Teaching girls skills to succeed in the real world is a critical part of their education, since gaps still exist between women and men in the areas of science and technology.
It was that type of thinking that led a parent from the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, to start a girls' summer entrepreneurship program for high school juniors and seniors.
At the all girls' independent boarding school, future female business leaders are honing their skills well before stepping foot into college.
The program is the brainchild of Dr. Gwen Ortmeyer, an independent consultant and education specialist, whose daughter also attends Dana Hall.
It's designed to give these young ladies the tools to succeed in the 21st century business environment - tools they will need more than ever.
Though not yet equivalent to men, according to forbes.com, women entrepreneurs in the U.S. are scaling up more aggressively.
Researchers estimate there are now 3.7 million American women running growth-oriented businesses.
During the 11-day, 10-night residential program, Dana Hall students work in teams to develop ideas, conduct market research and even put together a business plan, including financials, to pitch to a group of business executives in what's called a dragon lair.
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Abbey Kelly's group is working on a marketing plan for a phone charger that works when you pedal your bike.
"You are creating so much kinetic energy, so we figured, why not channel that into charging your phone?" she said.
Tiffany Lau's team is working on a line of swimsuits for girls worried about their tanl ines.
"Our idea is that the tan line isn't a thing that's not cool. We are kind of starting a new trend where it's trendy and it looks nice," she said.
"There's not a class at school that teaches you how to do this. It's kind of a different world. And I think it's really unique that we get to be introduced into such a topic at such a young age," said junior Susanna Maheras.
In addition, these girls say they develop a variety of skills they can carry with them into the real world, including the ability to work collaboratively in teams, increased confidence, leadership, and creativity.
"This has made me realize that I probably do want to do something like this," said Maheras. "I don't want to say I am bossy, but I like to be in charge."
