Legacy in the Making

In 2012, two years after she lost her bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a New York Congresswoman, Reshma Saujani launched a nonprofit organization that is creating social change by successfully leading, not following, the government’s educational agenda. Girls Who Code, Reshma’s launch, is on a mission to “inspire, educate and equip girls with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities.” Over the long term, her organization is committed to creating greater gender parity in the field of computing by working on making the kind of disruptive change where the world doesn’t need her organization called Girls Who Code because, one day, every girl will know how to code. Recently, The Legacy Lab had the opportunity to speak to Reshma about her inspiration for pursuing the Girls Who Code dream, the distance that exists between what her organization aims for and what it has achieved, and the importance of her taking risks to write the legacy that she is meant to live.

math and science. I shied away from pursuing anything that required hav- 00101110010_GIRLS_WHO_CODE11100010000110 ing a technical background because I did not feel that I was smart enough. Throughout my early career, in law and in finance, this haunted me.

Both of my parents were engineers. 0010111010010110111100010101101000_GIRLS_WHO_CODE_100101101111000101011010001011 They came to this country as ref- ugees from in the 1970s. My parents were at home one day watching television when dictator said they had 90 days to get out. They applied to what must have felt like every country for refugee status. They got rejection after rejec- 00101110010110010101_GIRLS_WHO_CODE_01100010111001011001010100011100010000110 tion until, eventually, they received a letter from the saying, ‘Congratulations, you have been accepted.’ They showed up in , , wearing T-shirts and shorts because they threw a dart on a map, and that’s where it landed.

00101110100101_GIRLS_WHO_CODE_0010111010010110111100010_GIRLS_WHO_CODE My parents built a life for themselves Can you tell us a little about how organization called Girls Who Code in America. Seeing everything this your upbringing, as well as your because I’m not a professional coder. country did for my family inspired academic and professional career, Growing up, I distinctly remember me to want to give back someday has culminated in the launch of Girls sitting with my dad at the dinner through public service. 00101110010110010101000111000100001100010111001011001010100011100010000110 Who Code? table while he quizzed me on my math homework. I felt uncomfortable In college, I studied political science, I often tell people that I am such because I didn’t know the answers. policy and the law. By the time I an unlikely person to have started an I never thought that I was good at finished school, I accrued $300,000

2016 1 in loan debt. My plan was to move to ocratic establishment. And I didn’t 2012 working to understand the prob- New York, pay off the debt in a year or know what I was going to do next. lem: Why was there a lack of women two and then run for office. In 2008, in the field of computer science? My several years later, I was getting ready passion for this topic was rooted in to turn 33 years old, hating my job creating greater economic opportu- in the financial services industry and “I saw give nity. In the technology sector, where feeling like I lost sight of my dream. her concession speech when jobs were growing, where a person Then, I saw Hillary Clinton give her she ran her first campaign could make a lot of money as a concession speech when she ran her to be the President of the software engineer, where the related first campaign to be the President of United States. She said income could help to move a family the United States. She said something up to the middle class, why were very inspiring, ‘Just because I failed something very inspiring, women so badly underrepresented? doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try too.’ I ‘Just because I failed I began to explore what it would take felt that she was talking to me. I was doesn’t mean you shouldn’t to put together a curriculum aimed at still an idealistic woman. I felt time was try too.’ I felt that she was young women. I became very focused running out. If I was going to pursue talking to me.” on identifying women with an interest my journey, and run for office, I was in tech and inspiring their talent for going to have to do it soon. So I quit applying it. This became my full-time my job and went for it. focus. It became the obsession of It was a crazy expedition. I ran as the someone who is, herself, not a pro- In 2010, at the age of 35, I ran for the young candidate who was a disruptor. fessional coder. This was the origin of United States Congress in a Demo- At the time, I was the first candidate Girls Who Code. cratic primary against a person who talking about technology in terms had been there for 18 years. I had of helping to get people who do not When I named it, I thought Girls Who a one percent chance of winning, a normally vote out to vote. We used Code would be a fun name. I did not 100-page policy book and a banging Jack Dorsey’s Square for the first market test it. I didn’t spend millions website. I remember, in the first two time, and we used NationBuilder first trying to figure out if it was going to weeks, getting $50,000 donated too. On the campaign trail, we would work. I do not think I asked a friend online from Indian aunties who were often talk about where future jobs or even my husband or anybody. I just so happy that an Indian girl was were at—and they were in tech. When went on GoDaddy, the name was running. During the campaign, in you run for office, you end up visiting available, and I bought it. At the start, total, I raised about $1.3 million. The with a lot of schools. I was going to I borrowed a friend’s conference Daily News endorsed me. I was in The lots of robotics labs and computer room for the first program and paid New York Times several times above science classes, and I would often for pizza for the girls on my credit the fold. CNBC had called this one see a bunch of boys all clamoring card. My husband’s assistant built our of the hottest races in the country. I to be the next Steve Jobs or Mark first website by putting up a splash had convinced a lot of people that I Zuckerberg. I remember thinking to page. It was all very bootstrap. I did was going to win. On Election Day, myself, where are all the girls? That not walk into this on day one knowing I remember clutching my father’s question stayed with me. After I lost that I would help to build a move- hand, watching the television screen. the election for Congress, I reflected ment or having any idea that four The votes for me never went past 19 on all the young women who were years later we would have reached percent. I lost. My victory party never absent from the technology revolu- 40,000 girls in nearly every state. But happened. I was broke and humili- tion. So what did I do about it? Well, from those earnest beginnings, have ated. I pissed off many in the Dem- I spent about all of 2011 and half of come some really meaningful results.

2016 2 when personal computers became girls excited. Because if it weren’t more popular, marketing was more for having that real-life experience, “Our research shows that precisely aimed at boys. When you they would have no idea what it really read the biographies of influencers means, or what it really looks like, to 74 percent of high school like Steve Jobs and , be a computer scientist. girls want a career that they talk about how their parents is focused on making the introduced them to technology at a In total, the mission of Girls Who world a little bit better. young age: ‘Got a computer as a kid, Code is to inspire, educate and equip Girls want to change the took it apart and, boom, there was girls with computing skills to pursue world. Making a connection .’ Having a toy or thing to 21st century opportunities. When it between coding and being a take apart, play with and understand comes to the educating and equip- change agent is a high in order to really learn and develop ping components, beyond showing priority for us.” was transformative for male entre- girls how to tinker, we want to teach preneurs. Women and girls need them real computer science, includ- to similarly have that experience. I ing deep technical computing skills. would add that media has also played When it comes to being inspiring, Why is it that girls are so a big role in pushing girls out of the we want to dramatically change the underrepresented in the field of field by portraying an image of the image of a computer scientist to be computer science, and what can programmer as, basically, a dude in a far more diverse than some dude in you tell us about the mission Girls hoodie in a basement, drinking Red his basement staring at a computer Who Code is on to help address Bull® and not showering. Girls who and not making a difference in the that situation? are people and relationship-oriented, world. Our research shows that 74 who want to work collaboratively, see percent of high school girls want a In 1984, 37 percent of all computer that image and think, ‘That does not career that is focused on making the science graduates were women. look like me. That isn’t what I want world a little bit better. Girls want to Today, the number is more like 18 to do with my life.’ They opt out. I change the world. Making a connec- percent. At a time when women make strongly feel that culture, including tion between coding and being a up the majority of those in college, the media, has played a big role in change agent is a high priority for us. the majority of those in the labor pushing girls out. force, and are soon to be close to the majority of those who are breadwin- Culturally, we have done a bad job ners, this lack of interest in the subject explaining what it means to be a “Having a toy or thing is a problem. Equally alarming, only computer scientist and what it means to take apart, play 22% of Advanced Placement Com- to be an engineer. That’s why we with and understand puter Science test takers are women. are embedding our Girls Who Code It is not an aptitude issue, since girls classrooms inside tech-based com- in order to really learn outperform boys in math and science. panies. Our girls are learning while and develop was The problem is that from the time inside of companies such as , transformative for they’re very young, girls are actively GoogleTM and Facebook: meeting male entrepreneurs. choosing to not participate in the field. data scientists and programmers. Women and girls need They are seeing what it is like to to similarly have One of the key drivers of their lack work on teams, to collaborate in that experience.” of interest is the influence of popular these environments and to help culture. In the 1980s, for example, solve problems. That really gets the

2016 3 What is your highest ambition for way to go to help educate, equip big number? Yes. But if we do our job Girls Who Code, and given the gap and inspire—to motivate young girls right, if we deliver an amazing book, between your hope for tomorrow to take that exam and to pursue if we keep the movement going for and the reality of today, how higher education in computer sci- girls through our clubs and summer realistic is it that you can achieve it? ences—before we ever achieve our programs, we can reach that goal. highest ambition. The long-term ambition for Girls Who Code, our vision, is to help With that said, at Girls Who Code, we create gender parity in the field of are offering an alternative education “By the end of this year, we will computing. Specifically, our contribu- opportunity through an after-school have taught 40,000 girls. ... tion will be to educate and expose up program and a summer program. We At the rate Girls Who Code to one million young women through are stepping in and giving girls that is growing, we are on track in our programs by 2020. experience and exposure to computer the next couple years to help science education starting in high double the amount of women While I think that in the United school. We are working to set a high who are graduating from States we are now on a path to expectation that they’ll major in it in computer science programs creating greater gender parity, college and then go to work in the in this country.” the gap is still wide. Last year, only industry. By the end of this year, we 7,500 women graduated in com- will have taught 40,000 girls. That’s puting science. Today, only one out very significant given the fact that, of 10 American schools even offer again, only 7,500 women graduated Can you share some specifics computer science. And not nearly in computer science last year. At the about the programs and initiatives, enough girls are taking the AP Com- rate Girls Who Code is growing, we the action that Girls Who Code puter Science exam. Google did a are on track in the next couple years takes, in support of achieving all study that revealed that a girl is 40 to help double the amount of women of its goals? percent more likely to major in com- who are graduating from computer puter science if she takes the AP science programs in this country. So We run a summer immersion pro- CS exam. As a country, not just as a do I see the potential to have gender gram which is a seven-week inten- single organization, we have a long parity in the next five to 10 years? sive program for rising juniors and Yes, because we are not the only seniors in high school. Twenty girls game in town. There are lots of other per group go to a classroom at a uni- people who are now trying to attack versity or in a technology company— “The long-term ambition this same problem. We are all doing like Facebook—over a summer. Then, for Girls Who Code, our good work and are, together, building from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., we vision, is to help create a pipeline for female talent. teach them how to code. They are gender parity in the field exposed to mentors and role mod- of computing. Specifically, Girls Who Code is very committed els, and each week they focus on a our contribution will be to its ambition. One of the exciting new project. They learn how to build to educate and expose things we did last year, to help us a website, how to build a mobile app up to one million young reach our goal, is create a partner- and a lot more. Then, in the last two women through our ship with PENGUIN® to put out a weeks, the girls can build whatever programs by 2020.” book in 2017. The book will offer they want motivated by what they curriculum to help girls between nine have learned. The summer program and 13 learn to code. Is one million a is the equivalent of a half semes-

2016 4 ter in college. This summer, we’re The community we build in the when the city of Chicago recently running about 78 of the programs in classrooms, and the sisterhood we made computer science mandatory nine cities, including Los Angeles; create, plus the relationships that as a requirement for graduation, Austin; Atlanta; Boston; and Wash- are built, are very powerful. which is something that we have ington, D.C. So call it 1,600 girls will been advocating for years. To see go through Girls Who Code this Between our summer immersion this elevate to the level of a bigger summer. Last year, we ran 57 pro- program, our Girls Who Code conversation, combined with more grams; the year before we ran 19; Clubs, our book coming out next action, is progress. Four years ago, the year before we ran nine. We are year and the formalization of an when we started with Girls Who scaling the program, fast. Ninety alumni group, we are building a Code, plenty of people were like, percent of our summer alumni are fully networked and supported ‘What’s coding?’ intending to major or minor in com- organization. We introduce girls puter science. And seven percent to the topic and impart lifelong of those thought they wanted to do knowledge. We give them access “I often look at how much something else before their expo- to internships. We create a sister- inequity we have in our sure through us. We are having great hood of support to help make sure results with the girls we are collabo- that the girls do not give up. When country right now and ask rating with at Girls Who Code. the girls run into cultural or gen- myself, ‘How is that possible? der barriers that they will inevi- How can I help fix things?’In In addition to summer programs, tably face and feel deterred from turn, it’s very exciting for me we have created Girls Who Code wanting to do this anymore, we to see the girls at Girls Who Clubs. These are after-school have role models who can encour- Code gain technical skills, programs that will be in almost all age them along. We are building get internships the following 50 states by the end of this year. this one piece at a time, creating We’re in about 44 states right now, strong foundations for a more sus- year and then get a full so we’re close. The after-school tainable solution. ride to college.” programs are held in schools, community centers, libraries and churches. Some are in the best Reflecting upon the state of On a very personal level, the other high schools in America. Some are Girls Who Code right now, what most rewarding thing for me, given in homeless shelters and in sanc- are some of your organization’s my upbringing, is seeing girls tioned housing. We are starting biggest successes as well as some whose parents work at minimum one in a prison. The clubs are for of your ongoing challenges for wage jobs or who live in homeless girls who are of middle school age the future? shelters or who have only one meal on up. It is a truly diverse group. a day come to Girls Who Code. My We have students who are the I think our biggest success is that parents came here with something daughters of migrant workers. We we were among the first organi- like $11 in their pockets. I am the also have girls from Indian reserva- zations that not only talk about product of the American dream. I tions, who literally have no STEM doing something, but actually do often look at how much inequity opportunities in a 70-mile radius, something in a meaningful way. In we have in our country right now who are now getting exposure and turn, I was filled with pride when and ask myself, ‘How is that possi- access to a Girls Who Code Club. President Obama talked about ble? How can I help fix things?’ We provide two hours worth of coding four times in his last State of In turn, it’s very exciting for me to coding instruction a week for girls. the Union address. And I was proud see the girls at Girls Who Code

2016 5 gain technical skills, get intern- in you. People who, do or die, believe ately trying to get the press to write ships the following year and then in you and your vision and will take on a story about us—preferably, The get a full ride to college. These risk in putting their own brand behind New York Times or The girls are helping to improve their yours. People who are willing to Journal. But that didn’t happen. What own family’s situation—helping to activate their own network in support did happen was that Twitter put us raise them up into the middle class. of yours. I have, and Girls Who Code in one of their blog posts. Four small This is why I come to work every has, been the beneficiary of people lines: ‘We care about the gender day. It is to do my part in providing like that. I have been fortunate in that gap. We are going to partner with an these girls with better opportu- believers keep popping up in my life. organization called Girls Who Code.’ nities. I feel that it is one of our It went viral. The whole day we were biggest successes. tweeting and using social media. At around 5 p.m., I remember getting As for challenges, one of the biggest an e-mail from Sheryl Sandberg. She “A lot of times, success in is that we’re a nonprofit that is half said, ‘I don’t know who you are, but I like a political campaign and half like life can be linked back to think what you are doing is amazing. a startup. We have big ambitions those who believe in you. Please let me know how I can help.’ I but very limited resources, including People who, do or die, have no idea how she got my e-mail time, money and people. For some, believe in you and your address, but it was amazing that she ours can be a hard sell. There are vision and will take on risk saw it online, on Facebook or on Twit- not a lot, if any, other entities out in putting their own brand ter, and asked what she could do to there that operate in the same way support us. We hadn’t even had our as ours. I want to scale Girls Who behind yours. ... I have been first class yet, but I think Sheryl was Code even faster, but oftentimes, I fortunate in that believers excited that somebody, some orga- cannot incentivize people or I can’t keep popping up in my life.” nization, was doing something about hire people. We depend upon 90 a problem that she too is passion- percent of our funding from corpo- ate about. Now, every year, Sheryl rations, so every year I have to take participates in a town hall meeting time away from the day-to-day oper- Jack Dorsey, the founder and CEO of with us. She always references Girls ations to go out and raise $13 million Square, and cofounder and CEO of Who Code when she is speaking. to keep this organization growing. Twitter, is one of them. Jack has done She’s always working to introduce This is an ongoing challenge for us a fundraiser for every one of my cam- new people to us who support Girls given the size of our ambition and paigns. He has been there at every Who Code with jobs for our girls or the amount of resources required moment for Girls Who Code, includ- who support our mission in some way. for us to truly make an impact. ing the week I was IPOing. Each year, Sheryl routinely activates her own he speaks to some of the girls in the brand for Girls Who Code. program. His commitment to me, to Who are some of the key Girls Who Code, has been enormous. Hillary Clinton has been support- influencers, and what role do He has put himself on the line for us. ive of our work. President Obama they play, in helping to bring the wrote the girls a very first-class and Girls Who Code message forward Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating personal letter encouraging them in to even more audiences? officer of Facebook, is another exam- their pursuits. We rely on our believ- ple of an important believer. When ers, including brands like Microsoft® A lot of times, success in life can we began Girls Who Code, we had a and Adobe®. So many individuals be linked back to those who believe special launch day and were desper- with strong brands and so many con-

2016 6 sumer brands who really do believe organization. That is why I work in what we are trying to do. When 20 hours a day. That is why I am I was running for office, I always so passionate about this. I truly felt like I was running up a hill. It believe that today’s young wom- “I am the last person who was very hard to catch a break. In en are remarkable. And there are every single person has contrast, with Girls Who Code, I many problems that they, in turn, to interview with [at Girls know that it has so much meaning could help to solve—climate change, Who Code], and I try to in it that a lot of people want to hunger and cancer—if they only had help support by building this with access to the right technology and talk each one out of the us. It’s very rewarding to see and to technical skills that we can help to job to see who is really be a part of. provide to them. here for the mission.”

I’d like to scale Girls Who Code Earlier you talked about scaling as fast as possible. But we have your organization. How fast can constraints. I once worked with see who is really here for the mis- you scale Girls Who Code, and a coach who said it’s a priority to sion—who will stay committed to the why is scaling quickly such a high work on something that motivates cause because of their passion for priority for you? you, on something where you feel what we believe in. that you are learning, and on some- I am definitely one of those super thing where you are also having fun We could probably stop growing intense people. I keep going and I while you are earning. However, at right now, and as long as we kept don’t pat myself on the back. I’d be a nonprofit, you are not earning. So doing what we were already doing, lying to say I take moments to really you really have to sign on for the we could make a reasonable con- take it all in because I feel like I’m mission that we are on. Girls Who tribution to get more women into not there yet. I don’t feel like I’ve Code operates at the intersection of computer science jobs. But our succeeded yet. I want to help solve a political campaign and a startup, ambition is much higher. What we a problem. That’s why I started this where people work hard and are not are trying to do is to build an army compensated in traditional ways. of change agents. The millennial Their compensation is the impact generation has it within them to be they make on these young women’s fearless. As a generation, they tend “When I was running for lives. That is not for everybody. So to to be very wide-eyed and tend to office, I always felt like I scale as fast as I want to scale, I have care about the world. They believe was running up a hill. It was to make sure that I am hiring the that anything is possible. Once they very hard to catch a break. very best of the right kind of peo- all know how to code, the world In contrast, with Girls Who ple—the ones with the most passion better watch out. The future is going Code, I know that it has so who are here for emotional reward. to be amazing. much meaning in it that a I interview every person who works for this company. I am the filter for What lasting impact do you hope lot of people want to help passion at Girls Who Code. We have to make on the world through support by building this with gone from two employees when we your work, and your organization’s us. It’s very rewarding to see started to 58 by the end of this year. work, at Girls Who Code? and to be a part of.” I am the last person who every single person has to interview with, and I try My strong desire with Girls Who to talk each one out of the job to Code is to build a movement of young

2016 7 coders all working to solve the prob- just in New York City or in Silicon Val- technology-related fields. One of my lems of tomorrow. Prevailing culture, ley. Ninety percent of all job openings friends, a computer science teacher however, continues to be one of the in Montana are in tech. Fifty percent who teaches Java® at Columbia Uni- biggest barriers to progress. We need of all job openings in Salt Lake City versity, likes to tell this story, which to really start thinking, meaningfully, are in tech. Meanwhile, 44 percent of illustrates the point. He says that about transforming the way we por- executives say they can’t hire enough when he holds office hours, the guys tray girls who work in computer sci- engineers because there’s a talent vac- will come in when they are struggling ences. We need to show girls that tech uum. For the foreseeable future, it will with an assignment and say, ‘The has the power to help them change remain a good time to be pursuing a computer is broken.’ The girls, in the world. We need to show them that career if you have the right skills, par- juxtaposition, will come in and say, ‘I technology is interesting and cool, just ticularly for women and girls who have am broken. There’s something wrong like them, to help make sure they do the required skills. There is, more, not with me.’ not opt out of learning more about it. less, opportunity for those who are I also think our educational system is well-prepared for the future. broken and needs to be fixed. Schools are teaching Microsoft® Word instead My loftiest personal goal is to help fill “As women, we of HTML or Python. Girls need to the talent vacuum with skilled women learn to speak the modern language. and to help solve the problem so that are often taught to We need to update our education sys- organizations like ours don’t have to avoid failure and to tem to account for where the jobs are, exist anymore. My hope is that in 50 and I think we need to, from a policy years from now people remark upon avoid risk. I want to perspective, make computer science the lasting contribution we made to undo that. I want to education a priority by putting in the the world, but that we don’t need a socialize girls to take necessary resources to help make it Girls Who Code because everyone happen. Today, we’re badly behind in will be a girl who codes. risks and to be brave.” terms of where we are at as a country. England just made it mandatory for their young people to learn how to By reputation, and even self- code. In comparison, in America, com- admittedly, you are an advocate When I think about the work I am puter science counts for graduation for disruption. To help Girls Who doing now with Girls Who Code, in only 26 of our states. Anyone who Code achieve its long-term goals, and when I think about what it took is a parent understands that our kids what new social disruptions or to run for office years ago, and have busy lives. If they have to study changes need to take place? everything that I have been a part something as an elective, something of, I wouldn’t have made progress that doesn’t count for graduation, they I recently gave a TED talk. The if I had subscribed to the societal are probably not going to study it. theme was focused on the fact that expectation. As women, we are we are socializing our young girls to often taught to avoid failure and Why do I care so passionately? Why be perfect while we are raising our to avoid risk. I want to undo that. I should we all care so much? Anyone young boys to be brave. Failure has want to socialize girls to take risks concerned about the current and not been a part of the narrative of and to be brave. So how can I, how future state of the economy should young girls. The bravery deficit is, in can we all, create the next gener- care. Right now, there are around five part, what is causing a real leadership ation of brave, courageous young million open jobs in America. About deficit for women. It is, in part, the women? How do we raise the next 500,000 of those jobs are in tech—not reason why they are not going into generation of brave, courageous

2016 8 young women who will take risks Right after I lost the race for Over a little more than four years, and not worry about getting it right Congress, it felt like gut wrench- Reshma Saujani’s organization, Girls and being perfect? Showing girls ing pain. I was disappointed, I was Who Code, has reached 40,000 that failure can be a good thing is humiliated, I didn’t have a job and diverse girls in nearly all states. really important, and I think that’s I was broke. I was very vulnerable. Because of the after-school clubs part of what we do at Girls Who However, in being vulnerable, I and summer immersion programs her Code. When we inspire girls to be allowed myself to be open to new organization makes possible, many brave, just like boys, we start to possibilities. Today, I am making a who would have otherwise never make more social progress. real impact in starting Girls Who had exposure to positive role models Code. I am creating real education- in the field nor advanced learning The first book I wrote was called al change and career opportuni- about coding see the potential Women Who Don’t Wait In Line: ties, which were the reasons why for further studies and a career in Break The Mold, Lead The Way. If I I wanted to run in the first place. I computer science. Because of her write a next book, I think I may take am likely making more impact, with efforts, many girls who have the on the topic of debunking the idea lasting implications, than if I had desire to positively change the world that socializing girls to be perfect been elected. are gaining the technical know-how is a good idea because, socially, it’s to do so. Accordingly, Reshma and not a good idea. From experience, I have learned the Girls Who Code organization are that being rejected, being upset, finding that they are not just training failing and seeing dreams not work a new generation of thinkers, but As a leader who has, and who out should never break you. There rather, they are also winning over a continues to, create meaningful is nothing wrong, and lots of good, highly influential group of believers and lasting change in the world, that can come out of trying and, at across business and government who what advice do you have for others first, not succeeding. So don’t let are lining up to support the effort. aspiring to do the same thing? it break you. From one dream can Before starting Girls Who Code, emerge new, better ones filled with Reshma Saujani felt some despair I think I’ve learned that to thrive amazing possibility. over having lost an attempt to realize professionally and personally you her dream of winning a freshman need to leave yourself open to campaign for Congress. After starting possibility—that the dream you think Girls Who Code, with the benefit of you have right now may not be the “From experience, I perspective, she now realizes that she one that you need to live. have learned that being is working on a bigger dream. Instead rejected, being upset, of simply recounting her history, For me, I always thought that my through Girls Who Code, Reshma is way to make impact would be by failing and seeing dreams an inspirational leader who is writing running for office. If you asked me not work out should history every day. five years ago, ‘Reshma, will you be never break you. There is leading a nonprofit organization nothing wrong, and lots of that teaches young girls how good, that can come out of to code?’ I would have said, ‘No. BY MARK MILLER You’re crazy. What are you talking trying and, at first, about? I don’t want to be a nonprofit not succeeding.” Mark Miller is the Chief Strategy Officer at Team One, an ad agency with global expertise leader. And I don’t code.’ That said, and proprietary research into premium categories I learned to embrace possibility. and aspirational consumers.

2016 9

©2016 Team One. Team One is a division of Saatchi & Saatchi North America Inc., a fully owned subsidiary of Publicis Groupe, the third largest global agency.