She Leads Lafayette: Opening Doors to Big Futures

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With support from Junior League of Lafayette, 19 girls explored local businesses, connected with women leaders, and discovered new possibilities for their futures.

A career can begin with one plan and become something entirely different. A business can start in a spare bedroom and grow to serve customers across the country. And an introduction can turn into a connection that helps someone take her next step.

On October 20, 2026, 19 girls in seventh through twelfth grades experienced those possibilities firsthand during She Leads Lafayette, a day of career exploration, leadership conversations, and connection.

Made possible through a Collaborative Opportunity Grant from Junior League of Lafayette, the experience was part of Big Futures, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana’s signature workforce development and college and career readiness initiative. Participants included Littles currently matched with mentors, Littles waiting to be matched, and High School Bigs who are already making a difference as mentors themselves.

Alongside BBBS staff and Junior League volunteers, the girls met local women leaders who opened their doors and shared honest stories about building businesses, changing careers, overcoming challenges, and finding purpose in their work.

Starting with Curiosity

The morning began at the BBBS office, where each girl received a kit filled with note-taking supplies, health and wellness products, personal care items, and a journal to capture her experiences.

Junior League also provided a question-based scavenger hunt, giving participants prompts to help them start conversations at each stop. With questions ready and journals in hand, the girls headed out to explore the people and opportunities in their own community.

Dunkin’: Discovering That Your Path Can Change

The first stop brought sweet treats and an unexpected career story from local Dunkin’ franchise owner Naima Jinnah.

Naima shared how her journey had taken her through law and technology before becoming a franchise owner. Many of the girls were surprised to hear that someone could make such significant career changes—and that the future they choose today does not have to be the only future available to them.

Her encouragement set the tone for the day: stay curious.

Naima described exploring different cities with her sister before choosing Lafayette as the place to open their franchise. The community’s growth and possibilities helped convince them that this was where they wanted to build their business.

She also introduced the girls to the many careers behind a familiar brand. Beyond the team members they see taking orders or preparing food, there are people working in marketing, technology, product development, and other fields that help make each location possible.

Then the girls tried a little of the work themselves. After enjoying donuts and MUNCHKINS, they visited a lemonade bar, where Naima showed them how to follow the measurements on their cups, add ingredients, and choose flavor syrups to create their own drinks.

Each girl received a $30 Dunkin’ gift card to return with family or friends, along with complimentary Refresher cards provided by Dunkin’.

Something Borrowed Blooms: Seeing What Can Grow from an Idea

At Something Borrowed Blooms, the girls met co-founder and CEO Lauren Bercier and explored the business she built with her cousin, Laken Swan. The company offers a rent-and-return approach to wedding flowers, using premium silk arrangements that customers can enjoy for their celebrations and then return.

For many participants, this became a favorite stop.

Lauren shared that entrepreneurship had not always been her plan. After working as a teacher and spending time as a stay-at-home mom, she wanted to contribute financially to her family while building something she felt passionate about. Inspired in part by rental businesses such as Rent the Runway, she and Laken explored how a similar idea could work for wedding flowers.

The warehouse tour helped the girls see how many different talents contribute to a growing business. They learned about leadership, human resources, purchasing, order fulfillment, quality control, shipping, and creative production.

In the receiving area, they watched team members inspect returned bouquets and replace individual stems so arrangements would be ready for their next celebration. In the creative department, they saw bouquets and floral runners being assembled and learned how advance orders can allow the team to create additional pieces to meet demand. Even the dedicated FedEx trailer used for outgoing orders offered a glimpse of how far the business had grown.

Lauren spoke openly about the challenges, trial and error, and persistence behind that growth.

Her story especially resonated with one high school senior who makes jewelry at home. Seeing a business that began in a spare bedroom helped her imagine what might be possible for her own work. Lauren invited her to stay in touch and reach out for advice or encouragement—a personal connection that extended the experience beyond the tour.

Each girl also received a floral scarf as a keepsake from the visit.

Junior League: Recognizing the Leader Within

The group gathered at Junior League of Lafayette headquarters for lunch from Raising Cane’s and a conversation with Junior League President Fumy Rita.

Fumy shared her experience of coming to the United States and the hardships she faced growing up. As a child, she had seen things in her community that she wanted to change but felt unable to address. When she came to America, she made a promise to become a community leader and empower others to create the changes they wanted to see.

She asked the girls to consider their own schools and neighborhoods: What would they like to change, and what was holding them back?

Fumy then shared three principles she lives by: no victims, no distractions, and no giving up.

She encouraged the girls not to let difficult circumstances define their futures, to be thoughtful about the people and influences surrounding them, and to keep moving toward their goals even when the path changes.

Her message connected with what they had already heard that morning: a meaningful journey is rarely a straight line. Setbacks and changes can become part of the story rather than the end of it.

Fumy brought the perfect energy to lunch, helping the girls recharge while encouraging them to see leadership as something they could begin practicing now.

LEDA: Exploring Opportunities Close to Home

The lunchtime conversations continued with Mandi Mitchell, president and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, or LEDA.

Mandi introduced the girls to businesses and industries creating career opportunities in the Lafayette area, including healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and the emerging space industry.

She shared her enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—often called STEM—and helped participants see how many different interests and skills connect to those fields. She also discussed pathways for young people preparing to enter the workforce directly.

The girls had plenty of questions, particularly about manufacturing and technology. The conversation expanded their understanding of the kinds of work happening locally and the opportunities they might explore in the future.

Adeline Clothing: Building a Business Around People

The afternoon continued at Adeline Clothing, the online boutique founded by Linda Hurd, whose home-based business grew into a warehouse operation serving customers across the country.

The girls toured the in-house photography studio, where clothing is modeled and photographed for the website, and explored the warehouse areas where merchandise is received, stored, checked, packed, shipped, and processed when returned.

Linda introduced them to roles in marketing, buying, customer service, and order fulfillment. One job especially caught their attention: buyers who travel to clothing markets around the country to select merchandise. Several girls were excited to discover that shopping for a business could be a career.

But Linda’s most memorable lesson went beyond fashion.

She explained that while the business began with her love of clothing, it grew into a passion for customer service and relationships. Her team gets to know customers’ preferences and pays attention to important moments in their lives so they can offer thoughtful, personalized recommendations.

The girls also loved the story behind the business name. Linda shared that she and her husband once lived near Adeline Street, where they regularly walked their dog. At the corner of Adeline and Eighth, they talked through major life decisions, including steps that would help the business grow. Those meaningful places became part of the company: Adeline became the business name, and Eighth Street became the name of its custom clothing line.

Each girl received a $50 gift card to shop Adeline online, along with jewelry, socks, and accessories handpicked by Linda herself.

First Horizon: Connecting Career Goals with Financial Goals

The final stop brought the group to First Horizon Bank, an Annual Mission Partner of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana, where Karen Hardy, Commercial Relationship Manager for First Horizon Bank, connected the day’s career conversations with planning for the future.

Karen introduced the girls to careers in banking and shared financial literacy and savings basics. Whether their plans include college, entering the workforce, purchasing a vehicle, or eventually buying a home, she encouraged them to begin thinking about the financial steps that support those goals.

One conversation particularly resonated with the group: the difference between a job and a career.

Karen explained that when she first entered banking, she thought of it as a job. As she gained experience and discovered departments and opportunities she had not previously known existed, she found work she felt passionate about and began building a career.

Her story reinforced a lesson the girls had heard throughout the day: you do not have to know your final destination when you take your first step. Different jobs and experiences can help you discover what interests you and where you want to grow.

Leaving with New Possibilities—and New Friends

At First Horizon, Junior League volunteers helped bring the day full circle, inviting the girls to share their favorite experiences, surprising discoveries, and careers they wanted to learn more about.

The difference from that morning was noticeable.

Many had arrived quiet, shy, or a little unsure. By the afternoon, most were eager to talk, share their opinions, and reflect on what they had seen.

The stories from Something Borrowed Blooms and Adeline Clothing especially stayed with them. Both businesses had started in homes and grown to reach customers across the country, all while remaining right here in Lafayette. For girls beginning to imagine their own futures, seeing that kind of possibility close to home made an impression.

New connections formed, too. Many participants had not known one another before the experience, but by the end of the day, girls were exchanging phone numbers and making plans to stay in touch.

Some left with renewed inspiration. Others discovered a career they had never considered or found encouragement for an interest they already had. Some made a new friend.

She Leads Lafayette was not about asking every girl to choose a career in a single day. It was about helping her see more possibilities—and introducing her to people who believe she has something valuable to contribute.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana is deeply grateful to Junior League of Lafayette for the grant support and hands-on volunteer involvement that made this experience possible. We also thank the teams at Dunkin’, Something Borrowed Blooms, Adeline Clothing, and First Horizon Bank, along with Fumy Rita and Mandi Mitchell, for sharing their time, stories, and encouragement.

Together, they helped our girls see that big futures can begin with curiosity, a connection, and the confidence to take the next step.