Giving Compass' Take:

• Keisha Senter shares how the curiosity and ambition that a teacher worked to stifle inspired her pursuit to create a better world.

•  Why is it more important for us to inspire young girls and foster their ambition rather than punish them for it? 

• Read about programs that are already empowering the next generation of women leaders. 

I was eight years old when I first learned that curious little girls can be intimidating. Even to grownups. I was sitting sat at my small desk in an empty classroom after all of my classmates had gone home for the day. At the front of the classroom, Ms. Simpson* was trying to convince my mother that I should repeat the third grade.

"Why would I hold her back?" said my mother.

“Because she asks too many questions.”

Ms. Simpson was right. I did ask a lot of questions.

Over the years, some told me that I was too ambitious. Some said my ideas were too big, even impossible. So, what happened when this little curious girl grew up to become a curious woman? I pursued a career in which the ability to question, create, and innovate was not only welcomed and celebrated, it was essential to success.

The lessons I learned, leaders I met, the communities I served and ideas I implemented at these extraordinary organizations pushed me to ask myself some of the most important questions of my career: How will you use your position, knowledge and passion to be of service?

The answers that surfaced led to one conclusion: to follow my dream and build an agency that focuses on finding creative solutions to our biggest questions and challenges, The Solution Senter.

We are relentless in our pursuit of creating a better world. We work with changemakers in the entertainment, philanthropic, political and corporate sectors who share the same vision and belief — that everyone has a responsibility to use their influence, resources, and talents to be of service to communities in need.

Read the full article about helping curious little girls become successful by Keisha Senter at Medium