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Tough Enough to be a Girl Scout 2024 Celebrating Women Leaders in Non-Traditional Spaces

September 3, 2024
DETROIT, September 3, 2024– Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan’s annual Tough Enough Breakfast will honor three women who are leading in non-traditional spaces. Each of these women, through their trailblazing careers and service to the community, demonstrate every day that they are tough enough to be a Girl Scout.

2024 Tough Enough honorees are:

  • Sati Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Diversified Members Credit Union (DMCU)
  • Dr. Philomena Mantella, President of Grand Valley State University (GVSU)
  • Natalie King, CEO of Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, LLC.

Tough Enough Breakfast event graphicHosted at the Detroit Athletic Club, the Thursday, September 26 breakfast will include presentation of the Tough Enough to be a Girl Scout awards and a panel discussion with the honorees, moderated by Monica Woodson, CEO of GSSEM. The discussion will center on this year’s theme highlighting women who lead in non-traditional leadership roles.

Even though women make up more than half of the U.S. population:

  • In 2023, women held only 8.2% of CEO positions at S&P companies.
  • In 2024, just 10.4% of women CEOs led Fortune 500 companies.

“As the first women, and persons of color, to lead their organizations, and create new avenues of technology advancements, Mantella, Smith and King are shattering glass ceilings in spaces not traditionally designated for women,” said Woodson.

GSSEM is proud to celebrate these amazing women while raising awareness and support for Girl Scouts who are on their way to taking their places in non-traditional spaces.

“GSSEM is committed to being an integral part of making women leaders in non-traditional spaces the norm, not the exception,” Woodson said. “Acknowledging the efforts and dedication of these women is one more way to encourage the girls we serve.”

Visit www.gssem.org/TEB for information or to attend the Tough Enough Breakfast on Thursday, September 26, from 8-10 a.m. at the Detroit Athletic Club.

About Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM)
GSSEM is the local council chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to facilitate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), designed to help girls develop leadership skills through three key elements—Discover, Connect and Take Action. Each element has a set of five outcomes including girls develop a strong sense of self (Discover); girls develop healthy relationships (Connect); and girls can identify community needs (Take Action).

GSSEM serves girls and adult volunteers in Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, St. Clair, Sanilac, and parts of Wayne, Monroe, and Lapeer Counties. GSSEM provides a girl-led, girl-centered, fun-filled quality leadership experience.

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