FEBRUARY 2018 24 | 10 QUESTIONS WITH… Girl Scout Alumnae It's Girl Scout Cookie season! To celebrate, 10 Arizona women leading the way in the nonprofit sector shared how being a Girl Scout prepared them for business leadership and success.

FEBRUARY 2018 | 25 YEARS AS GIRL SCOUT: 3 Deborah Arteaga Executive director of the Tempe Community Action Agency “At Girl Scouts, all of the girls — regardless of ethnicity or economic background — were on equal ground. Together, we learned to plan and succeed. We learned to take risks and try something new. We learned how to connect with people who were different, and we learned to finish what we started — all of the essential skills for leadership roles in any sector.” Elizabeth Banta Tammy Crawford CEO of Focus on Lyme YEARS AS GIRL SCOUT: 3 FAVORITE BADGE EARNED: “Cooking — because I was allowed to make brownies and turn the oven on and off by myself.” “Donning the uniform meant that we stood for something bigger than ourselves. It was an idea of the achievement of women. Today, I’m charged with leading the way to develop science that will help many people, and I rely on those leadership skills to build my team and guide them so that we can achieve great things together.” Chrisie Funari Founder of the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children YEARS AS GIRL SCOUT: 3 FAVORITE BADGE EARNED: Service Maureen Jorden VP & development director at the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center YEARS AS GIRL SCOUT: 6 FAVORITE BADGE EARNED: Girl Scout Way “One of the most valuable lessons I learned as a Girl Scout was ‘to always leave a place better than you found it.’ This simple motto has helped guide me, personally and professionally. Without a doubt, Girl Scouts helped me better understand how successful leadership works and how to promote a positive working environment. I am grateful for my troop leaders and the individuals in my life who instilled this lifelong principle in me.” “I recall a time we visited a nursing home and we each got assigned to make a craft with a different resident. I will never forget the smile the older lady had on her face while we were there. Just the fact that I was sitting there with her, talking with her made her day, and it made mine too. When I visit with families suffering from pediatric cancer, it’s similar to that day at the nursing home. Families are grateful to have someone to talk to, to understand the burdens they are feeling and to have a supporting friend.” YEARS AS GIRL SCOUT: 4 FAVORITE BADGE EARNED: Crafts “Being a Girl Scout helped me become more confident and connect with others. I loved times around the campfire and doing service projects. Learning to be resourceful, have empathy for others and communicate have helped me lead Duet forward in service to our community.” Executive director of Duet: Partners in Health & Aging Photo: Tammy Crawford (right) with her daughter Jessica. Credit: focusonlyme.org with permission. FAVORITE BADGE EARNED: “Badges related to service, arts and writing — all my favorites!”