Empowering the Next Generations: My Experience with Pittsburgh Technical Council’s LAUNCH Program

Kristie Abercrombie
Director of Logistics

As part of my journey in the nonprofit and logistics sectors, I’ve been fortunate to take part in the Pittsburgh Technical Council’s LAUNCH mentorship program, which stands for Learn, Aspire, Understand, Navigate, Connect, and Highlight. The program, focusing on young women aspiring to enter STEM fields, has been an incredibly fulfilling experience.

Through LAUNCH, I’ve had the privilege of participating in two cohorts, engaging in a range of dynamic activities that include in-person industry tours, speed mentoring events, and even speaking on a panel with other amazing mentors about our experiences. One of the highlights has been the opportunity to guide my mentee through their final project, offering one-on-one mentoring that truly connects the dots between aspirations and tangible success.

The virtues of LAUNCH–living intentionally, harnessing confidence, building connections, being solution-driven, and taking action–resonate deeply with me. These values are not only at the core of what we teach the “Ladies of Launch”, our bright high school-aged mentees but are also reflected in the professional bonds and friendships I’ve built with other women in the program through happy hour meetups and networking events.

The power of mentorship truly hit home for me when I had the chance to participate in a podcast alongside young women who founded their own nonprofit, Psyche and Cycle. Their focus on women’s health awareness and education was inspiring, and it’s these moments that reaffirm my passion for mentorship.

One of our cohort’s key reads, Boldly You by Janet Phan, further strengthened the ideals of empowerment and self-confidence that we aim to instill in the young women of LAUNCH.

This program not only allows me to give back but also continuously motivates me as I witness the impact it has on the next generation of women in STEM. I’m proud to be part of this growing network of change-makers, and I can’t wait to see what these young women accomplish next!