An annual city conference gives teenage girls a boost towards a goal of one day owning their own businesses. NY1’s Money Matters reporter Tara Lynn Wagner filed the following report.

With wide eyes and open ears, dozens of budding female entrepreneurs attend the 10th annual Guardian Life Insurance Girls Going Places Conference, to share dreams of become potential Fortune 500 CEOs of tomorrow. Many of the 12- to 18-year-old girls involved in the program have already started their own businesses, even though they are still only in high school.

“I’ve seen charities being formed, a lot to help youth, I’ve seen jewelry makers. One created a credit union in her school,” says Maria Umbach of Guardian Life Insurance.

The conference consists of games and activities, as well as question-and-answer sessions that allow the young attendees to meet and learn from successful women business owners.

The mentors take the girls through the nuts and bolts of running a business, which go far beyond just having drive and a good idea.

“Budgeting, how to start a business, what the stock market looks like and investing, also cash flow, anything that goes into that,” says Umbach.

“I think it’s fabulous, it’s almost like a kickoff to life,” says Janet Adler of Janet Adler Realty.

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© 2009 NY1 News

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