A true political entrepreneur, Reshma Saujani has been fearless in her efforts to disrupt both politics and technology to create positive change. Yesterday she was named one of Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders, and today we are so excited to name her as a Keynote Speaker at the one-and-only Emerging Women Live 2016.
Reshma is the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a national non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and prepare young women for jobs of the future.
Started in 2012, the organization will reach more than 40,000 girls in every state by the end of 2016. This year, Girls Who Code will run 78 Summer Immersion Programs and 1500 Clubs. The results speak for themselves: 90 percent of alumnae have declared or intend to declare a major or minor in computer science.
The effectiveness of her organization is evident in testimonials from the young students: “I’m capable of doing things I never thought I could do. I’m motivated to start my own company. I want to make a difference in my community.” — Diana, 16
In her groundbreaking book, Women Who Don’t Wait in Line, Reshma advocates for a new model of female leadership focused on embracing risk and failure, promoting mentorship and sponsorship and boldly charting your own course, both personally and professionally.
Think she’s just talking the talk? Nope. Reshma is absolutely practicing what she preaches. Her campaigns for US Congress and Public Advocate for New York City are proof that just because someone says you’ll never make it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth taking the risk. In Reshma’s view, success is never a guarantee, but courage always pays off.
The TED Talk she gave last month, “Teach Bravery, not Perfection,” has already received over 1 million views. It’s a must-watch if you haven’t seen it already:
We’re not the only ones who know a world-changing woman when we see her. A graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Yale Law School, she was recently named to CNBC’s Next List; Crain’s 40 Under 40; FORTUNE’s 40 Under 40; Forbes’ Most Powerful Women Changing the World; Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People; Ad Age’s Creativity 50; and Business Insider’s 50 Women Who Are Changing the World. She has also been recognized as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in New York by the New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal Technology Innovator of the Year and an AOL/PBS Next MAKER. Quite a list!
Are you as pumped as we are to have Reshma Saujani join us Oct 13-16th at Emerging Women Live 2016 in San Francisco? Save your seat today – register here.
