Reshma Saujani is the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First, two movements dedicated to economic empowerment for women and girls. Her journey from a failed congressional run to building one of the country’s most prominent nonprofits offers a compelling story of turning setbacks into lasting impact.
Reshma Saujani’s Early Career
Reshma Saujani began her career as an attorney and Democratic organizer. Born to Indian immigrant parents who fled political persecution in Uganda, she carried that immigrant story into her public life. In 2010, she became the first Indian American woman to run for the U.S. Congress. The campaign didn’t succeed, but it changed the direction of her career entirely.
How Reshma Saujani Founded Girls Who Code
While visiting local schools during her campaign, Reshma Saujani noticed something striking. Computer science classrooms had a significant gender gap. So, in 2012, she founded Girls Who Code to close that gap directly. The organization runs summer programs, after-school clubs, and coding initiatives specifically for teenage girls.
Under her leadership, Girls Who Code grew rapidly. The nonprofit has taught nearly 600,000 girls through direct programming. Additionally, it has reached over 500 million people globally across all 50 U.S. states, Canada, India, and the UK.
Reshma Saujani’s Advocacy for Mothers
In 2021, Reshma Saujani shifted her focus toward a new mission. She founded the Marshall Plan for Moms, later renamed Moms First. This campaign fights for affordable childcare, paid leave, and equal pay for mothers. Furthermore, she previously served as New York City’s Deputy Public Advocate, giving her deep policy experience to draw on.
Books, Media, and Recognition
Beyond her nonprofit work, Reshma Saujani has built an impressive media presence. She authored several New York Times bestsellers, including Pay Up and Brave, Not Perfect. Her TED talk on teaching girls bravery has surpassed 54 million views. Meanwhile, she hosts the podcast “My So-Called Midlife” with Lemonada Media.
Today, Reshma Saujani lives in New York City with her husband, Nihal, and their two sons. Her work continues shaping conversations around gender equity in tech and beyond.