It’s more than cookies: Girl Scouts San Diego’s 24th annual Cool Women Celebration returned this year with a sell-out crowd at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines.
More than 550 attendees celebrated Women’s History Month, connected with exceptional professionals from the region, and invested in the next generation of leaders on March 21.
For 24 years, the Cool Women Celebration has honored more than 200 exemplary leaders from San Diego and beyond for their positive contributions to the development of girls and women.
The event forges powerful connections to advance female leadership in San Diego and Imperial counties. Proceeds fund a variety of dynamic programs that empower Girl Scouts to develop a strong sense of self, step outside their comfort zones, use their voices, and build resilience.
Carol Dedrich, CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego, along with event co-chairs Barbara Bry and Divya Kakaiya, and four Emerging Leader Girl Scout emcees were recognized with the Cool Women of 2024, and five remarkable women who break down barriers and pave the way for future generations:
- Suzie Alarcón, Co-Founder, AUGenomics; Director of the Next Generation Sequencing Core, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI)
- Kim Folsom, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Founders First Capital Partners
- Martha Gilmer, Chief Executive Officer, San Diego Symphony Orchestra
- Pamela Gray Payton, Vice President, Chief Impact and Partnerships Officer, San Diego Foundation
- Hon. Sherry Thompson-Taylor, Judge, San Diego Superior Court
The Cool Women Celebration highlighted the achievements of 50 Emerging Leader Girl Scouts in grades 10-12 who are developing their leadership skills and committed to making a positive impact in the world.
Sponsors making the 2024 Cool Women Celebration possible included SDG&E, Mission Fed Credit Union, Qualcomm, Academy of Our Lady of Peace, Julia R. Brown, and the University of San Diego.
