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Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

By Sarah on May 30, 2016

Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code 

Reshma Saujani

Girls Who Code is a not-for-profit organization which works towards the main goal of increasing the number of women in computer sciences via a grassroots approach to support young women. In response to the disturbing statistic that in middle school, 74% of girls convey enthusiasm in STEM subjects but only 0.4% go on to study computer programming, Girls Who Code runs summer workshops in major US cities which give female secondary school students opportunities to learn computing and programming skills. Attendees take field trips to inspiringly successful technology companies, like Facebook, Twitter, AT&T and Foursquare, while also learning robotics, coding, and web design, algorithms, and mobile phone design skills. Girls Who Code’s current main objective is to see 1 million women in computer sciences by the year 2020. Over 3000 girls have completed the program and 90% of these have gone on to study computer science.

In 2010, Saujani was the first Indian-American woman to run for US Congress. During her campaign, as she spent time in schools, she observed the minute female presence in computer science classrooms.   Saujani’s background as a lawyer and activist are a powerful combination; philosophical reasoning, creative thinking skills and the desire to promote change in the world have, in no small part, led to her remarkable achievements. The skills she honed at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Business and Yale Law are undoubtedly at play and likely channeled into her recent book, Women Who Don’t Wait In Line (2013). Also buttressing GWC’s wide reach into some of the most successful companies in the world is the team that supports Saujani. The Board of Directors has an almost staggering roster, including the Chief Technology Officer from Twitter, a professor of computer science and NYU Co-Founder of hackNY,  the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Gilt Groupe, and the New York State President of AT&T. These companies form part of the network of experts in engineering, entrepreneurship, education, and technology in their shared goal of empowering young women in pursuit of STEM opportunities.

Saujani is incredibly inspiring. I often lament my own lack of computer programming skills. My areas of most intense interest as an educational technologist have at times seemed unattainable because of my lack of STEM background. In fact, as a young woman, this area of study was not even on my radar. To me, what is astounding is that Saujani is not herself a coder or computer science guru. She is like me. And that is empowering. She is a role model to anyone who has an incredible idea that can change learning culture from the bottom-up.

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5 Jun Posted on Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani is an outstanding example of an entrepreneur, and an inspiration to others. She clearly identified an educational deficit and acted to correct it. The group of people she surrounds herself with certainly have the status and capability to produce some real cultural change and I am hopeful to see a greater balance of interest in the computer sciences in the future.

5 Jun
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Lisa D @lmd13

Reshma Saujani is an outstanding example of an entrepreneur, and an inspiration to others. She clearly identified an educational deficit and acted to correct it. The group of people she surrounds herself with certainly have the status and capability to produce some real cultural change and I am hopeful to see a greater balance of interest in the computer sciences in the future.

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4 Jun Posted on Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

Having completed my degree in Computer Science, I can speak first hand to the imbalance of males to females in the work place. An entrepreneur seeking to reduce this imbalances faces a monumental task, but one that has huge benefits for the industry down the line. Reshma’s educational history and experience makes her an ideal person to lead the charge, and she is an inspiration to all women looking to one day begin their own ventures.

4 Jun
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Gary Ma @garyma88

Having completed my degree in Computer Science, I can speak first hand to the imbalance of males to females in the work place. An entrepreneur seeking to reduce this imbalances faces a monumental task, but one that has huge benefits for the industry down the line. Reshma’s educational history and experience makes her an ideal person to lead the charge, and she is an inspiration to all women looking to one day begin their own ventures.

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4 Jun Posted on Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

Very inspiring post, Sarah. Reshma is a great example of a strong role model who saw a gap, recognized how her skill set and connections could affect change and then acted on this. I was the only girl in the computer science class in high school (late 1980's), and while being the only girl didn't bother as much as the lack of inspiring curriculum in place for this subject, my peers certainly questioned my choices. I circled back to learning to code when I found an application that was interesting to me - digital publishing. I'm not entirely sold on some of the movements that aim to increase the numbers of certain minorities within lower represented fields/industries. However, I do think that the systemic reasons for lower representation should be uncovered and addressed, and I applaud entrepreneurs like Reshma Saujani for taking this on.

4 Jun
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esthertester @estherdu

Very inspiring post, Sarah. Reshma is a great example of a strong role model who saw a gap, recognized how her skill set and connections could affect change and then acted on this. I was the only girl in the computer science class in high school (late 1980's), and while being the only girl didn't bother as much as the lack of inspiring curriculum in place for this subject, my peers certainly questioned my choices. I circled back to learning to code when I found an application that was interesting to me - digital publishing. I'm not entirely sold on some of the movements that aim to increase the numbers of certain minorities within lower represented fields/industries. However, I do think that the systemic reasons for lower representation should be uncovered and addressed, and I applaud entrepreneurs like Reshma Saujani for taking this on.

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3 Jun Posted on Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

Now I know an organization that I would like to be in if I were a teenage girl! From my personal experience, my boyfriend has a computer science background, and the way he sees things really makes me want to train my logical thinking by learning how to code (even though my math skills are better than his, but it doesn't mean that my logical thinking is better than his). In addition, as I am particularly interested in Finance, it requires certain knowledge in coding to perform market analysis. As of Saujani, I think people who is not familiar with the product or service she/he creates, doesn't necessarily prevent her/him from achieving success in the entrepreneurship. I mean, Steve Jobs didn't have a coding background, and he created Apple.

3 Jun
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yuandi du @gipsdu

Now I know an organization that I would like to be in if I were a teenage girl! From my personal experience, my boyfriend has a computer science background, and the way he sees things really makes me want to train my logical thinking by learning how to code (even though my math skills are better than his, but it doesn't mean that my logical thinking is better than his). In addition, as I am particularly interested in Finance, it requires certain knowledge in coding to perform market analysis. As of Saujani, I think people who is not familiar with the product or service she/he creates, doesn't necessarily prevent her/him from achieving success in the entrepreneurship. I mean, Steve Jobs didn't have a coding background, and he created Apple.

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3 Jun Posted on Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

I teach ICT 9 but have never really used 'coding' as a way of teaching programming. My students use NXT and robotics to introduce the topic, and take Java / Dreamweaver in later grades (as well as expand on their NXT programming skills). I would like to know more about 'girls who code' and the "Girls Who Code" organization seems like a great way to get my girls interested (I teach at an all-girls school). I will definitely look into it!

3 Jun
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cquarrie @cquarrie

I teach ICT 9 but have never really used 'coding' as a way of teaching programming. My students use NXT and robotics to introduce the topic, and take Java / Dreamweaver in later grades (as well as expand on their NXT programming skills). I would like to know more about 'girls who code' and the "Girls Who Code" organization seems like a great way to get my girls interested (I teach at an all-girls school). I will definitely look into it!

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2 Jun Posted on Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani is correctly described as inspirational. It is one thing to locate a problem however very few of us are willing to spend the time to find a solution. One aspect that stuck out to me was the fact that Saujani does not come from a background in coding. When I was reading the company name I assumed the founder would be someone from the field. This lack of coding background has been negated as she has connected and surrounded herself with the industry leaders as advisors. This is important for people looking to create startups in areas they may not be intimately familiar with. We need to ensure we are open to help and advice and not let our egos get in the way.

2 Jun
1 Thumbs Up!
benjamin king @benking

Reshma Saujani is correctly described as inspirational. It is one thing to locate a problem however very few of us are willing to spend the time to find a solution. One aspect that stuck out to me was the fact that Saujani does not come from a background in coding. When I was reading the company name I assumed the founder would be someone from the field. This lack of coding background has been negated as she has connected and surrounded herself with the industry leaders as advisors. This is important for people looking to create startups in areas they may not be intimately familiar with. We need to ensure we are open to help and advice and not let our egos get in the way.

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31 May Posted on Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

Resume Saujani is a real inspiration to those hoping to enter the tech market. I love that she identified the need for girls to gain coding skills earlier, so they can go on to compete for jobs in the IT sector later. Diversity in IT is always a hot topic and Saujani is helping women to compete!

31 May
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erinmenzies @erinmenzies

Resume Saujani is a real inspiration to those hoping to enter the tech market. I love that she identified the need for girls to gain coding skills earlier, so they can go on to compete for jobs in the IT sector later. Diversity in IT is always a hot topic and Saujani is helping women to compete!

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31 May Posted on Coding Queen-Pin: Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani is an incredibly inspiring entrepreneur. It is essential to empower female students to believe in themselves and understand that they possess the ability to be successful in STEM jobs. I have been working with STEM projects with my school board with companies such as WEMADEIT and General Motors. I have learned that so many engineering positions are available within Canada, but they are awarded to international students because hardly any of our Canadian students, particularly girls, are taking physics in high school. This is a worthwhile endeavour for the economic and social future of our country!

31 May
1 Thumbs Up!
claychri @claychri

Reshma Saujani is an incredibly inspiring entrepreneur. It is essential to empower female students to believe in themselves and understand that they possess the ability to be successful in STEM jobs. I have been working with STEM projects with my school board with companies such as WEMADEIT and General Motors. I have learned that so many engineering positions are available within Canada, but they are awarded to international students because hardly any of our Canadian students, particularly girls, are taking physics in high school. This is a worthwhile endeavour for the economic and social future of our country!

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