Leadership Profiles

The Girl Scout philosophy of leadership is captured in its mission statement "Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place." Girl Scouts continues to develop leaders through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, which engages girls in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place.

In addition, Girl Scouts is redefining the way leaders are made - see the Girls Leadership page under Resources for more information. Girl Scout leadership focuses on personal principles and the ability to affect social change. Following are some women who embody the Girl Scout leadership philosophy.

Queen Lili'uokalani, first and only reigning Hawaiian queen and the last Hawaiian sovereign to govern the islands. Lili'uokalani was deeply commited to the Hawaiian people. As regent during King Kalakaua's world tour in 1881 she was active in organizing schools for Hawaiian youth.[1] In her will, she entrusted her estate so it would provide for orphan children of Hawaiian descent, amended later to include “other destitute children.” Her legacy is perpetuated through the Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust.

> Learn more about Queen Lili'uokalani

Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop, the great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha I, was a philanthropist who cared deeply about the welfare of the Hawaiian people. As the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha line, she was the largest landowner in the kingdom. Troubled by the sharp decline in the number of Hawaiians during her lifetime, she felt education could have a great impact [1] and left her vast estate to establish Kamehameha Schools. Today her estate is valued at over $6 billion, supporting the education of thousands of students across the state. Although Princess Pauahi was dedicated to her responsibilities as a member of the ali'i, she also lived her life on her own terms. Rather than the marriage partner that was planned for her since childhood, she married American businessman Charles Bishop, who helped carry out and fund the development of Kamehameha Schools upon her death.

> Learn more about Princess Pauahi

Marguerite Gambo Wood was borm in Montana in 1912 and raised by her grandmother in Honolulu.  She was very involved in her Girl Scout Troop for many years.  The first time she saw an airplane in the sky, an Aeronca, she knew what she wanted to do with her life.  Before that however, she had a pretty normal life in Hawaii.  Love the water, she spent a lot of time buiding sand castles, swimming and a little later, surfing.  “Granny” knew the dangers of surfing and after much worry and through she called Marguerite into the kitchen, sat her down and told her, as gently as she could, that she couldn’t let Marguerite surf anymore.  She looked at her grandmother very seriously and said, “Alright, then I’m going to learn how to fly!”  Granny was so relieved at not having an argument with her stubborn girl, she put up no fuss.  Little did she know the dedication of spirit that was born that day in their kitchen.

Marguerite was taught to fly in 1937 by aviation legends Robert Tyce and P.I. “Pappy” Gun.  She received her commercial pilot’s license in July of 1939.  The FAA inspector, Bill Capp, who was present the day she got her commercial license was in the flight office when Marguerite came back in.  He picked her up, sat her on the counter and stuck a lighted cigar in her mouth.  He said to her, “If you want to join us men, be a big girl and smoke this!”  She later said that she was only about half way through it before getting pretty green around the gills.  A short time later she purchased a Meyers biplane from the factory to go with the Aeronca trainers she already had, leased some space at John Rogers airport (later called Honolulu International Airport) and built the first privately-owned hanger there.  She opened Gambo Flying Service, her first flying school that year.

> Learn more about Marguerite Gambo Wood

Juliette Gordon Low is founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. In 1911, she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and dedicated herself to a new youth movement. A year later, in 1912 she started the first troop of American Girl Guides (the name changed to Girl Scouts a year later) with 18 girls. Today there are 3.7 million Girl Scout members, the largest educational program for girls in the world. Under her leadership, the Girl Scout movement included many groups that were marginalized by others. At a time when girls' realms were traditionally in the home, she encouraged them to prepare for possible roles as professionals and to participate as active citizens outside the home. From its inception, Girl Scouts also included girls with disabilities at a time when they were excluded from many other activities. In the 1950s, they made special efforts to include the daughters of migrant agricultural workers, military personnel, Native Americans, and Alaskan Eskimos. In 1952, Ebony magazine reported that Girl Scouts in the sounth were making progress towards "breaking down racial taboos." [1]

> Learn more about Juliette Gordon Low