How I Taught Millions Of Women The Most Important Skill: Girls Who Code Founder: Reshma Saujani

Empowerment through Code: Reshma Saujani's Mission to Transform Technology

In this episode of "The Diary of a CEO," Stephen Bartlett welcomes Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and a former Congressional candidate. Saujani shares her journey from facing racial discrimination to creating a global movement that empowers young women through coding. Her insights offer not only a look into the tech industry's gender gap but also actionable advice on fostering resilience and inclusivity.

Core Concepts and Philosophies

1. Education as Empowerment:

      - Saujani emphasizes the transformative power of education, particularly coding, for young women. She believes that coding is not just a skill but a tool for empowerment and societal change.

2. Overcoming Failure:

      - She discusses her own experiences with public failure, particularly her congressional run, and how these shaped her subsequent endeavors, stressing the importance of resilience and learning from failure.

3. Inclusivity in Tech:

      - The need for more inclusive environments in tech that not only welcome but also support women and minorities is a recurring theme. She advocates for systemic changes to open more doors to underrepresented groups.

Practical Strategies and Advice

- Encourage STEM education early: Introduce coding and other STEM-related subjects to girls at a young age to cultivate interest and confidence.

- Create supportive communities: Foster environments that support young women in tech through mentorships, clubs, and networking opportunities.

- Promote resilience: Teach young women to view failures as opportunities for growth and learning, building resilience.

Supporting Evidence

Saujani cites studies showing that early exposure to coding can significantly impact a girl's likelihood to pursue tech careers. She also references the success stories from Girls Who Code alumni, who have gone on to pursue successful careers in tech, supporting the program's effectiveness.

Personal Application

Saujani shares her personal practices, such as mindfulness and a strong support network, which have helped her navigate the challenges of her career. She also mentions the balancing act between her professional endeavors and personal life, particularly during her attempts to start a family.

Recommendations for Tools and Techniques

- Coding platforms for beginners: Encourage the use of beginner-friendly platforms like Scratch or Codecademy to start learning coding.

- Community building tools: Utilize platforms like Meetup for creating and finding coding groups or support networks.

- Resilience-building resources: Recommend books and workshops that focus on building resilience and coping with failure.

Reshma Saujani's podcast episode not only sheds light on the obstacles faced by women in tech but also provides a roadmap for empowering the next generation of female tech leaders through education, community, and resilience.