Hotchkiss Girls Who Start Spotlight

BY ELLIE KEUM

The Girls Who Start chapter at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, though only one year old, is consistently expanding with Ellis Chung at its helm. Almost half of Hotchkiss’ female population is on the email list for the chapter.

Since the spring of 2023, “the advent of our club,” says Chung, the chapter has been in close contact with the club’s advisor, Ms. Claudia McGuigan. Their meetings have varied from guest speakers to an entrepreneurship class series in which club members have created digital vision boards, assessed their strengths and weaknesses, learned budgeting, developed detailed business proposals, and more. These events are aimed at fulfilling Girls Who Start’s mission of inspiring by creating events that showcase female entrepreneurs, building by giving young women tools and opportunities to make their entrepreneurial ideas a reality, and connecting by creating an international community of young women who want to change the world.

The Hotchkiss chapter’s first meeting. Ellis Chung

Chung also highlights how Hotchkiss students have joined the Girls Who Start Publication as Primary Writers, and how the global publication has “opened up opportunities for members to grow outside of the school.” Chung is currently the Editor-In-Chief of the Publication. 

Discussing the near future and the chapter’s plans, Chung would like to involve the Hotchkiss chapter in the “wider Girls Who Start organization’s events.” These events include “the Hackathon, a virtual pitch competition with keynote speakers, and the Summit, a series of workshops featuring successful female entrepreneurs.” 

Though fairly new, the GWS chapter at Hotchkiss has already made a significant impact on students, exposing them to the many aspects of business through the club itself as well as the international publication.