Erin Ross shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Erin, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People often have the misperception that because we are a non-profit organization and our outcomes are not tied to revenue for shareholders that we aren’t a real business. I’ve even been asked before if I get paid to do my job. But I face many of the same challenges a CEO of a $2M+ business does. I am responsible for the livelihood of sixteen employees: ensuring they get paid on time, securing benefits that meet their needs and creating a work environment that enables them to meet their goals. As a tax-exempt organization we are held to an incredibly high standard, we are audited annually and grantors often look closely at our financials and operations before making an investment. I am proud of the professional business that I run with engaged employees, strong financials and meaningful outcomes. We reached more than 1200 girls last year with research-based curriculum and created a space where they feel seen and supported. To me, those are the dividends that matter.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am in my fifth year as the CEO of Girls Inc. of Los Angeles. Girls Inc. has been around for more than 160 years but has been in Los Angeles for less than a decade. During my tenure, we have prioritized expanding the reach of our programs while ensuing a high-quality, high-impact experience for our girls. We believe deeply that girls are inherently strong and talented and it is our role to remove the barriers they may be facing to help them reach their full potential. We do this in a variety of ways, including introducing them early to a wide array of career paths they might not have known were available to them. Since we are in Los Angeles, we give them a lot of exposure to the creative economy- design, production, content creation, fashion and beauty, but also place a significant emphasis on STEM fields, where women are still woefully underrepresented. If girls understand at a relatively young age that these careers are possible- and especially if they meet women who look like them who are already succeeding in these spaces- it gives them more drive and focus for their futures.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I loved school, but going on field trips had an immense impact on me. When I was in second grade, we went on a field trip to the Mayor’s office. I was struck that day but the idea that his primary job was to help people. (I understand now it is a little more complicated, but that is what really stuck with me at age seven.) Sitting at that big wooden table, I could envision myself in rooms like that one, thinking of ways to help my community. And ultimately, that is my role at Girls Inc. of Los Angeles. These formative experiences are we focus so much of our programming on giving our girls real-world exposure to professionals and workplaces. It is cliché to say “if you see it, you can be it” but I really do think that can be true. We’ve taken our girls on field trips ranging from Sony Studios to SNAP to Summer Fridays to Citizens of Humanity Jeans. It is one thing to hear about career pathways, but it is totally different to be welcomed into those spaces and meet the real people doing those jobs. Even though they are young, we know we are planting seeds, just like my trip to the Mayor’s office.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
The last year has been an incredibly difficult one to run a non-profit organization. After the fires ravaged Los Angeles, it felt challenging and even inappropriate at times to try to raise money for another cause. And the political climate is challenging for an organization that is typically so outspoken about meeting the needs of girls. But the need for our work is more important than ever, so we have persevered. Girls continue to face significant mental health challenges after the pandemic, exacerbated by social media and the uncertainty created by the immigration enforcement and other policies and cuts coming from Washington. It is vital that girls have an environment where they feel safe and have mentors and supportive peers who help them navigate these challenges. And we know our programs are getting through to them. In the spring, 86% of girls served reported feeling “safe and supported” at Girls Inc. LA and 87% reported having a “trusted adult” at the program.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My friends often joke that I am the “do-gooder” in our group. I really do believe that if you have opportunity and privilege of any kind, it is your obligation to ease the burden for others. I am fortunate that my professional life is directly focused on providing resources and support to those in need, but I try to model it in my non-working life as well. I have an eight-year-old son and I have worked hard to embed an ethos of service in him, just as my parents did for me. Every month, we make lunches for the unhoused. For the holidays, he receives “kindness cash” that he gets to donate to the charity of his choice. Last year, he divided it between the organization we make the lunches for and a local animal rescue. As he gets older, we’ll focus on more direct service, but I already see his empathy and perspective expanding through these small acts.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Some people are surprised that Girls Inc. LA starts our career exploration programs in middle school, since the girls are years away from figuring out what they might want to do. However, we think it is important to plant seeds early to help girls expand their thinking about what is available to them and what is possible. If a girl can have an “aha moment” at a young age that helps them dream bigger than their current circumstances, it can motivate them to approach school differently, seek out opportunities like clubs or organizations that might enhance their educational experience and build a community of like-minded people. Girls Inc. LA can provide both the inspiration but also the support to help them pursue those opportunities, even if it takes many years to come to fruition.
Contact Info:
- Website: girlsincla.org; girlsinclaevents.org
- Instagram: @girlsincla
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/girlsincla
Image Credits
Event photo: Jordan Strauss
