fellow girls connect with role models, regarding different passions and interests.

“I wanted to show students at Granada that there is such a large world of different ideas,” Bannister said. “You can create your job. So many women on the panel were able to create and customize their jobs. They could be their own bosses and be able to be their own CEOs, heads, and managers.”

The panel was the first of its kind that included both Inspiring Girls and Cacharel in the United States and was an excellent opportunity for female students as a part of the GHC IB program to learn about professional opportunities in their future. Bannister undoubtedly reached her goal of being able to empower and inspire her peers through the panel.