Meet the Champions
Spotlight on Our Own: Deborah Hearn Smith

CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana

"In order to best serve girls, we must understand the world they face and develop the best way to prepare them for their future," says Debbie Smith, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central Indianal. As Girl Scouts moves forward with the Core Business Strategy, she knows that being prepared and remaining informed will be vital to success.

"Experience tells you what works and what doesn't. We are in the position to know what girls need and want from Girl Scouts. Now is the time to look critically at how to create the ideal Girl Scout experience."

For the past 18 months, Debbie's council has been engaging membership to discuss the important aspects of Girl Scouts and to identify barriers the organization currently faces. They have also worked to differentiate areas that are the responsibility of the national staff from areas that rest on local shoulders. "By breaking down the challenges on a local scale, we find it easier to design potential solutions – we make it something we can get our arms around," says Debbie.

In addition to leading her council's Core Business Strategy initiatives, Debbie is also enthusiastic about the work she is doing as a member of the Volunteerism Gap Team. One goal of the Volunteerism team is to recruit adults with more diverse skills and backgrounds, rather than make volunteers fit a certain mold. "Volunteers are absolutely vital to Girl Scouts, and having new volunteers with unique experiences will add infinite value to the program," she explains.

"The Core Business Strategy work is so important. Although it will be a bit bumpy at times, we just need to remain informed and prepared for what’s ahead and remember that our efforts will make Girl Scouts so much better for everyone."

THANK YOU DEBBIE FOR BEING A LEADER AND INSPIRATION TO THE REST OF US!

For more information on Deborah Hearn Smith and theGirl Scouts of Central Indiana, visit www.girlscoutsindiana.org.

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