At fifteen years old, Zofia Kierner decided she could not wait for someone else to change the world around her. Growing up in Central Eastern Europe, she saw how few opportunities young women had to practice leadership, build confidence, or connect with role models. That same year, a World Health Organization study confirmed what she already sensed: young women in her region ranked among the lowest globally in self confidence and self perception.
She began by organizing small workshops, bringing girls together to learn, share ideas, and imagine something bigger. What started in one community has grown into the Girls Future Ready Foundation, with six global programs across Central Eastern Europe and the United States. More than 90,000 young women have participated, finding not only skills but also a sense of belonging and belief that their voices matter.
Building Momentum as a Young Leader
In the early days, Zofia believed leadership meant having all the answers. She quickly discovered something different. “As a young leader, I thought I needed to prove I knew everything before starting,” she recalls. “But what drew people in was the energy and passion I showed up with.”
That shift, from waiting until she felt ready to leading with enthusiasm, set the tone for how the Foundation grew. With each step, mentors, peers, and partners joined in, and momentum built steadily.
A Summit by Young Women, for Young Women
The idea for the Girls Future Ready Summit came from noticing a gap. Most conferences for young women were created by adults and often missed what participants most needed. Zofia wanted to change that. The summit would be designed by young women themselves, shaped by their ideas and ambitions.
photo by Igor Andrychowski
The response was immediate. One of their largest summits, held in September 2025, gathered 500 participants, 50 speakers, and 45 partner organizations, including Roche, Swarovski, Klarna, AirFrance KLM, KRUK and Bank Pekao. Behind the numbers was something harder to measure but even more powerful: the atmosphere. Attendees describe walking into a room filled with energy, hearing speakers who sounded like them, and realizing they were not alone in their goals. Many left not only energized but carrying new connections, tools, and opportunities they could act on right away.
Collaboration and Connection
The summit showed how powerful collaboration can be when young women lead the design. Global brands stood alongside student organizers. Experienced leaders shared stages with first-time speakers. Conversations crossed generations. By the end of the event, girls who had arrived unsure of their place were exchanging contact information with mentors, planning projects, and discovering a new sense of possibility.
photo by Igor Andrychowski
“Standing in that room, seeing so many ambitious young women together with leaders who believed in us, felt transformative,” Zofia shared. “It showed that our voices matter.”
Looking Ahead
The Foundation runs six annual programs ranging from mentorship to masterclasses. New Youth Advisory Boards with corporate partners are giving Gen Z a formal seat in decision-making, ensuring that youth leadership is not just symbolic but structural.
Plans are already underway for the next Girls Future Ready Summit. Zofia’s vision is to make it the largest youth-led women’s conference in Europe, a place where girls leave not only inspired but also equipped with the tools and networks to shape their futures.
What began as one teenager’s determination in Central Eastern Europe has grown into a movement reaching across continents. Through workshops, mentorship, and global summits, the Girls Future Ready Foundation helps young women build confidence, develop leadership skills, and carry those lessons into their own communities. Each story adds to a growing generation of young women leading with purpose and conviction.
Zofia Kierner was named a 2025 .ORG Impact Awards Rising Star Finalist. Learn more about her work and the Girls Future Ready Foundation at girlsfutureready.org.