136. Tap into collective genius, w/Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code & Moms First

Girls Who Code

Reshma Saujani's Girls Who Code initiative has significantly impacted young women in tech by fostering a supportive network and challenging traditional educational structures. The program began with a small cohort, where students like Diana Chris Navarro found a welcoming environment that contrasted sharply with their previous experiences in male-dominated classrooms 1. Reshma's vision was to create a diverse community where girls could learn coding and collaborate on innovative projects, leading to the establishment of over 10,000 Girls Who Code clubs by the pandemic's onset 2.

What app would you create? What technology would you build? And I remember just watching the room. I believed in this idea that if you actually bring together girls that were black, white, straight, gay, you may mean rich, poor. And you put them in a classroom together and you taught them a new skill set that they would become best friends.

--- Reshma Saujani

This network effect not only encouraged more women to pursue computer science but also inspired them to start companies and advocate for diversity in tech 2.

   

Moms First

Reshma Saujani's Moms First initiative addresses systemic issues faced by mothers, such as the lack of paid leave and affordable childcare, which hinder women's economic participation. Her advocacy began with an op-ed in The New York Times, highlighting the economic and social penalties mothers face, and evolved into a movement pushing for policy changes 3. Reshma emphasizes the importance of involving the private sector in these efforts, aiming to shift childcare from a personal burden to an economic imperative.

I could teach millions of girls to code, but if I don't help their mothers, I haven't done anything.

--- Reshma Saujani

By reframing childcare as a societal issue, Moms First seeks to create a broad network of changemakers advocating for inclusive policies that benefit all 3.

   

Activism Journey

Reshma Saujani's journey into activism was shaped by personal experiences of racism and a desire to create change through collective action. Her early life was marked by challenges, such as facing racial discrimination, which fueled her determination to fight for justice and equality 4. Reshma's initial foray into politics, despite its setbacks, taught her valuable lessons about building networks and addressing systemic issues.

I remember this one time our house got spray painted. Go back to your own country. I woke up and I was out there. I was watching my father and he just had a little rag and a jar of Clorox and he's just cleaning it up. And I think he was like humming a Bollywood tune while he was doing it. And I remember looking at him saying, I'm never gonna do that. I'm never gonna be quiet.

--- Reshma Saujani

Her campaign experiences highlighted the gender disparity in tech, leading her to leverage her connections to launch Girls Who Code, a movement aimed at increasing female representation in technology 5.