Meet Vannary; a proud Girls Inc. alumna from Greater Indianapolis. Long before she was advising national security policy at the U.S. Department of Defense, she was a young girl discovering her voice and confidence through Girls Inc. Today, she not only supports U.S. national security as a Legislative Analyst but also leads over 10,000 young professionals through the US-ASEAN Young Professionals Association, which she founded to foster community. 

Her leadership story starts early on at Girls Inc. when she attended a luncheon and found herself surrounded by women who had broken barriers across industries from science and government to business and community leadership. Their stories of resilience, service, and ambition sparked something in her. 

“That experience planted the early seeds of ambition in me,” she reflects. “Not just to succeed, but to lead in a way that would open doors for others too.”

Girls Inc. became the foundation where her leadership took root. It was where she first learned to think critically, ask bold questions, and collaborate on solutions. These skills, she says, have stayed with her as she now navigates complex global issues and offers policy solutions on a national stage. 

But leadership, for Vannary, also came from a deeply personal place. At Girls Inc., she began to share her Cambodian heritage including her family’s experience seeking asylum. Many had never heard of Cambodia before. Sharing her story became a way to teach, to lead, and to take pride in her identity. 

“I found my voice through storytelling,” she says. “It helped me realize that my history wasn’t a burden. It was a strength.”

That act of telling her story not only built her confidence and communication skills, but it also helped others see new perspectives. Through it, Vannary discovered the power of representation and how cultural heritage can be a catalyst for growth.  She credits Girls Inc. with helping her become a leader who is not only visionary but prepared and action oriented. And she never forgets the role supporters played in shaping her path. 

“To the supporters of Girls Inc. thank you for investing in girls like me. Your belief helped me find my voice, celebrate my culture, and step into leadership with confidence.”

Her advice to girls today is both practical and powerful: protect your dreams, work hard, seek mentors, and never be afraid to take up space. She reminds young leaders that their voices matter now, not just in the future. 

“Every expert was once a beginner. Be curious. Be bold. And don’t be afraid to knock on doors you never know which ones will open.”

For Vannary, Girls Inc. wasn’t just an organization it was a launchpad. And today, her story is proof of what can happen when girls are equipped with the tools, support, and belief they need to lead. 

“When we lift girls, we lift communities,” she says. “Girls Inc. didn’t just help me dream. They helped me lead.”