Meet the passionate leaders behind Girls Leadership Collaborative. Our team is made up of dedicated mentors, educators, and change makers who believe in the power of girls to lead with confidence, purpose, and compassion. Together, we create spaces where girls can grow, connect, and make a meaningful impact.
Meg Stowe – Founder & Girls Leadership Collaborative Executive Director
Meg is a co-founder & executive director of Girls Leadership Collaborative, a leadership development organization that works with youth, teens, adults, parents, and educators. GLC has run programs and consulted in both independent and public schools throughout Rhode Island and beyond. Meg has served youth for 30+ years in a variety of capacities including classroom teacher and school administrator, youth and service learning leader, dorm parent, academic adviser, athletic coach, counselor, speaker, professional development coach, Founder & Executive Director of a social venture, Coach to social venture founders, and is a parent of 2 young women in their 20’s, who helped craft, frame, and facilitate this work. A fierce dedication to the adolescent age group led her to complete a M.Ed. in adolescent education, leadership, and integrated curriculum design at Lesley University, and she holds a Harvard Business School Program in Organizational Leadership. She is passionate about leadership development, social entrepreneurship, and helping others to uncover passions and motivation using real-world experiences. Meg develops experiences for students, educators, parents, and founders which answer her favorite question, How can what it is I know and am able to do benefit my community, a cause, or the world? Meg is a graduate of the ’14 Gardner Carney Leadership Institute’s Leadership Lab: Teaching Teachers About Teaching Leadership, and was a visiting scholar to their 2016 gcLi Leadership Lab. Meg was appointed founding Director of Innovation at an independent school in Rhode Island, from 2017-2022, inspiring and engaging students and teachers in the K-12 setting. There, she built programs like embedding entrepreneurs and other social innovators in a formal education setting providing an expansive network of role models for the youth and adults, bringing innovation to organizations, businesses, and communities. She also advises founders on their entrepreneurial journey on macro mission, vision, and strategy, coaching and mentoring at Social Enterprise Greenhouse in Providence, RI, Global Fellows in Courage, and beyond.
Hannah Stowe – Program development, Facilitator, Social Media Assistant
Coming soon…
Ianthe Hershberger – Summer Camp Director
Ianthe is the Programs Director for Girls Leadership Collaborative and has been with the organization since its first program in 2014. She graduated from the Lincoln School in Providence, where her passion for leadership and supporting other women was fostered. Ianthe earned a BA in Economics and a minor in Government, with a focus in comparative politics and Human Development, with a focus in education policy, from Connecticut College. After college, she worked in Boston, MA, as an Education Consultant while also earning an MBA from Clark University.
Ianthe has worked with students of all ages as a classroom teacher, advisor, coach, trainer, tutor, as a parent to two curious and loving girls, and now as the Director of Lower School at Lincoln School. Ianthe also served as the Engagement Committee Chair on the Connecticut College Alumni Board of Directors. She is excited about the opportunity to engage girls in this important work by helping them to understand the power of leadership and the need to develop their voice through fun activities and creative outlets.
Mary Murphy – Assistant Summer Camp Director
Mary Murphy joined us as the Assistant Summer Camp Director starting during our 2025 Summer camp after graduating from East Greenwich High School. Mary is currently a student at the College of the Holy Cross, pursuing a degree in Psychology. Her journey with Girls Leadership Collaborative (GLC) began as a camper, where she connected deeply with the organization’s mission. Inspired by that experience, she later became a facilitator and now serves as the Assistant Summer Camp Director.
Beyond GLC, Mary has a passion for working with kids, which she channels through her role as a junior board member and volunteer coach for the East Greenwich Soccer Association—a commitment she has upheld since ninth grade. Soccer has been a significant part of her life since she was three, and Mary had the honor of serving as captain of her high school team during senior year.
While at East Greenwich High School, Mary was an active member of the National Honor Society, co-editor of the school newspaper, vice president of Health Occupations Students of America, and co-president of the Childhood Cancer Awareness Club. In recognition of her leadership, she was awarded the 2024 Secretary of State Civic Leadership Award.
Outside of her academic and leadership roles, Mary enjoys spending time with family, gardening, baking, and visiting her favorite places like Nantucket and the beach. She credits GLC with shaping her into the person and leader she is today and is grateful to continue giving back to the community that helped her grow.
Lola Benjamin – Program Facilitator
Coming soon…
Gretchen Brindle – Program Facilitator
Gretchen Brindle is currently a Sophomore attending East Greenwich High School. Her journey with Girls Leadership Collaborative began in 2018 as a camper. GLC provided a supportive and empowering environment that boosted her confidence and leadership skills, inspiring her to become more involved in the organization. She continued attending the camp until 2023, when she transitioned into a facilitator role.
Beyond her involvement with GLC, Gretchen has a passion for dance, which she has pursued since she was 4 years old. Upon entering High School, she began playing volleyball, eager to develop her skills and teamwork.
At East Greenwich High School, she is a member of the Invest in Girls Club, which has helped her financial literacy and furthered her leadership skills. Her roles in the student council and the unified club have helped her develop strong leadership and communication skills while fostering a sense of community and inclusivity.
Apart from school, Gretchen enjoys hanging out with friends, baking, spending time with family, and being active. Girls Leadership Collaborative has impacted her life in many ways. She will continue her work with GLC and advance her leadership skills while making a positive impact on others.