Aleena Valdez is a 13-year old entrapreneur and philanthropist. After presenting her Powerpoint business plan to her family in order to receive funding, she’s started her own business at age 11. That’s when she decided she wanted to give back too. Aleena now donates a portion of her proceeds to kids living with cancer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Last year she donated more than $1,000. Aleena and I created a leadership conference for young girls called Girls For Progress. The first one took place in Phoenix (2016). This year, we’re expanding the footprint by taking the conference to Austin as well.

Notes:

• Aleena shares her Why Not Now? moment – when she decided to start her business at age 11
• Aleena talks about what she had to do to make her business a reality.
• What it’s like to play football with mostly boys and what she says when the people tell her she plays like a girl.
• Aleena’s thoughts on equal pay. She shares a calculation that will blow your mind.
• Update on Girls For Progress, the young girls leadership conference Aleena created last year.
• How Aleena is proving you’re never too young to change the world.
• Aleena’s favorite books.
• What advice Aleena would give to her younger self.