Girls Who Code Founder & CEO Reshma Saujani has passed the baton to COO Tarika Barrett to lead the non-profit into the next decade.
After nearly 10 years of fighting to close the gender gap in technology as the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani has announced that Chief Operating Officer Tarika Barrett will officially become CEO of the organisation this week, on 2 April 2021. Barrett will now focus on equity and workforce development to close gender gap in tech by 2030. And Saujani will continue serving Girls Who Code as Board Chair.
Under Saujani’s leadership, Girls Who Code became a global movement and elevated the problem of the gender gap in technology. She introduced more than 300,000 girls around the world to careers in the field. Saujani also sparked broader cultural change and changed the image of what a computer programmer looks like and does.
CLOSING THE GENDER GAP
In a viral Ted Talk, viewed million of times, Saujani challenged women and girls to value bravery over perfection as she encouraged them to take on an industry that had often overlooked them. “Nine years ago, I set out to disrupt the tech sector, help close the gender gap and create a new vision for what programmers look like when I launched Girls Who Code. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished. And now it’s time to pass the baton to the next generation of leadership who will carry our mission into its next decade,” said Saujani.
“Tarika Barrett is both an outstanding colleague and friend. Together, we’ve achieved so much; and yet there is still more to be done. Now that we’ve taught hundreds of thousands of girls, we need to create clear pathways into careers in tech. Tarika has spent her career creating these kinds of bridges, and she’s the right person to pick up the baton and lead the organisation into its next chapter. I’ll be rooting for her at every step of the way.”
ADDRESSING INEQUALITIES IN EDUCATION
Barrett has dedicated her career to addressing inequities in education and to helping girls – particularly women of colour – succeed. Barrett joined Girls Who Code in 2016 and has played a critical role in its success. Sh has overseen the free Summer Immersion Program and after-school Clubs Program, which have reached 300,000 girls around the world; more than half of whom are Black, Latinx, or come from low-income backgrounds. Additionally, Barrett has led Girl Who Code’s international expansion, the growth of its alumni and workforce development programming and the People & Culture teams.
Commenting on the new role, Barrett, stated: “I am honoured and excited to build upon the amazing foundation Reshma has laid; continuing to expand the pipeline of women entering tech and to make sure they are supported in the workforce and their career. Reshma’s tireless advocacy and passion for supporting girls has broken down so many barriers. As I pick up the baton, my focus will be to remove those obstacles that continue to stand in the way of young women reaching their full potential.”
EXPANDING THE FEMALE TECH TALENT PIPELINE
Covid-19, the economic downturn, and the shift to remote learning have exacerbated inequities for young women, particularly women of colour, who are more likely to fall behind in their studies or lose their jobs. As a lifelong educator and equity advocate, Barrett is uniquely positioned to lead the organisation and confront these challenges, according to Saujani.
As the incoming Chief Executive Officer, Barrett plans to harness the movement Girls Who Code created to not only triple the number of after-school Clubs to help expand the pipeline of young women pursuing careers in technology; but also to support them to persist and succeed in the field. By expanding and extending the pipeline, she will work towards its ambitious goal of closing the gender gap in new entry-level tech jobs by 2030.
TECH SECTOR DISRUPTOR
“Girls Who Code was founded to disrupt the tech industry and change the image of what a programmer could look like. Nine years later, Reshma has created an international movement, serving 300,000 girls, providing access to new opportunities in tech, and inspiring young women to be brave, have grit and find joy in sisterhood,” stated Marissa Shorenstein, Board Chair of Girls Who Code. “Having worked closely with Tarika for five years, I have seen her commitment to equity and am confident that there is no better leader to take the baton. Tarika will harness the movement Reshma created and drive this organisation toward its goal of achieving gender equity by 2030. I look forward to standing by her side and supporting her in these efforts.”
Adding to her comments, Bozoma Saint John, Girls Who Code Board Member & Chief Marketing Officer of Netflix, stated: “Too often leaders prioritize power, comfort and the status quo over growth, disruption or change, but Reshma has always been a different kind of leader. By using her own position as a way to elevate women from within, Reshma is setting an example not only for women in tech or women in leadership, but for the very girls she serves at Girls Who Code. As a fierce advocate for education and gender equity, I am confident that Tarika will carry on this important work as CEO and I look forward to working with her to make it possible.”
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