346:, where she was raised by a single mother, Hilbertidou developed this financial literacy programme to assist disadvantaged youth. The programme, which is provided free of charge, is structured as a 10-day virtual school holiday course, focusing on financial management, entrepreneurship, and investment, with an emphasis on addressing limiting beliefs about money. Each participant is paired with a one-on-one mentor to support the development of a positive money mindset and practical financial skills. The programme has received sponsorship from major organisations such as
177:
33:
358:, enabling it to reach over 2,000 participants, with a particular focus on MÄori, Pasifika, refugee, and rural youth. The initiative encourages the application of financial literacy within families and broader communities, aiming to equip young people with the necessary knowledge and tools to achieve financial independence and break the cycle of poverty.
146:. She studied digital IT and physics, and found that she was frequently the only girl in the classes. At 16, she founded GirlBoss New Zealand as a way to encourage teenage girls to participate more fully in leadership, entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering, and maths. GirlBoss events have featured guest speakers such as My Food Bag founder
307:
recipients have received cash grants. Supported by over 25 corporate partners, the awards provide winners with financial assistance, media training, and networking opportunities, significantly enhancing the impact of their initiatives. The GirlBoss Awards feature categories such as Arts & Culture, Business, Leadership, and
Community, among others.
248:
Alexia
Hilbertidou is the founder of GirlBoss New Zealand, a social enterprise established in 2015 with the mission of empowering young women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. The organisation's programmes are offered free of charge
306:
have evolved into a prominent platform that encourages youth to initiate social change projects. Since its inception, the programme has raised over $ 500,000 NZD, which has been distributed as cash grants to award winners. In 2024, the awards attracted 583 nominations, and since 2018, a total of 85
268:
This initiative is one of New
Zealand's largest healthcare-focused programme aimed at increasing the participation of underrepresented youth, including MÄori, Pasifika, Refugee, Low-Income, and Rural students, in healthcare careers. Over a five-year period, the programme has connected 3,500 young
142:, by her Samoan single mother. Her mother was the first in her family to pursue higher education, an experience that influenced Hilbertidou's focus on advocating for access to education and opportunities, particularly for underrepresented groups in leadership and STEM fields. She was educated at
277:
A programme designed to inspire and support young women interested in pursuing careers in law and public policy. It has connected over 650 students with mentorship from more than 200 legal professionals across New
Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Europe, and the United States. The programme has
122:
Under her leadership, GirlBoss New
Zealand has reached over 400 schools and launched various programmes that have enabled tens of thousands of young women to initiate social impact projects nationwide. Her efforts have been particularly focused on supporting underrepresented groups, including
315:
A programme targeting rural youth, GirlBoss Edge: Primary
Industries provides training and support for careers in the primary sector, including agriculture, sustainability, and forestry. The programme has engaged 1,250 students, offering not only 1:1 mentorship from professionals at
370:, this hackathon focuses on developing technological solutions aimed at promoting gender equality. Over the course of three years, the event has annually convened 127 women in technology from across New Zealand, facilitating collaboration on projects aligned with
320:
and training but also addressing mental health challenges common in rural communities. A significant increase in participants' self-confidence, from 18% to 97%, has been reported, underscoring the programme's impact on both personal and professional development.
188:. She is an Eisenhower Youth Fellow and New Zealand's representative at the Global Teen Leader Summit. She also received the AIMES Bellingham Wallace Emergent Talent Award, which enabled her to work full-time on GirlBoss. In July 2017, Hilbertidou was invited by
374:. The hackathon has been noted for its innovative approach in addressing gender disparities within the technology sector. In 2024, the impact of the event was particularly significant, with 100% of its alumni describing the experience as "life-changing."
333:
seeks to empower young women aged 13â18 to leverage STEM for social change. The programme has reached participants in several countries, including New
Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East, with plans for further expansion.
256:
A central focus of GirlBoss is encouraging young women to launch social change projects, with thousands of participants taking initiative in areas such as environmental sustainability, gender equality, and community development.
196:
and ride onboard NASA's 747 jumbo jet during an overnight exploratory mission. She is the youngest person to receive such an invitation. Hilbertidou is also the youngest member of the Super
Diverse Women Network led by
112:
is a New
Zealand social entrepreneur and the founder of GirlBoss New Zealand, a social enterprise which aims to empower women in leadership, entrepreneurship, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
294:. The initiative is particularly focused on students from low-income backgrounds, providing them with the guidance, resources, and networking opportunities necessary to succeed in the legal profession.
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She has also been recognised as the
Pacific Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020/21 and 2022/23. Hilbertidou was a finalist for the World Young Entrepreneur of the Year award by
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Hilbertidou is a strong advocate for equity of access and for ensuring every young woman in New Zealand, regardless of their socioeconomic status, can succeed.
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In 2016, Hilbertidou won the Young Leader Award, an award given to the most influential New Zealand woman under at the age of 25, at the
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people with mentorship from more than 500 medical professionals, drawn from major hospitals and medical schools across the country.
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and have collectively generated over $ 63 million NZD in value for women and girls across New Zealand, according to an independent
537:"Meet Alexia Hilbertidou, the 18-year-old founder of GirlBoss and the youngest person to be involved with Nasa's Sofia mission"
419:"Meet Alexia Hilbertidou, the 18-year-old founder of GirlBoss and the youngest person to be involved with Nasa's Sofia mission"
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GirlBoss has attracted 17,500 members, and has become New Zealand's largest women's network.
896:"DLA Piper supports young female leaders in New Zealand through GirlBoss Edge partnership"
677:"Alexia Hilbertidou-- NASA SOFIA Experience | U.S. Embassy & Consulate in New Zealand"
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in 2020. Additionally, she has served as New Zealand's Gender Equality Ambassador at the
788:"One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 - Shortlist Announced | One Young World"
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703:"GirlBoss' founder is the youngest person ever chosen to go on a NASA SOFIA mission"
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865:. https://www.oneyoungworld.com/sites/default/files/2021-04/2020-impact-report.pdf
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for her work founding GirlBoss. In 2021, Hilbertidou was named part of the
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602:"Kiwi entrepreneur Alexia Hilbertidou reflects on her career success"
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Inspired by Hilbertidou's experience representing New Zealand at the
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Leadership Fellow, and has been a VIP Scientific Communicator for
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Established to recognise and celebrate young female leaders, the
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Drawing from her early experiences of growing up in poverty in
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935:"Young women with big futures scoop national GirlBoss awards"
511:"Meet The Founder Of GirlBoss New Zealand Alexia Hilbertidou"
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Key initiatives under Hilbertidou's leadership include:
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Alexia Hilbertidou studied Leadership for Change at the
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United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
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and holds a Master's degree in Emerging Technologies.
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A global initiative launched by Hilbertidou in 2024,
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Industries, Ministry for Primary (11 October 2023).
278:garnered support from leading law firms, including
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217:' list '30 under 30 Asia', as a featured honoree.
138:In her early childhood, Hilbertidou was raised in
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455:"Alexia Hilbertidou â Festival for the Future"
123:low-income, MÄori, Pasifika, and rural youth.
877:"NZ network "empowering" young women in STEM"
8:
600:Guthrie, As told to Fleur (27 August 2024).
681:U.S. Embassy & Consulate in New Zealand
282:and the "Big Three" New Zealand law firmsâ
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987:"ANZ partners with GirlBoss New Zealand"
730:"The Kiwi teen who made the Queen laugh"
485:"Growth spurt for GirlBoss New Zealand"
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1080:New Zealand people of Samoan descent
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573:"Alexia Hilbertidou | Our Members"
372:UN Global Goal #5: Gender Equality
201:. In 2018, Hilbertidou received a
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311:GirlBoss Edge: Primary Industries
817:explorers.nationalgeographic.org
728:Mortimer, Jenni (28 June 2018).
1060:21st-century New Zealand people
509:NadiaShawOwnes (31 July 2023).
273:GirlBoss Edge: Law & Policy
180:Alexia Hilbertidou inside SOFIA
16:New Zealand social entrepreneur
1012:"Alexia Hilbertidou, LinkedIn"
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939:Otago Daily Times Online News
881:Te Waha Nui - AUT University
535:Shaw, Aimee (11 July 2017).
417:Aimee Shaw (11 July 2017).
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203:Queen's Young Leader Award
1090:Immigrants to New Zealand
861:One Young World. (2020).
606:Now to Love - New Zealand
264:GirlBoss Edge: Healthcare
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150:, Green Party candidate
131:Hilbertidou was born in
459:Festival for the Future
338:GirlBoss Edge: CashFlow
166:University of Cambridge
390:"GirlBoss New Zealand"
362:We the Women Hackathon
344:Kelston, West Auckland
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140:Kelston, West Auckland
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838:"GirlBoss NZ | Home"
763:"Alexia Hilbertidou"
652:"Alexia Hilbertidou"
627:"Alexia Hilbertidou"
465:on 13 September 2017
394:GirlBoss New Zealand
95:GirlBoss New Zealand
875:Shania, Callender.
577:Super Diverse Women
298:The GirlBoss Awards
238:National Geographic
87:Social Entrepreneur
863:Impact report 2020
207:Queen Elizabeth II
192:to be part of the
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423:NZ Herald
280:DLA Piper
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199:Mai Chen
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100:Website
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251:PwC UK
244:Career
215:Forbes
133:Cyprus
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209:, at
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