THE LEGACY OF GIRLS

For 112 years, Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT) has been building girls of courage, confidence and character from all corners of the state.  Now, the nonprofit organization is publicly recognizing three remarkable women who have deep-rooted connections to GSOFCT and embrace these traits in their respective career tracks at its Annual Legacy of Leadership fundraising event Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Park City Music Hall in Bridgeport. This year’s honorees, who were nominated and selected by a committee, specifically exemplify Girl Scout values as leaders in their community and who pave the way for all girls to thrive.

This year’s honorees are Wendy Carroll of Fairfield, senior vice president of product development at Citi Investment Management (Citibank). She has spent most of her career in the investment management industry, with a primary focus on mutual funds and board governance. In fact, she launched Citi’s first non-US Mutual Fund in December 2023 in which Citi clients in Asia, Latin America and the UAE have already invested over $160.  Carroll is also a longtime advocate and leader in the advancement of workplace diversity and empowerment of female leaders.

Saba Shahid of Simsbury has over 13 years’ experience as a regulatory affairs professional in medical device product development, ensuring that products are made per regulations. Her Girl Scout Gold Award project led to the creation of her first business, Creative Neurology, where she spreads smiles to patients with Parkinson’s Disease through creativity and movement. Her organization’s “Let’s Combat Micrographia” program helps people improve their handwriting in six short weeks and has been recognized by the US National Institute of Health as the only organization providing a resource for people living with micrographia. Additionally, she is a children’s book author, focusing on themes of STEM, empowerment and inclusivity, as well as a private pilot, working toward her commercial license. A Lifetime Girl Scout, Saba joined GSOFCT as a Brownie and has risen through the ranks to become the youngest person to serve on the GSOFCT Board.

Caroline Unger of Wilton is senior staff program manager of engineering and operations at LinkedIn where she is responsible for managing employees and software stability and direction for one of the country’s largest social media and professional networking programs.  As a working mother, Unger is continually committed to improving opportunities for this growing population and co-created the first “A Moment for Mom” event to help women have opportunities to network with each other across the Fairfield County region.  She is also an active participant and supporter of the Working Moms of Wilton group, offering support and guidance for other mothers in need.  Caroline simultaneously serves on the executive committee of the board of the Wilton Youth Council, which promotes the well-being of Wilton students by empowering youth, parents, and the community.

The Legacy of Leadership event includes dinner, a silent auction and program. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet local Gold Award Girl Scouts and learn about their community-enhancing projects. Tickets are $75. There is still a variety of sponsorship opportunities available for this high-profile event. Supporters can also donate auction items and purchase tribute journal ads. For tickets, sponsorships, and event details visit Legacy of Leadership 2024 (trellis.org).