Inspiring all girls to be
strong, smart, and bold
Get to know our Strong, Smart, and Bold Breakfast Honorees
During the next few weeks, we'll be sharing the biographies of our inspiring honorees - today we bring you:

Dr. Simi Hoque
Simi Hoque is an associate professor in Architectural Engineering at Drexel University, where she runs a research program on Urban Metabolism. She was trained as an architect and an engineer, with degrees from the University of California-Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and Johns Hopkins. Simi moved to Philadelphia in 2016, after spending a decade in Massachusetts, teaching at MIT and then at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. During this period, she was also working as a consulting engineer on the design of mechanical systems for high performance buildings in eastern Massachusetts.

Simi was born in Bangladesh and spent the first 12 years of her life in a small town in south-eastern Nigeria. She then moved to Pittsburgh in her middle school years, which
was an emotionally and culturally challenging period, even if she didn’t have an African accent. With the help of many mentors and teachers, she carved a path from a nerdy girl who loved building things to a slightly less nerdy professor who still loves building things.

Simi now teaches design to architectural engineering students who share her love of buildings while also managing a research team of Ph.D. students interested in sustainability in the urban environment. She is also deeply invested in promoting diversity in science and engineering, and in 2013 she helped organize a Eureka! Program with Girls Inc. of Holyoke (in Massachusetts), where middle school girls work with STEM experts at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, for a month of hands-on workshops. Since arriving in Philadelphia, she has been working with Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey to organize a STEM University summer program for middle school girls at Drexel’s campus. This summer will be the second STEM University program. More information can be found here .
Join us on Wednesday, May 2, 2018
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
The Union League of Philadelphia
Girls Inc. will also honor Emily Bittenbender , Managing Partner of Bittenbender Construction, LP and Monica Malpass , 6ABC Live Action News Anchor at the breakfast for their many inspirational achievements, and Macquarie Investment Management as our Corporate Champion for Girls for its significant contributions ensuring the success of Girls Inc. and the girls we serve by funding innovative and impactful programs. Shawn Lytle , Deputy Global Head President, Delaware Funds by Macquarie, Macquarie Investment Management will accept the award. 
Executive Director Dena Herrin featured in
Philadelphia Business Journal
Dena Herrin, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey is the Philadelphia Business Journal's March 2018 "Social Capital" profile. Read about her business philosophy, her goals for the organization, and her favorite places in Philadelphia here .
"Two years ago, I attended the Girls Inc. Strong, Smart, and Bold breakfast. It was an eye-opening experience and one that captured my interest in the organization. I was truly inspired by the girls who spoke at the breakfast, many of whom had been through very difficult times in their lives, but thanks to their participation in Girls Inc. programs were ready to take on the world. I am honored to serve on the Girls Inc. of GPHSNJ Board—it has been an extremely awarding experience, and I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with such an amazing Executive Director, staff, and my fellow Board Directors. I would like to give a special thank you to the people at my firm, Deloitte, for their continued support of Girls Inc. through contributions, sponsorship, and career-based learning Impact Day events."

-Mike Brown, Managing Director – Audit and Assistant Treasurer of the
Girls Inc. of GPHSNJ Board

Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey thanks Deloitte & Touche LLP for their many years of dedication to our organization! This year, Deloitte is supporting the 16th Annual Strong, Smart, and Bold Breakfast as a Bold Sponsor and will host an "Impact Day" in June 2018 for Girls Inc. staff and interns. Deloitte volunteers will lead a skill-based project with a focus on professional development. The project's themes will include leadership development, team building, goal setting, communication, and more. Thank you, Deloitte for inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold!
Margaret has served on the Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey’s Board of Directors since 2014 and is currently the First Vice Chair and Chair of the Board Development Committee. She is a Director with pureIntegration, a business and systems integration company. Margaret is the first employee at pureIntegration to join as an Associate and be promoted through the ranks to Director. She has embraced a mantra of “what would you do if you had no fear?” that has enabled her to stand for what is right, speak out when needed, and be audacious in her goals. In addition to the many contributions that Margaret has made within pureIntegration and Girls Inc. of GPHSNJ, she has served in leadership positions for Women in Cable Telecommunications Greater Philadelphia (WICT) including Co-Chair of Programming, Vice President, and President. Margaret was instrumental in fostering the relationship between WICT and Girls Inc. of GPHSNJ through the annual WICT Philly Gives Back event in November. 
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