Sign up to receive tips, advice and activities to help support girls in your life.
)
Girls' Leadership Starts Here
Together, we can equip girls to lead their way
Lean In Girls is a free leadership program that empowers girls and teens who identify with the girlhood experience, ages 11-15, to build confidence, embrace challenges, and lead boldly.
At the heart of the program is a 15-session curriculum available to any school or youth-serving organization. Through engaging activities and interactive discussions, girls will discover their voice and build essential leadership skills — like reframing failure, taking positive risks, and setting bold goals.
Sign up today to receive everything you need to get started, including session guides, activity materials, training resources, and implementation support.
What makes lean in girls different
Research shows that girls who see themselves as leaders are happier, healthier, and more engaged in their schools and communities. The Lean In Girls curriculum is designed to equip girls with the skills and tools they need to step into their power and lead on their own terms.
Builds confidence and resilience
Builds confidence and resilience by helping girls identify their values and embrace their unique strengths.
Counters perfectionism and fear of failure
Counters perfectionism and fear of failure by inspiring girls to take healthy risks, embrace imperfections, and see mistakes as opportunities for growth.
Fosters voice and agency
Fosters voice and agency by empowering girls to challenge stereotypes, push back against bias, and reject limiting messages that tell them they’re too much or not enough.
Cultivates allyship
Cultivates allyship by equipping girls to stand up against bullying and mean-girl culture, and instead create spaces where everyone belongs.
)
)
)
)
what girls and facilitators are saying
Since the launch of the program in 2023, Lean In Girls has partnered with 180+ organizations in 20+ countries to bring the program to 20,000+ girls across the globe, and we’re just getting started.
2x
increase in girls who said they would be very likely to lead a group project, try a new activity, or speak up1
2x
increase in girls who said they would be very likely to lead a group project, try a new activity, or speak up1
91%
of girls learned something new about how they can lead1
91%
of girls learned something new about how they can lead1
100%
of facilitators felt prepared to run the program and would recommend it to others1
100%
of facilitators felt prepared to run the program and would recommend it to others1
94%
of girls would recommend the program to a friend1
94%
of girls would recommend the program to a friend1
I love how [Lean In Girls] made me feel more confident in who I am and I love how we always support each other.
My students love the weekly meetings, they are very supportive of one another and we all regard it as the highlight of our week. I really like checking in on their actions from the previous week, I love how it actively involves them in making changes and taking on challenges in very tangible ways.

Special thanks to our partners
FAQs
Bringing Lean In Girls to your school or community is simple—and we’re here to help. Explore the FAQs below for quick answers and helpful tips. Still have questions? Reach out anytime at suppport@leaningirls.org – we’re happy to help!
1) What age is the program recommended for?
Lean In Girls is designed for girls and nonbinary teens who identify with the girlhood experience, ages 11–15. However, educators have successfully adapted the program for slightly younger or older groups based on their unique needs and context.
2) Where can I find more information on the curriculum's scope and sequence?
Please check out our curriculum overview document to explore the goals and learning objectives for each of our 15 sessions.
3) How are schools running the program?
Schools run Lean In Girls in a variety of ways—during advisory periods or lunch, as part of afterschool clubs, enrichment blocks, or as a stand-alone leadership program. The flexible format allows educators to adapt the sessions to fit their schedules and goals.
4) Do you need special skills or experience to facilitate?
Lean In Girls is designed to be facilitated by any caring adult – no special skills or experience required. We often see adults learning alongside the girls, creating a powerful shared experience. To support our facilitators, we offer a free online facilitator training, a comprehensive Facilitator Handbook, and access to a supportive peer community.
5) How long is each session?
Each session is 60 minutes long, and can be adapted to shorter or longer periods -- explore the Facilitator Handbook for helpful tips on adjusting the sessions to fit your needs.
6) I’m planning to run Lean In Girls. How often should we meet?
Most Lean In Girls groups meet weekly, but you are welcome to set a meeting cadence that works best for you and your girls.
7) How many sessions should I plan to run?
We recommend starting with Parts 1 & 2 of the curriculum (8 sessions) – but you can get started with as few as four sessions!
8) Can I see what a sample session looks like?
Yes! You can download a sample session on our Curriculum page. The full 15-session curriculum is available for free when you register your program.
9) Is the program inclusive and culturally responsive?
Yes! The curriculum is rooted in research and was developed in close collaboration with experts and teens from diverse backgrounds. It is intentionally designed to be intersectional, culturally responsive, and adaptable so that girls from unique backgrounds and experiences feel valued and empowered to lead.
10) How was the curriculum developed?
The curriculum is grounded in ethnographic and social science research and was developed in collaboration with experts in gender studies, leadership, and childhood development. It was also shaped by an advisory group of girls and nonbinary teens to ensure the content is relevant, inclusive, and resonant.
Footnotes
1
Natasha Duell and Laurence Steinberg, “Adolescents take positive risks, too,” Developmental Review 62 (2021); Natasha Duell and Laurence Steinberg, “Positive Risk Taking in Adolescence,” Child Development Perspectives 13, no. 1 (2019): 48–52; Christia Spears Brown, Sharla D. Biefeld, et al., Gender in Childhood, Elements in Child Development (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2020); Judit Alcalde et al., “Building Strong Girls Evaluation Report: Final Results,” Canadian Women’s Foundation (2017); Richard F. Catalano et al., “Positive Youth Development in the United States: Research Findings on Evaluations of Positive Youth Development Programs,” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 591, no. 1 (2004): 98–124; Richard F. Catalano et al., "Positive Youth Development Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Conceptual Framework and Systematic Review of Efficacy,” Journal of Adolescent Health 65, no. 1 (2019): 15–31.
2
These efficacy findings are based on the results of a pilot study conducted in partnership with KIPP Public Schools across four states (New York, Georgia, Texas, and California) from April through June 2023.