COMMUNITIES minister Aileen Campbell joined 60 girls and 20 female leaders at a "unique" event aimed at empowering girls and young women.
Girlguiding Scotland's Camp CEO is the first-of-its-kind in Scotland, with the girls receiving expert mentoring from inspiring women across Scotland's sectors.
Public speaking, leadership and interactive challenges – mixed with some relaxing– were all part of the four-day stay at the organisation's training and outdoor centre in the Scottish Borders, Netherurd.
The mentors in attendance included Glasgow City Council chief executive Annemarie O'Donnell, BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015 Claire Hastings, and STV journalist Halla Mohieddeen.
Campbell said: “I was delighted to join 60 girls from across the country at Girlguiding Scotland’s Camp CEO, which pairs girls with inspiring female mentors from a wide range of sectors including public, STEM, banking, media and the third sector.
“I know how important an inspiring and supportive mentor can be to break down barriers and raise aspirations and it’s been fantastic to see so many women across Scotland take up the call and reach out to support the next generation.
“We know there continue to be barriers to equality and there is still a long way to go to achieving equality in our workspaces, boardrooms and even in Parliament but I hope that initiatives like Camp CEO Scotland will help to show the next generation there really is no limit on what they can achieve.”
Girlguiding launched Camp CEO to raise girls' aspirations and tackle inequality, in response to worrying findings in research it had carried out.
It suggested that while 86% of girls age 7-10 from across the UK feel they have the same chance of succeeding in their careers as boys, by the time girls are 11-16, this declines to 54%. And for girls age 17-21 it drops to just 35%.
And while 54% of girls in Scotland would like to start their own business, a third thought this would be harder as a girl.
Melinda Matthews-Clarkson, CEO of CodeClan, said: “I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet girls from all over Scotland and find out more about their goals and aspirations.
"The energy and enthusiasm they brought to team-building challenges was so impressive and it was brilliant to see their confidence grow!”
“I know how valuable an inspiring a mentor can be so it’s great to see events like Camp CEO Scotland challenging the barriers to equality and encouraging every girl to aim high; I can’t wait to see what these girls go onto achieve in the future!”
Ruyuan, 14, from Edinburgh, said: “Camp CEO Scotland was an amazing experience. I’ve always wanted to go into science and technology but in the past I’d been put off because it can be such a male dominated field.
"But speaking to so many inspiring women from all different backgrounds, learning from their experiences and working with them on all our teambuilding challenges has given me the confidence to believe in myself and aim high.”
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