A new collaboration between Griffith alumni is encouraging young girls to dream big, with the launch of a social enterprise project breaking down gender stereotypes in early childhood.
She Dreams Big was co-founded by Griffith Business School alumnus Michael McGee, who was inspired to launch the project after noticing a lack of positive role models for his three young daughters.
Mr McGee also studied a Global Executive MBA at University of Sydney and has postgraduate business qualifications from Harvard University.
“My daughters were interested in space exploration, but everything out there for young girls is very passive – it’s all butterflies and princesses,” he said.
“Research has shown that kids pick up these entrepreneurial and risk-taking skills very early in life, so we wanted to change the narrative.
“Little girls can’t be what they can’t see.”
The first major initiative by She Dreams Big co-founders Rachael McGee and Louise Brown is a series of books, written by Rachael and illustrated by Queensland College of Art graduate Cody Wood.
The books follow five young female characters through a series of adventures, showcasing occupations where women are under-represented and celebrating traits like leadership, risk-taking and problem-solving.
She Dreams Big has plans for more books featuring high-profile Australian women including journalist Sandra Sully and Olympians Cate Campbell and Lauren Parker.
A percentage of profits from She Dreams Big will be donated to Room to Read, a global charity working to transform the lives of children by improving literacy and gender equality in education.
Rachael said the books had already begun to inspire important conversations between young girls and parents across the country.
“Young girls dreams without inhibition, and we hope girls can see themselves in these under-represented occupations through Louise and Cody’s very deliberate design ideas.
“We’ve already had great feedback since the launch.
For more information on She Dreams Big, visit the website
