On 22 February 2026, the non-profit organization Business Meets Chess and Kids hosted a special online session titled Thinking Sideways, Confidence and Chess with WGM Jennifer Shahade, bringing together girls from around the world for two hours of learning, inspiration and competition.
The event is part of the organization’s Cross Culture Girls Program, which currently engages around 700 girls (!) from 22 countries, including Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, Colombia, Botswana, Zambia, Ghana, Grenada, St. Lucia, Guyana, Sri Lanka, Malawi, Brazil, Tanzania, Czech Republic, Nigeria, Morocco, Turkey, England, Egypt and the USA. The girls meet online every month for chess training, cultural exchange, confidence-building sessions and tournaments, guided by grandmasters and inspiring female role models with diverse and accomplished backgrounds.
The February session was led by two-time U.S. Women’s Champion Jennifer Shahade, who shared insights from her book Thinking Sideways, focusing on developing confidence and resilience at the chessboard. She encouraged the participants to trust their decisions, embrace creative thinking, and approach tournaments with courage. The event concluded with a 4–5 round blitz tournament (3+2 time control) on Chess.com, where the top three players received copies of her e-book, along with a wildcard prize winner.
Initiatives like this demonstrate how powerful online platforms can be in connecting girls across continents, creating supportive spaces, and strengthening both skills and self-belief.
Role models play a transformative role in shaping ambition and confidence. When young players see accomplished women sharing their journeys and engaging with them directly, it helps them envision their own future in chess more clearly. With leaders such as WGM Shahade actively mentoring and inspiring, the impact extends far beyond a single event – nurturing a generation of girls who feel empowered to think boldly and play confidently.
As the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, we sincerely appreciate the dedication of organizers who create meaningful opportunities for girls worldwide. Although this event took place in February, it perfectly reflects the spirit of our March campaign, Chess Women’s Day Celebrations – Visible, Connected, Worldwide, highlighting how girls and women in chess are building bridges, inspiring one another, and strengthening our global community every day.
