Celebrating Emerging Leaders: 2025 Cool Women Event Brings Together Nearly 600 Attendees
On Friday, March 14, Girl Scouts San Diego hosted the 2025 Cool Women Celebration recognizing five Cool Women honorees and our largest-ever class of 53 Emerging Leader Girl Scouts. Held at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, this event brought together nearly 600 attendees to celebrate Women’s History Month, honor trailblazing women in the community, and support the next generation of leaders.
The program began with a special mentoring session where Emerging Leader Girl Scouts met with the Cool Women honorees and 26 other accomplished female professionals across industries including STEM, business, media, law, education, and the arts. These mentors provided valuable insights and advice on networking skills, career development, and leadership.
“My favorite part of the event was meeting all the mentors. They have such great advice and are such inspirational figures who have been through some of the challenges that we’re going through right now,” said Emerging Leader Girl Scout Frances Aguilar.
During the luncheon and ceremony, GSSD CEO Carol Dedrich, event co-chairs Natasha Bowman and Joyce Gattas, and Emerging Leader Girl Scout emcees honored this year’s Cool Women.
Each year, GSSD honors exemplary women whose leadership, innovation, and commitment to service inspire girls to reach their full potential. We were proud to recognize five outstanding individuals as our 2025 Cool Women:
Julie Dubick – Chief of Staff and Strategic Partners Advisor, The Conrad Prebys Foundation
Dr. Tina M. King – President, San Diego College of Continuing Education
Luisa McCarthy – Co-Owner, La Vista Memorial Park and Mortuary
Debbie Rider – Assistant Dean of Development and Alumni Relations, University of San Diego School of Law
Nancy Sasaki – President and CEO, United Way of San Diego County
These honorees were selected from a remarkable pool of 73 nominations–our largest pool of nominees since we started honoring Cool Women, including 21 finalists. These five Cool Women, representing diverse fields such as education, philanthropy, business, and public service, have forged new paths in their industries and serve as role models for the next generation of changemakers.
In her remarks, Carol Dedrich formally recognized the 53 Emerging Leader Girl Scouts for their achievements in academics, community service, and leadership. She encouraged them to embrace challenges and use their voices with confidence, stating, "We are so proud of you for leaning into this opportunity with a growth mindset. Continue making a difference and inspiring others with your can-do spirit. Ask for help when you need it–it’s a sign of strength, not weakness. True leadership is built through perseverance, collaboration, and a willingness to grow."
Each Cool Woman was introduced by an Emerging Leader Girl Scout before taking the stage to share words of wisdom and encouragement. Dr. Tina M. King reflected on the importance of unity, inclusion, and creating spaces where all women feel empowered to lead, sharing, “Leadership isn’t about standing alone; it’s about bringing others along with you. Programs like this show young women that their voices matter and that they have a place at every table.”
Luisa McCarthy echoed this sentiment, saying, “The impact of mentorship and community is immeasurable. When young women are supported and empowered, they can achieve incredible things.” Their words highlighted the spirit of the Cool Women Celebration, bringing generations of women together to uplift, inspire, and create pathways for future female leaders.
GSSD also premiered a video highlighting the experiences of the 2025 Emerging Leader Girl Scouts. Through personal stories, they reflected on how Girl Scouts helped them build confidence, develop leadership skills, and step outside their comfort zones. The video emphasized the power of mentorship and the strength of a supportive community in empowering young women to lead in any path they choose.
Watch the video on our YouTube Channel.
More than 30 Cool Women Alumnae gathered at the event to support the accomplishments of the 2025 Cool Women and Emerging Leader Girl Scouts. Through community support and by forging powerful connections between volunteers, staff, donors, executive mentors, partner organizations, and Girl Scouts of all ages, Girl Scouts San Diego is advancing female leadership in San Diego and Imperial counties.
A special thank you to our honorary committee, sponsors, volunteers, and event co-chairs, Natasha Bowman and Joyce Gattas.
Sponsors that made the 2025 Cool Women Celebration possible include SDG&E, Mission Fed Credit Union, Qualcomm, Academy of Our Lady of Peace, KPBS, University of San Diego, Julia R. Brown, Southwest Airlines, and more. To learn more about the annual Cool Women Celebration and view the full list of supporters, visit sdgirlscouts.org/coolwomen.
Event proceeds stay local and support GSSD’s leadership programs, ensuring girls have access to a variety of skill-building opportunities and the experiences they need to grow into confident individuals.
There is still time to help us reach our 2025 Cool Women Celebration fundraising goal. Every contribution helps empower and build girls of courage, confidence, and character.
Donate today and invest in the next generation of leaders.
Save the Date for the 2026 Cool Women Celebration
The Cool Women Celebration returns on Friday, March 20, 2026. Next year will mark 25 years of Cool Women! We look forward to another inspiring event honoring remarkable women and Emerging Leaders.
Thank you for being part of this incredible celebration of female leadership, mentorship, and community.
