Built for What's Next: Female Strong Expands Leadership and Impact

Building Toward Something Bigger

Since 2014, Female Strong has reshaped the next-generation of business leaders by challenging young girls and young women to discover what is possible when they are given the confidence, support, and community to believe in themselves.

What began as a mission to empower young girls has grown into something much larger — a movement of girls, families, volunteers, educators, mentors, advocates, sponsors, and community partners committed to creating stronger futures for the next generation of women.

As that community continues to grow, so does our responsibility to ensure Female Strong has the leadership, infrastructure, and strategic vision necessary to scale its impact for years to come.

Today, we are proud to announce an important milestone in that journey.

Beginning June 1, longtime nonprofit and community leader Mimi LeClair joins Female Strong as Fractional CEO.

Mimi brings decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, youth development, organizational growth, and community impact. Most recently serving as President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, she has dedicated her career to helping young people build confidence, access opportunity, and realize their full potential.

Her leadership arrives at a pivotal moment for Female Strong — not because our mission is changing, but because our ability to expand that mission is growing.

Expanding Leadership to Expand Impact

Founder Emily Smith will continue leading Female Strong's vision, mission, and community impact efforts, remaining deeply committed to the organization she founded and continues to passionately build every day.

The appointment of Mimi reflects an intentional expansion of leadership capacity designed to help Female Strong strengthen its operational infrastructure, deepen strategic partnerships, and create the systems necessary to support long-term sustainable growth.

Together, Emily and Mimi represent a leadership model rooted in both vision and scale — preserving the heart and relationships that have defined Female Strong while building the organizational capacity required to reach more girls, more communities, and greater levels of impact.

This is not a transition away from our founder's leadership.

It is an investment in expanding what is possible because of it.

A Vision for the Future

Female Strong believes that empowering girls requires more than access alone.

It requires confidence.

Belonging.

Mentorship.

Advocacy.

Community.

As girls navigate increasingly complex social, academic, and cultural pressures, the need for environments where they feel seen, supported, and encouraged to use their voices has never been greater.

That need continues to drive our work.

And it continues to fuel our vision.

By 2035, Female Strong aims to build a community of one million strong — including girls served, volunteers, mentors, sponsors, advocates, and community partners who believe in creating brighter futures for young women.

Achieving that vision requires intentional growth, strategic leadership, and a commitment to building an organization capable of serving generations to come.

The appointment of Mimi LeClair represents an important step in that journey.

Not simply because of who she is, but because of what her leadership makes possible.

Together, we are building the next chapter of Female Strong — one designed to strengthen our foundation, expand our reach, and ensure more girls have the opportunity to discover their strength, find their voice, and lead boldly into the future.