Ruling Our eXperiences, Inc. (ROX)

We are so thrilled to celebrate ROX Facilitator Erica Grimes! As a dedicated ROX Facilitator in Columbus City Schools, Erica is a leader in her building and with her ROX girls, including her girls in ROX community events. Erica also lends her leadership on the ROX Facilitator Advisory Board. As an active member of the Curriculum and Resources Committee, her expertise shapes the ROX 20-week program curriculum, maintaining program relevancy and engagement. Her efforts on this committee also ensure program resources allow for ease and practicality of implementation. The ROX team values how Erica regularly shares her insights and group's experiences! From Erica: "The most impactful part of ROX has been seeing the way that girls take the information that they learn and share it with others. Also, I love the way that the information stretches them and grows them and the moments that I can see, over time, a small transformation in their character and/or habits because of ROX. Then I know it has become part of their identity. It's quite magic." Thank you for the magic you're creating for your girls at East High School, Erica! #BeingAGirlROX #Confidence #GirlsConfidence #ConfidenceBoost #ConfidenceBooster #GirlPower #GirlsAdvocate #GirlChampion #SchoolBasedProgram #SchoolCounselors #SchoolTeachers #Education

67% of girls have been told that they are “too loud” or “opinionated.” And girls who hear this “often” are 24% more likely to shy away from leadership for fear that others will think they are bossy. If we want to encourage girls to become leaders, we must also give them safe spaces to practice using their voices and sharing their opinions. We must listen to them and allow them to truly, fully be themselves. More on this in tomorrow’s Instagram reel (@rulingourexperiences).?

The Girls’ Index? showed us that while 59% of girls reported that they like being in charge, 55% said they are afraid to lead because they don’t want others to think they are bossy. So what can we do to help our girls take charge? We need to challenge the stereotypical view of leadership that contributes to girls having a difficult time seeing themselves as leaders. Try working with your girl to re-write the definition of leadership for herself. Help her differentiate and isolate the actual traits and characteristics that are associated with being a leader, and help your girl see herself in this new vision of leadership.?

On this International Women’s Day, we are THRILLED to celebrate the promotion of Lauren Hancock to Chief Operating Officer at ROX! As one of ROX’s two founding employees alongside Lisa Hinkelman, Ph.D., Lauren has been a driving force behind ROX’s remarkable evolution from a local initiative to a nationwide movement spanning 40+ states. “Lauren embodies the very essence of what ROX stands for – determination, vision, and transformative leadership,” said Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, Founder and CEO of ROX. “From day one in 2009, her extraordinary commitment and strategic brilliance have shaped our trajectory. Under her guidance, ROX has transcended boundaries, expanding from serving girls in Ohio to becoming the preeminent national voice in research and programming centered on girls’ development and empowerment. This well-deserved promotion acknowledges not just her past contributions, but her visionary capacity to propel ROX into its next era of impact.” We can’t think of a better way than to celebrate International Women’s Day than this! Inspired by her family’s entrepreneurial spirit, grit and determination, Lauren was the first in her family to achieve higher education. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Women’s Studies, adding a minor in Latino/a Studies as an homage to her Mexican-American heritage, from The Ohio State University in 2010. She later enhanced her leadership credentials with a Master’s of Science in Public Administration from Ohio University in 2014. “I firmly believe that I am my grandmother’s dream come true,” reflected Hancock. We couldn’t be prouder. Please join us in celebrating COO Lauren Hancock! #BeingAGirlROX?#Confidence?#GirlsConfidence?#ConfidenceBoost?#ConfidenceBooster?#GirlPower?#GirlsAdvocate?#GirlChampion

The countdown is on: I Matter is coming up on Sunday, March 30, and we can't think of a better way to celebrate and wrap up Women's History Month than this! Thank you to everyone who has been so patiently waiting for this year's I Matter, our annual free community conference on healthy relationships and wellness, after it had to be rescheduled due to the snow storm on February 16. I Matter is SOLD OUT, but there is a waitlist! If you're registered and can no longer attend, cancelling will open up spots for others who are eager to register! We'll see you on Sunday, March 30! https://lnkd.in/dPquTzpv #IMatter2025 #BeingAGirlROX #Confidence #GirlsConfidence #ConfidenceBoost #ConfidenceBooster #GirlPower #GirlsAdvocate #GirlChampion #SchoolBasedProgram #SchoolCounselors #SchoolTeachers #Education

We're still pinching ourselves after Girls Without Limits! Thank you for believing in girls. Thank you for investing in girls. Thank you for joining the movement to change the world for girls. Whether you’re new to the ROX mission, or have been around for over a decade, we loved seeing so many of you decked out in your finest ROX pink and black on Friday night! Your passionate energy filled The Kee and raised over $150,000 for the good of girls! The ripple effect of Girls Without Limits 2025 will be felt for years to come as more school counselors, social workers and teachers become trained ROX facilitators and take thousands of girls through the ROX Program each year. Thank you. And of course a big thank you to our generous GWL host committee members and event sponsors who helped make this GWL our biggest success to date: Bread Financial, Huntington National Bank, Premium Beverage Supply Llc, Encova Insurance, IGS Energy, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter, Drop Of Sunshine, Rhinegeist Brewery, Bell Tree Productions LLC and The Kee. If you didn't have a chance to pledge your support on Friday, there is still time to demonstrate your commitment to girls: https://lnkd.in/dnM6s-pH Thank you for being a part of the movement to create generations of confident girls who are in control of their relationships, experiences, decisions and futures! See our GWL recap video here! https://lnkd.in/dpmv-8Pg

This Women’s History Month, we’ll be talking about all things LEADERSHIP! We’ll share Girls’ Index? insights on how girls feel about leading, and what we can do to support a future of strong and courageous women leaders. For starters, the Girls’ Index? shows us that 55% of girls are afraid to lead because they don’t want others to think they are bossy. So what can we do to help? For starters: ensure girls have safe environments with supportive people who will celebrate their accomplishments. This provides the conditions girls need to expand their leadership capacity and competence. Follow along all month as we give more strategies for supporting girls in leadership. For more in-depth content including reels, follow us on Instagram @rulingourexperiences.

This month, we are thrilled to spotlight ROX Facilitators Adrienne Vaccarezza-Isla, Breanne Dale and Grace Morfin! With Adrienne leading the way as the first ROX Facilitator in Illinois, we are so grateful for Adrienne, Breanne and Grace’s leadership as the first three ROX Facilitators in Chicago Public Schools. We’re inspired by the passion and commitment they each bring to supporting girls in Chicago Public. Thank you for bringing ROX to Chicago and to Illinois, Adrienne, Breanne and Grace!

Local to Central Ohio? Our annual fundraiser, Girls Without Limits, is one you won’t want to miss! It’s an evening designed for all girl champions: men, women and community leaders coming together to fund the expansion of the ROX Program for Girls and our proprietary research, The Girls’ Index?. Did you know that 40% of girls with a 4.0 GPA do not believe they are smart enough for their dream career? Girls need ROX now more than ever. Join us NEXT Friday, February 28 for an evening of curated bites, an open bar, live music, lounge vibes, a rare/unicorn bourbon raffle and the opportunity to win exciting experiences… all while raising money to create generations of confident girls. Get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eccxnEvP

It’s National School Counselors Week, and we’re incredibly grateful for every counselor who has dedicated their time and heart to supporting and guiding their students. Your impact as caring mentors makes all the difference. In fact, the Girls’ Index? shows that supportive adults are essential to girls’ school connection. Girls who have adults at school who care about them are 65% more likely to want to come to school and 76% more likely to feel like they belong at school. Supportive relationships are correlated to key positive outcomes for girls. When girls have supportive relationships with both adults and friends, they enjoy school at higher rates, have lower reports of sadness and higher reports of confidence. Thank you, school counselors! And especially to our ROX Facilitators ?? ?#NationalSchoolCounselorsWeek?#NSCW25 #ThankYouCounselors?#MakingADifference?#BeingAGirlROX?#TheGirlsIndex2023?#GirlChampion?#SchoolCounselors?#Education