June 24, 2026·Disha Walia & Maanvi Tyagi·4 min read

The Advice Nobody Gave Us: What 46 Women Wished They Had Learned Earlier

We surveyed 46 women about what they wish they had learned earlier. The answers were almost unanimous, and they are the reason LeadHER exists.

LeadHER isn't just another nonprofit started by high schoolers looking to stack their resumes. It is the opportunity that many women never received.

Hey, our names are Disha Walia and Maanvi Tyagi, and with this post, LeadHER is officially born. We wanna keep this short and sweet, so keep scrolling down and prepare to be shocked.

We surveyed 46 women, not just in our tight-knit town of Plainsboro, but with some living internationally. Our results were quite interesting.

Take a look for yourself:

97.8%

believe it is EQUALLY important for women to be street smart as it is for them to be academically intelligent.

93.5%

wish they had learned financial literacy and the basics of money at an earlier age.

97.8%

think they would have more confidence now if they had learned leadership, communication, and soft skills at an earlier age.

A 42-year-old IT professional with around 20 years of experience in the industry, who is also a parent to her 10-year-old daughter, expressed that:

“Being confident, taking responsibility for one's decisions, and learning from experiences are crucial qualities for young girls going into their futures. Most importantly, they should strive to be strong, independent individuals who can lead by example and be role models for others.”

And a HR Business Partner believes that girls should learn:

“Confidence, self-advocacy, financial literacy, and resilience from an early age. Many women spend years learning how to speak up for themselves, negotiate, set boundaries, and trust their own voice. Understanding money, leadership, communication, and problem-solving early on can help girls make informed decisions and navigate challenges with greater confidence.”

Let that sink in.

While the women in your life may be content with where they are now, there are many chances they missed to become even better versions of themselves. Our goal is for all mothers and elderly women to see younger generations live with no regrets and learn what they wished they had learned earlier.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for our first workshops: Public Speaking & Finance 101.

See the workshops Join the waitlist

Let's turn HER into a LeadHER!