Summary of "How I Taught Millions Of Women The Most Important Skill: Girls Who Code Founder: Reshma Saujani"

This interview and conversation between Stephen Bartlett and Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and author, explores Reshma’s personal journey from a bullied immigrant child to a social entrepreneur and advocate for women and girls in technology and the workforce. It covers her experiences with racism, failure, resilience, and systemic barriers, as well as the founding and growth of Girls Who Code and her broader mission to transform workplaces for women and mothers.

Main Ideas, Concepts, and Lessons

1. Reshma Saujani’s Personal Background and Early Life

Daughter of Ugandan immigrants who fled Idi Amin’s dictatorship.
Grew up in a predominantly white working-class neighborhood; experienced racism and bullying.
Witnessed her parents’ sacrifices and silent endurance of discrimination.
Early activism started at age 13 with marches and founding student organizations to fight prejudice.
Realized she would never be accepted as “white” and embraced her identity, fueling her fight for justice.

2. Education and Career Path

Applied to Yale Law School three times before acceptance; valued credentials as a survival tool.
Felt out of place in elite institutions but learned from observing power dynamics.
Accumulated significant student debt, which influenced career choices.
Initially worked at a law firm but felt miserable and disconnected from her true purpose.
Encouraged by friends and family to quit and pursue her passion.

3. Political Career and Lessons from Failure

Ran for Congress at age 33 as the first South Asian American woman candidate.
Faced character assassination, media bias (e.g., focus on her shoes rather than campaign), and systemic resistance.
Lost the race but gained invaluable entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
Ran for New York City Public Advocate but lost again, learning more about political systems.
Used failures as motivation and learning experiences to build her next venture.

4. Founding and Growing Girls Who Code

Started when only 0.4% of girls were interested in coding.
Developed a model of embedding coding education in tech companies and classrooms with projects meaningful to girls.
Focused on changing cultural stereotypes about coders (from “nerdy white boys” to inclusive, diverse role models).
Created a movement, not just a nonprofit, emphasizing sisterhood, diversity, and empowerment.
Expanded to 10,000+ clubs worldwide (US, UK, India).
Reached half a million girls through direct programs and half a billion through media and campaigns.
Made coding “cool” and accessible, partnering with pop culture icons.

5. Challenges of Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Intense work ethic and passion but struggled with balancing personal life and health.
Experienced multiple miscarriages while building the organization.
Initially neglected mental and physical health, leading to burnout and emotional breakdowns.
Learned to delegate, build a strong board, and hire smarter people.
Recognizes the importance of empathy, vulnerability, and redefining leadership beyond “grind culture.”
Stepped down as CEO after building a sustainable organization.

6. Systemic Barriers for Women and Mothers in the Workforce

Critiques “corporate feminism” that focuses on fixing women rather than fixing structures.
Highlights the lack of affordable childcare, paid family leave, and supportive workplace policies.
Points out the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women, causing millions to leave the workforce.
Advocates for “paying up” — systemic investment in women’s needs (childcare, healthcare, paid leave).
Calls for cultural shifts: parenting out loud, ending stigma around motherhood at work.
Emphasizes the mental health crisis among working mothers and the need for societal support.

7. Philosophy and Future Vision

Inspired by Hindu philosophy (Bhagavad Gita) to focus on purpose, let go of attachments to desires and external validation.
Embraces “bravery over perfectionism” and rejects imposter syndrome narratives.
Believes true equality means enabling girls and women to pursue any path, including stay-at-home parenting.
Envisions a world where women and girls are respected, dignified, and structurally supported.
Urges women and marginalized groups to reject narratives that they need to “fix” themselves and instead fight systemic inequities.

Methodology / Instructions for Change (from Reshma’s Book and Interview)

Empower:
- Set tangible personal boundaries (e.g., divide childcare duties, protect personal time).
- Prioritize self-care and mental health.
- Reject “fix the woman” advice that ignores systemic problems.
Educate:
- Raise awareness about structural barriers (childcare costs, paid leave).
- Share data and stories that illustrate inequities.
Revise:
- Change workplace culture to normalize parenting and caregiving.
- Encourage “parent