Launch of the Girls Lounge for female entrepreneurs at LSE
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is the first UK University to join the Girls Lounge initiative – a new leadership programme designed to champion female entrepreneurs and help them build successful socially responsible businesses.
Based in the co-working space at LSE Generate and in partnership with computer software company SAP, the lounge will offer young women across the School a place to collaborate through a series of courses, mentoring sessions and networking opportunities.
The events agenda for the lounge includes coding classes and Europe’s first female founder’s accelerator focussed on social impact – an intensive programme to propel female-led business ideas. The events at the lounge will be available to LSE students and alumni with some sessions available to the wider public.
The Girls Lounge at LSE was launched last week with a special breakfast celebration attended by LSE alumna and Director of organic tampon company FLO, Tara Chandra and other female business leaders.
Commenting on the launch, LJ Silverman, Head of LSE Generate said: “This tailor-made programme is based on LSE Generate’s years of work with promising female entrepreneurs, analysing their unique strengths and particular needs. We are truly dedicated in ensuring that adequate early-stage start-up support is granted to every female entrepreneur that engages with us and the #sheinnovates Girls Lounge is one fantastic way of achieving this."
Director of FLO, Tara Chandra said: “We are so happy we were able to support the launch of such a wonderful initiative. LSE Generate has always been supportive of Susan and I as female founders and of our company FLO, and we admire SAP's global initiative to have more women participating and represented in business and innovation. We are honoured to be involved in the Girl's Lounge Launch with such empowering organisations and look forward to seeing LSE women connect and innovate together in this supportive space."
Martin Gollogly, Director of the Next gen Innovation Community at SAP said: “I was very happy to attend the launch of the SAP Girls Lounge at the London School of Economics. The facility is perfect for bringing together young female entrepreneurs and exceptional thinkers to develop their ideas on how to improve the role, representation and success of young women across the world.
“SAP places gender equality as one of its’ highest priorities and this global initiative is a means for us to support the LSE which clearly shares our goals and aspirations in this regard. I look forward to supporting many amazing initiatives in 2019 and far beyond.”