Academy for Enterprising Girls

The Challenge
Only 22% of Australian startups are currently founded by women, yet we know that building confidence early is the key to changing the future. Launched in 2019, the Academy for Enterprising Girls set out to reach girls aged 10 to 18 before confidence gaps takes hold, equipping them with the skills, mindsets, and self-belief to see entrepreneurship as a genuine and viable career path.
Our REsponse
89DE developed and delivered a national program designed to cultivate entrepreneurial skills through four key pillars. Delivery combined high-energy in-school BOLD and GLOW workshops, an interactive online learning platform, and ready-to-use resources for teachers and students. Strategic industry alliances with leaders like Canva, AWS, and CSIRO, alongside the Enterprising Girl of the Year award, put expert opportunities directly into the hands of girls with big ideas.
A free national schools program spanning the enterprisinggirls.com.au site, a dedicated online learning academy, the BOLD and GLOW workshops, the Enterprising Girl of the Year award, and a full suite of teacher and student resources.
The Academy has created a real impact, reaching 25,957 students and delivering 550 workshops nationally. Our flagship Enterprising Girl of the Year award generated a massive 4M in media reach, putting young founders in the spotlight and inspiring a national conversation. By providing a practical introduction to design thinking, the Academy for Enterprising Girls has empowered thousands of young women across Australia to confidently shape their entrepreneurial futures.




