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Venture Girls: Raising Girls to be Tomorrow's Leaders
From an engineer and entrepreneur, a conversation-changing parenting book about how to engage young women in science, technology, engineering, and math, filled with practical advice for both parents and educators.
As the female CEO of a tech startup, Dr. Cristal Glangchai was outnumbered twenty to one. At Google, Twitter, and Facebook, women currently fill just ten to twenty percent of technical jobs. While career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math have increased dramatically in the past twenty years, the achievement gap between men and women has only grown wider.
In VentureGirls, Glangchai offers a unique solution based on her own experience as an engineer and entrepreneur as well as the founder of the VentureLab, an academy of entrepreneurship and technology for girls. Practical, accessible, and filled with success stories, VentureGirls argues that a key part of raising strong, confident young women is giving them the tools of entrepreneurship to engage in STEM.
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting companies, Glangchai writes, it is a skillset and a way of thinking that is particularly useful in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Entrepreneurship involves identifying needs, brainstorming creative solutions, innovating, and taking calculated risks. In short, it’s about having a vision and making it a reality. The true value in learning and practicing entrepreneurship, Glangchai argues, lies in nurturing and growing an overall mindset—the ability to learn from failure and to work well with others to bring your ideas to life.
Deeply informative, warm, and grounded in real-world experience, VentureGirls includes a plethora of activities and lessons that focus on strengthening kids’ ingenuity and resilience. VentureGirls is essential reading for anyone who wants to raise girls and young women who realize their strength, engage in the world, and feel empowered to make a positive impact.
As the female CEO of a tech startup, Dr. Cristal Glangchai was outnumbered twenty to one. At Google, Twitter, and Facebook, women currently fill just ten to twenty percent of technical jobs. While career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math have increased dramatically in the past twenty years, the achievement gap between men and women has only grown wider.
In VentureGirls, Glangchai offers a unique solution based on her own experience as an engineer and entrepreneur as well as the founder of the VentureLab, an academy of entrepreneurship and technology for girls. Practical, accessible, and filled with success stories, VentureGirls argues that a key part of raising strong, confident young women is giving them the tools of entrepreneurship to engage in STEM.
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting companies, Glangchai writes, it is a skillset and a way of thinking that is particularly useful in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Entrepreneurship involves identifying needs, brainstorming creative solutions, innovating, and taking calculated risks. In short, it’s about having a vision and making it a reality. The true value in learning and practicing entrepreneurship, Glangchai argues, lies in nurturing and growing an overall mindset—the ability to learn from failure and to work well with others to bring your ideas to life.
Deeply informative, warm, and grounded in real-world experience, VentureGirls includes a plethora of activities and lessons that focus on strengthening kids’ ingenuity and resilience. VentureGirls is essential reading for anyone who wants to raise girls and young women who realize their strength, engage in the world, and feel empowered to make a positive impact.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2018
18 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 25, 2019
This book is for everyone! It is so inspiring and practical...
Glangchai is clear and concise, addressing the disparity of women representation in STEM. Exploring the why. And focusing on making a difference by focusing on young girls, and boys! Her goal is to inspire girls to discover confidence and empowerment through the leadership, creative, and innovative qualities that everyone has. Once girls and boys, discover they are capable, STEM opportunities can be an option for them...even if they choose something else, they have a choice because they have the ability.
Everyone has the ability to be inspirational to the girls and boys in their lives, that's why this book is for mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles, siblings, teachers, mentors, neighbors and friends.
Glangchai is clear and concise, addressing the disparity of women representation in STEM. Exploring the why. And focusing on making a difference by focusing on young girls, and boys! Her goal is to inspire girls to discover confidence and empowerment through the leadership, creative, and innovative qualities that everyone has. Once girls and boys, discover they are capable, STEM opportunities can be an option for them...even if they choose something else, they have a choice because they have the ability.
Everyone has the ability to be inspirational to the girls and boys in their lives, that's why this book is for mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles, siblings, teachers, mentors, neighbors and friends.
July 3, 2018
This will be in my bookshelf to be referenced back to throughout my children and grandchildren’s lives!
Venture Girls: Raising Girls to be Tomorrows Leaders by Cristal Glangchai provides powerful and functional advice for raising an empowered girl in today’s world! The book is broke up into three easy to digest parts.
Part One is “The Problem”, it focuses on the challenges that women and girls are faced with daily.
Part Two is “The Solution”, it focuses on education and entrepreneurial skills being key to solving the problems face into today’s STEM driven world.
Part Three is “How to Raise a Venture-girl”, it focuses on what it takes to nurture and create strong empowered girls into strong, empowered successful women by offering advice to those who hold key roles in girls lives and educations. Part three also offers real life experiences and stories and insights from successful people as well as activities to encourage girls to be successful, as well as information for venture-boys!
I recommend this book to parents, grandparents, teachers, youth group leaders, aunts, uncles and ANYONE who may be able to provide a strong force of encouragement to a child at any point in their life.
Venture Girls: Raising Girls to be Tomorrows Leaders by Cristal Glangchai provides powerful and functional advice for raising an empowered girl in today’s world! The book is broke up into three easy to digest parts.
Part One is “The Problem”, it focuses on the challenges that women and girls are faced with daily.
Part Two is “The Solution”, it focuses on education and entrepreneurial skills being key to solving the problems face into today’s STEM driven world.
Part Three is “How to Raise a Venture-girl”, it focuses on what it takes to nurture and create strong empowered girls into strong, empowered successful women by offering advice to those who hold key roles in girls lives and educations. Part three also offers real life experiences and stories and insights from successful people as well as activities to encourage girls to be successful, as well as information for venture-boys!
I recommend this book to parents, grandparents, teachers, youth group leaders, aunts, uncles and ANYONE who may be able to provide a strong force of encouragement to a child at any point in their life.
February 27, 2020
An excellent book on how to inspire young girls to gain entrepreneurial and leadership skills; with an emphasis on STEM education. Lots of great ideas and a comprehensive list of resources for parents.
January 20, 2019
As a science teacher in an all-girls school, this is an important topic to me. I should also preface my review by saying that as a result of my position, I'm fairly knowledgeable in the topic.
I enjoyed part one and part two the most. While I didn't read anything earth-shatteringly new, it was a validation of what I've read elsewhere. One exception: the author cites the work of Leonard Sax as to differences in the brains of infant boys and girls, and I believe that his work has been debunked.
I particularly appreciated the point that an entrepreneurial mindset is valuable for everyone, regardless of your field. We get pushback from our humanities colleagues about overemphasizing STEM, and I would very much like them to read this.
Part three, which should have been the best part of the book, fell flat for me. I have no doubt that VentureLab has great curriculum, and I love the vignettes she included. But her examples of at-home activities (egg drop, slime, among others) left something to be desired.
Overall, this is a worthwhile book, especially for those newer to the conversation.
I enjoyed part one and part two the most. While I didn't read anything earth-shatteringly new, it was a validation of what I've read elsewhere. One exception: the author cites the work of Leonard Sax as to differences in the brains of infant boys and girls, and I believe that his work has been debunked.
I particularly appreciated the point that an entrepreneurial mindset is valuable for everyone, regardless of your field. We get pushback from our humanities colleagues about overemphasizing STEM, and I would very much like them to read this.
Part three, which should have been the best part of the book, fell flat for me. I have no doubt that VentureLab has great curriculum, and I love the vignettes she included. But her examples of at-home activities (egg drop, slime, among others) left something to be desired.
Overall, this is a worthwhile book, especially for those newer to the conversation.
January 5, 2021
I liked her overall message of the importance of STEM careers and the need for an innovative, creative, and confident population. The author did a great job outlining the barriers women and girls face in math and science fields and how they can be overcome. She focuses more on helping empower girls rather than how we can change systems that lead to oppression in the first place. She also buys into the non-profit trope about money not being important as long as your work has meaning. It’s a boot strap type book in many ways. However, she does have good ideas and encouragement and the included resources and format make this very helpful.
May 27, 2018
My co-worker who has a young, smart daughter was very excited about the guidance and insights on this book!!!
October 24, 2018
This book by Cristal Glangchai holds very important advice on the need to empower the girl child. It speaks on the very topic that still eats us today which is gender inequality. Cristal goes ahead to note down some important advice to teachers and parents on how to groom the girl child to be the best they can be.
In my society, it’s a common thing for girls to look at themselves as the weaker species. This kind of mentality alone is enough to limit what they can achieve. They tend to look up to the man for everything which is certainly not proper. This book is certainly coming at the time when it is most needed in the society.
The Author did not base her ideas on just hear-say, she narrates her own ordeal, her struggles through life. There is nothing more encouraging than getting the ideas from one who had a firsthand experience of it.
The ides in this work is proof of the amount of research put into this work. I recommend this book for teenage girls who wish to step into the world of endless possibilities where the girl child can stand at par with the male counterpart.
In my society, it’s a common thing for girls to look at themselves as the weaker species. This kind of mentality alone is enough to limit what they can achieve. They tend to look up to the man for everything which is certainly not proper. This book is certainly coming at the time when it is most needed in the society.
The Author did not base her ideas on just hear-say, she narrates her own ordeal, her struggles through life. There is nothing more encouraging than getting the ideas from one who had a firsthand experience of it.
The ides in this work is proof of the amount of research put into this work. I recommend this book for teenage girls who wish to step into the world of endless possibilities where the girl child can stand at par with the male counterpart.
June 5, 2018
This inspiring book by Dr. Cristal Glangchai shows how parents can work to encourage their daughters to try the STEM field. The book includes interesting perspectives from women in the field that can serve as motivation Inside, you’ll find many different chapters which range from informing you more about what STEM is to how you can raise a “VentureGirl.” You’ll also discover some fun ways you can encourage your daughter to be creative and role models she can look up to for further inspiration. In addition to this, there’s also some next-step information so you can help your daughter accomplish her dreams.
Dr. Glangchai writes with an engaging writing style which will make putting the book down difficult. There are many interesting stories inside which can be very motivating and inspiring. It does run at 374 pages which might be a little long for some, but it’s certainly worth investing time into reading.
Dr. Glangchai writes with an engaging writing style which will make putting the book down difficult. There are many interesting stories inside which can be very motivating and inspiring. It does run at 374 pages which might be a little long for some, but it’s certainly worth investing time into reading.
April 3, 2018
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy due to patrons craving books on STEM education and learning. Our library system has a maker space room filled with resources and programs for our patrons to explore and this book furthers the resources and activities available which to a librarian is always a good thing to see. I also loved the message Sanchez reflects on how in this day in age girls and women are evolving into brilliant students, entrepreneurs and they can now be anything they want to be if they put their mind to it. It was also nice to see how parents can inform boys on gender equality and promoting everyone to work together not against each other. Wonderful read that I will definitely add to my cart and I know our patrons will love this. 5 stars!
January 14, 2023
This was an awesome read. Very inspirational in motivating girls to get into the scientific/entrepreneurial/technological world. Worlds that are normally associated with men. I actually read chapter by chapter and passed the summary on to my girls and nieces. Who are grown, but are not married, and will have children eventually. The book was very inspirational. A great how to raise a girl to have self esteem, and how to go after your dreams. No matter what your dreams are.... She also includes examples of how to inspire and/or motivate girls. For example, if you are a coach or inspiring mentor for girls. She gives examples of scientific experiments, websites, local community organizations, etc.,.
June 3, 2018
Cristal has proven that success can be achieved even in fields were the odds are against women. Her suggestions and ideas to encourage young girls and women to become more involved in STEM fields are remarkable and useful. As a tried and true member of the STEM field and now a CEO Cristal knows what she is talking about. Her book is split into three sections - problems, solutions, and suggestions for opening minds to what they can fully achieve. While the book is geared more towards young women and women, there is some advice for boys too which is nice. I really like the focus on the entrepreneurial skills, because they can be useful no matter what age or gender.
March 19, 2019
I will admit that I read select chapters. I think the audience is clearly for parents or guardians raising young children and the majority of the chapters offered applicable exercises to foster entrepreneurial thinking in their daughters.
The select chapters I read were fascinating. They entered a discussion of how women entered the STEM industries and their accomplishments, the discrimination they faced and challenges that continue to grow. I feel renewed knowing that there are individuals out there fighting and provided concrete ways to increase visibility of women in the STEM/Innovation space.
The select chapters I read were fascinating. They entered a discussion of how women entered the STEM industries and their accomplishments, the discrimination they faced and challenges that continue to grow. I feel renewed knowing that there are individuals out there fighting and provided concrete ways to increase visibility of women in the STEM/Innovation space.
June 30, 2018
I picked this up off my librarian recommendations bookshelf and I’m so glad I did.
She talks about how important an entrepreneurial mindset is for our kids and our country. But it isn’t a philosophical discussion. She gives concrete examples and resources. Every mother should read this whether you are a mother of girls or boys.
Several of the activities laid out in the book I think would make awesome summer party activities for kids.
She talks about how important an entrepreneurial mindset is for our kids and our country. But it isn’t a philosophical discussion. She gives concrete examples and resources. Every mother should read this whether you are a mother of girls or boys.
Several of the activities laid out in the book I think would make awesome summer party activities for kids.
November 12, 2018
I received this through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
This is an inspiring book with so many great ideas, wonderful examples and glimpses into a future that will change the world!
I'm passing it on to my daughter-in-law who teaches in an affluent school district in Texas. I'm hoping she'll be able to share many of the ideas included in this book and directly influence the lives of her two daughters and the students in her school!
Thank for gifting me with this book!
This is an inspiring book with so many great ideas, wonderful examples and glimpses into a future that will change the world!
I'm passing it on to my daughter-in-law who teaches in an affluent school district in Texas. I'm hoping she'll be able to share many of the ideas included in this book and directly influence the lives of her two daughters and the students in her school!
Thank for gifting me with this book!
February 22, 2024
Well researched and with interesting examples from the Venture Lab program, overall I enjoyed this book. The innovative activities sprinkled throughout could be used by any parent or teacher interested in encouraging entrepreneurial skills in girls. The concluding chapter is an excellent guide to enable more girls to develop those skills, and hopefully encourage them into STEM career paths.
May 20, 2018
Important book for parents of young girls to help get more into STEM and avoid unconscious biases. Also takes a unique approach leveraging entrepreneurship as a way to show the relevance of STEM early on. Could have been more succinct.
November 10, 2018
good "parenting" book for anyone with kids (even boys). the conclusion is a great synopsis of the book and the back of the book has excellent recommendations for apps, toys, etc. There are good recs for activities with kids throughout.
December 29, 2020
Amazing!
I loved reading this book. I do not have any children of my own but I can use what I learned in this book to explore with other children in my family. It opened my eyes to ways that I can tap into my own creativity and also motivate the youth in my life. Excellent read!
I loved reading this book. I do not have any children of my own but I can use what I learned in this book to explore with other children in my family. It opened my eyes to ways that I can tap into my own creativity and also motivate the youth in my life. Excellent read!
August 10, 2018
Great insight of raising Leaders whether it's a girl or boy. Highly recommend!
August 23, 2018
Couldn't recommend this enough.
October 15, 2018
Great section of resources for further learning and a section on raising boys as ventureboys.
October 23, 2018
Engaging book! Gives a good insight on how it's important to raise Girls with an entrepreneurial / leadership spirit. She gives very good examples and case studies to back her statements.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews