Instead of posting a funny video or story today, I am going to share an inspiring story. One that is close to me personally, but I hope it inspires some of you as well.
There was a girl who joined The Geek Squad some 10 or so years ago. For those of you who don't know, The Geek Squad is Best Buy's Technical Support team that helps customers. She looked around her and realized she was the only girl in a sea of boys. Then, she decided to do something about it. She had an idea. What if you could create a summer camp targeted at high school girls to teach them foundational technology skills? So she did.
The camp grew. It became global, but that isn't the end of the story. She had another idea. What if you could create a gaming platform to teach foundational technology skills that all kids can benefit from and one that is built as a game? So, she did and a company was born. Today, that company is called Galvanize Labs, which is a hybrid education and gaming company teaching technology as a subject. That girl is Moira Hardek, President and CEO of Galvanize Labs. Galvanize Labs has produced a browser-based, technology education game, Taken Charge which has just earned the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), Seal of Alignment, which is the first time it has been awarded to an online educational game. Currently, the game is being used by The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts so far and is a platform that can change the way we teach our kids technology starting in grammar school.
This story inspires me, because it was an idea that was born out of a need in the market. Then with passion and purpose, a company was born improving the lives of so many and creating a solution to technology skills that younger generations will continue to need in a digital world.
Ask yourself today, "How Can I Change the World"? Start small. Start with one person, even if it is yourself. I am starting by sharing these kinds of stories. More to come!