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Build Girls

Mission

Founded in 2022 in Bethesda, Maryland, BuildGirls.org was built on a simple belief: the most underutilized resource in STEM is the young women who were never invited in.

We work with middle and high school girls to open doors into the fields where women have historically been the exception, not the rule including architecture, construction & engineering (ACE), and the broader STEM landscape shaping our world. Not through lectures or brochures, but through real experiences: connecting with working professionals, exploring career pathways, and discovering what they’re truly capable of.

BuildGirls empowers young women to explore, pursue and thrive in underrepresented STEM careers through mentorship, hands-on learning, and grassroots community connections.

The gender gap in STEM is well-documented. What’s less talked about is when it starts. By the time girls reach high school, the window to spark genuine interest in these careers is already closing,  shaped by limited exposure, cultural narratives about who “belongs” in these spaces, and a lack of visible role models.

Since early 2022, we’ve been building a network of experiences designed specifically for young women — not as an afterthought, but as the whole point. That means:

  • Discovery experiences that bring girls into STEM environments
  • Mentorship connections with industry professionals
  • Events that challenge and celebrate what young women can build
  • Company partnerships that create pipelines, not just programs
  • Guest speaker sessions that make careers feel real and reachable

The future of STEM — our technologies, systems, and solutions to the world’s biggest challenges — should be shaped by everyone who lives in it. BuildGirls is committed to the grassroots, community-by-community work of making sure talented young women don’t just imagine a place in that future. They lead it.

Emmie Goldsteen

Co-Founder & CEO

EMPOWER

EMPOWER

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS TO SHOWCASE FEMALE LEADERS

EDUCATE

EDUCATE

PROVIDE GIRLS INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO SEE THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORLD

ENGAGE

ENGAGE

CREATE A COMMUNITY OF INFRASTRUCTURE LEADERS THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD.