LEGiT KC: Opening Tech Careers to KC’s Next Generation of Young Women

Before this summer, most of this year’s LEGiT KC (Leadership & Empowerment for Girls in Tech) participants couldn’t have told you what a data center does, how a cybersecurity team spends its day, or what “product design” even means as a job. By the time they finished the program, they’d visited six Kansas City companies over six weeks, from an opening welcome session to five half days of tours and conversations. They’d sat across the table from women running AI teams, engineering departments, operations, fintech, digital health, and more. Most importantly, they’d started asking a different question. Not “could I work in tech?” but “which part of tech might I want to work in?”

The Program, in Brief

LEGiT KC exists to close a simple but stubborn gap: young women rarely get an inside look at what a tech career actually looks like, day to day, from the people doing it. LEGiT hands them that access directly, no tech background required, just curiosity. Each cohort kicks off with a welcome session where participants establish a LinkedIn presence, so they can stay connected with the women they meet throughout the summer, followed by five half-day sessions across June and July trading a portion of their summer for behind-the-scenes tours, real talk with women in tech, and a peer network of other girls asking the same big questions about their futures.

More Than 50 Speakers, 30+ Mentors, and Six Weeks

Beyond the six host companies, students heard from more than 50 speakers across every field represented in the program, giving them a composite picture of just how many industries and career paths tech now touches. The 2026 cohort’s summer looked like this:

Many sessions were moderated by LEGiT KC alumnae (Fellows) from prior cohorts, who came back to introduce speakers, run the Q&A, and lead mentor lunch conversations. For this year’s participants, that meant the person moderating the room had, a year or two ago, sat exactly where they were sitting.

Why It Matters

The tech industry still has a visibility problem when it comes to young women: not nearly enough exposure. High school is when career instincts start to calcify, and LEGiT KC is a deliberate bet that putting real women in real tech roles in front of these students, not a brochure, is what actually moves the needle. Ask a LEGiT participant what surprised her most this summer, and odds are it’s not a piece of technology. It’s realizing how many different people, personalities, and pathways lead into this industry.

In Their Own Words — Corporate Engagement

None of this happens without the organizations willing to open their doors, send their people, and invest real time in this program. A special thank you to Google, Lightedge, Cboe Global Markets, and Nebius for their sponsorship and support of LEGiT KC this year.

“Google is proud to support programs like the KC Tech Council’s LEGiT KC program that help build the next generation of the tech workforce. Investing in opportunities like this is investing in the future of the industry, and we’re grateful to be part of it.”

— Mandy Nickel, Community and Workforce Development Manager

“Supporting LEGiT KC is about more than a single event for us. It’s an investment in the next generation of women who will shape the future of technology. We hope every girl who spent the day with us walked away seeing herself as someone who belongs in this industry, and knowing there’s a team at Lightedge in her corner as she gets there.”

— Lisa McLin, Chief Sales Officer, Lightedge

“Technology powers every aspect of Cboe’s markets, and the talent behind it is what drives our success. Overland Park is a key technology hub for Cboe, and it matters to us that the next generation of women in tech can see a place for themselves here. We’re proud to support programs like LEGiT KC that give students real exposure to careers in our industry and help them picture themselves as future technology leaders.”

— Tim Lipscomb, EVP and Chief Technology Officer, Cboe Global Markets

In Their Own Words — The 2026 Cohort

“LEGiT KC was a great way to get a peek into several different technology careers and ask questions with mentors. Getting to build connections with other girls interested in STEM who are your age was fun, and connecting with women in STEM as well.”

— 2026 Cohort Survey Response

“LEGiT KC helped me explore all the possible steps I can take in the next few years to pursue a career in tech.”

— 2026 Cohort Survey Response

“Possibilities are endless. I could start somewhere in business but have the chance to work in a tech company.”

— 2026 Cohort Survey Response

Looking Ahead to 2027

The 2026 cohort is over for the summer, but the program doesn’t take the rest of the year off. Planning for 2027 is already underway, with applications opening in spring and program details to be announced in the months ahead.

Want to learn more about the program or send along a student who’d be a great fit for the 2027 cohort? Reach out to Christine Murray at christine@kctechcouncil.com.

Interested in sponsoring or hosting a session? Contact Erin Christensen at erin@kctechcouncil.com.