Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, continues to make significant strides in promoting women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Girls Who Code was founded in 2012 on a pretty amazing mission. It works to eliminate the gender gap in technology and encourages young women, and in particular women of color, to pursue careers in these important industries. In its 10 short years of existence, the organization has empowered more than 670,000 young girls, women, and nonbinary people. In particular, they have honed in on creating curriculum to educate them about STEM and AI.
This realization led Saujani to take stock of the dismal lack of women in STEM positions. This experience prompted her to start Girls Who Code. She recognized the urgent need to uplift young women. Her goal was to give them both the skillsets and the mindsets to go on and thrive in these booming industries. “I had just played for those kids that I was dying to reach,” she said jubilantly. Her passion for empowering the next generation of leaders was contagious.
Saujani has an active hand in shaping the direction of Girls Who Code. She has recently started a fun new podcast called “Confessions of a Female Founder.” Each episode includes candid conversations with trailblazing women to provide inspiration and encouragement, along with valuable lessons we’ve all learned while building our businesses. It gets potential listeners excited to start their own adventures in social entrepreneurship. It inspires them to go back and make big moves on their own entrepreneurial journey. “You lose, you lose, you lose, but then you win,” she announced. Her words served to underscore the important role that resilience plays in entrepreneurship.
Saujani’s work has attracted support from major players in the tech industry, like Jack Dorsey and Microsoft. This support has allowed Girls Who Code to remain nimble and strategic in fulfilling its mission. Unlike counterparts and other notable organizations, such as Girls in Tech and Women in Code, that have faced leadership difficulties, it distinguishes them.
While Saujani herself is not a coder, she studied political science and speech communications. Through her experience and post-recovery work, she has become a passionate advocate for helping other women in tech. On her non-traditional pathway to success, she mused, “If I had applied to be the CEO of Girls Who Code, I wouldn’t have gotten the job.” Her journey is deeply personal as well; she’s experienced a number of miscarriages and an autoimmune disorder while successfully bringing Girls Who Code to life.
In addition to all her other work, Saujani is the founder of Moms First, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting for better working conditions for mothers. She has long been outspoken about the need to defend women’s rights everywhere—in our homes, in our jobs, in our economy. “I’ll be dead if women don’t get more rights than they had when I was born,” she proclaimed. Her remarks underscored how deeply she’s committed to advancing gender equity.
With her programs, Saujani inspires girls to create their own futures in tech and entrepreneurship. You’re looking for mentorship first, Meghan Markle said when reflecting on her discussion with Saujani. … if it’s a good fit for them, they’ll provide guidance on what they think you need. Talent marketplace
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