Reshma Saujani: From Girls Who Code to Championing Moms & Affordable Childcare

From Girls Who Code to a National Childcare Push

Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First, is increasingly recognized as a pivotal voice in the national conversation around economic policy – specifically, the critical link between affordable childcare and women’s participation in the workforce. Recently named one of TIME’s Women of the Year in February, Saujani’s advocacy has gained significant momentum, culminating in a $1.7 billion plan for universal childcare for children under five in New York, announced in January alongside Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. This work builds on a career dedicated to empowering women and girls, and a willingness to directly challenge the status quo.

Saujani’s path to becoming a leading advocate wasn’t initially political. She first entered public service with a congressional campaign in 2010, an experience that illuminated the systemic barriers facing women. As she recounted in a recent interview with TIME, her family’s history as refugees – her parents were born in Uganda and expelled with only 90 days’ notice – instilled in her a deep sense of responsibility to give back to the United States. This background fueled her desire to address economic inequality and create opportunities for others. That initial drive led to the founding of Girls Who Code, an organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology. Moms First, her current organization, represents a broadening of that focus to encompass the broader challenges faced by working mothers.

The Genesis of Girls Who Code: Seeing the Gap

The idea for Girls Who Code emerged from Saujani’s observations during her 2010 campaign. She noticed a stark disparity in access to technology education, witnessing firsthand the contrast between well-equipped robotics labs in affluent schools and the limited resources available in underserved communities. A visit to a church in Queensbridge, where a handful of computers were housed in the basement, alongside a school in the Upper East Side with a state-of-the-art robotics lab, crystallized the problem. Regardless of socioeconomic status, girls were being left behind in the burgeoning tech sector. This realization prompted her to create a program that could level the playing field, offering girls from diverse backgrounds the skills and confidence to pursue careers in computer science.

Saujani’s approach wasn’t simply about teaching coding skills; it was about fostering bravery over perfection. Her influential TED Talk on the subject, which has garnered over 5 million views, underscores this philosophy. She argues that societal expectations often discourage girls from taking risks and embracing failure, hindering their progress in fields like technology. By encouraging girls to be brave, not perfect, Saujani aims to dismantle these barriers and empower them to pursue their passions without fear of judgment.

AI and the Continuing Gender Gap

The challenges Saujani identified with Girls Who Code haven’t disappeared with the rise of artificial intelligence; in fact, they’ve evolved. She notes that the gender gap in the use of tools like ChatGPT mirrors the coding gap she initially sought to address. Women are less likely to utilize these technologies, often due to a fear of being perceived as “cheating” or lacking confidence in their abilities. This echoes the historical patterns of women being pushed out of technical fields, despite their foundational contributions – Ada Lovelace is widely considered the first computer programmer. Lovelace’s work, often overlooked, laid the groundwork for modern computing.

Saujani emphasizes that the underlying issue isn’t the technology itself, but the systemic biases that continue to disadvantage women. She points out that the major AI companies are still overwhelmingly led by men, perpetuating a cycle of exclusion. Girls Who Code is now adapting to address these new challenges, equipping students with the skills to navigate the AI landscape and challenge the status quo.

Childcare as Economic Infrastructure

Saujani’s work with Moms First represents a shift towards addressing the structural barriers that prevent women from fully participating in the economy. She argues that affordable childcare isn’t simply a “women’s issue,” but a fundamental economic necessity. The recent $1.7 billion investment in New York is a testament to this growing recognition. Saujani brought attention to the issue on a national stage in September 2024, questioning then-President Donald Trump about his plans to address childcare affordability during an Economic Club of New York event. The moment went viral, highlighting the widespread concern over the rising cost of care.

Moms First frames childcare as “economic infrastructure,” arguing that it’s essential for enabling workers to participate in the labor force and businesses to thrive. Saujani contends that the current system places an undue burden on mothers, forcing them to choose between their careers and their families. She believes that by making childcare more affordable and accessible, we can unlock the full potential of the workforce and create a more equitable economy. Governor Kathy Hochul’s own experience, shared during a meeting with Saujani at the Flatbush YMCA, underscores this point. Hochul revealed that she had to exit her dream job on Capitol Hill early in her career due to the unaffordability of childcare.

What’s Next for Moms First

Saujani’s focus now is on advocating for broader structural changes that support working families. She believes that statutory protection for girls’ opportunities, similar to the protections afforded to Girl Scouts and sororities, may be necessary to ensure equitable access to education and career pathways. She’s also pushing for policies that recognize and value unpaid labor, arguing that society often takes for granted the contributions of caregivers. The ultimate goal, she says, is to create a system where mothers are not penalized for prioritizing their families, and where all women have the freedom and choice to pursue their dreams. The organization is actively working to build a coalition of “pissed off moms,” leveraging their collective power to demand change and hold policymakers accountable.