Women Who Don’t Wait in Line: How Reshma Saujani’s Message to Women in Tech Inspires Confidence

Breaking into the tech world can feel intimidating, especially when you look around and don’t see many people who look like you. For many women, this is a daily reality—a constant battle with that little voice in our heads that whispers, “I’m not ready yet” or “What if I fail?”

Thankfully, there are stories like Reshma Saujani’s to remind us of what’s possible. If you’re not familiar with her, Reshma is the founder of Girls Who Code and the woman behind one of the most powerful mantras for women: bravery over perfection. She didn’t just navigate male-dominated spaces—she created new ones where women and girls could thrive.

For every girl who’s hesitated to step into a new field, for every woman who’s ever felt like she wasn’t enough, Reshma Saujani stands as a living reminder: You are enough. You belong here. You can take up space. You can make your mark.

When Failure Lights a Fire: A Bold Start and a Hard Lesson

Reshma’s journey didn’t begin in tech. In fact, for much of her early life, she followed a more traditional path. She earned degrees from the University of Illinois, Harvard’s Kennedy School, and Yale Law School—checking all the boxes for what many would consider a “perfect” career.¹ For a while, she worked as a corporate lawyer. But deep down, she wanted more.

So, she did something bold.

In 2010, she ran for US Congress. It was a gutsy move—one that very few would have dared to take, especially without any political experience. She threw herself into the campaign with everything she had.

And she lost. Badly.

For many, that would have been the end of the story. But for Reshma, it was just the beginning. She could have disappeared from the spotlight, returned to her old job, and moved on quietly. Instead, she used it as a stepping stone into something new: women in tech advocacy.

The Birth of Girls Who Code

The globally known Girls Who Code started as an experiment.² During her campaign, Reshma visited several schools and met with young girls. Over and over, she saw the same thing: young girls who were brilliant but lacked the confidence to pursue fields like technology and computer science.

It sparked an idea.

In 2012, Reshma founded Girls Who Code, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and closing the gender gap in the tech industry. She had no experience running a tech organization or teaching coding. But she knew how to build something from scratch and wasn’t afraid to start small. What began as a single program has grown into a movement that’s reached hundreds of thousands of girls across the globe.

And it wasn’t just about teaching them how to code—it was about helping them build confidence, resilience, and a community of support in an industry that’s often unwelcoming.

Breakthroughs and Setbacks Along the Way

Of course, even after founding Girls Who Code, it wasn’t smooth sailing. Building a movement takes time, and there were moments of doubt and burnout. Reshma has spoken openly about struggling to find balance, especially after becoming a mother, and how she often felt pressure to live up to the perfect leader image.

In many ways, her work was an extension of the lessons she had to keep learning herself:

• It’s okay to ask for help. No one does it alone.
• Perfection is the enemy of progress. The faster you learn from mistakes and move on, the stronger you become.
• Community matters. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision is everything.

Each setback became a chance to grow, recalibrate, and keep moving toward something bigger than herself.

Lessons from Reshma Saujani’s Journey

So, what can we learn from Reshma’s story? There are plenty of takeaways for anyone looking to build confidence and capacity—whether in tech or life.

1. Failure Isn’t the End—It’s the Beginning

We’ve all heard clichés about failure being part of success, but it hits differently when you’re right in the middle of it. Failure often feels like a dead end—a confirmation that you weren’t good enough or that you made the wrong choice. That’s exactly what Reshma Saujani must have felt after losing her congressional race.

But what makes her story different is that she didn’t let that failure define her. Instead, she saw it as an opportunity to pivot. During her campaign, she noticed how few girls were being encouraged to pursue IT careers. That insight became the seed for Girls Who Code.

The key lesson here is that failure isn’t a stop sign; it’s feedback. It’s a chance to step back, analyze what went wrong, and adjust your approach. When a project at work fails, don’t just move on—break it down. What worked? What didn’t? How can you apply those lessons to your next move?

Sometimes, when something doesn’t work out as expected, it’s a signal to change direction.

2. Start Before You’re Ready

One of the biggest barriers for women in the tech industry is the feeling that we need to have it all figured out before we even start. We see a job description and think, I’m not ready yet—I only meet 70% of the qualifications. Meanwhile, research shows that men apply for roles even when they meet only 60% of the requirements.3

The reality is, you’ll never feel 100% ready—and that’s okay. Waiting for the perfect moment or for every condition to align is a recipe for missed opportunities. Starting before you feel fully prepared is how you grow. Each step teaches you something new and builds momentum.

In practice, this might mean applying for a job even if you don’t meet every single requirement. Skills can be learned. What matters most is your willingness to grow. Or it might mean launching the project you’ve been sitting on, even if it’s not perfect. Create the prototype, test the idea, and adjust as you go.

3. Build a Community Around You

The importance of community can’t be overstated. Breaking into tech—or any new field—is hard enough on its own. Doing it without a network makes it even harder. A supportive community gives you access to mentorship, shared knowledge, and emotional support—all of which are critical for long-term growth.

For example, when Girls Who Code alumna Brenna Nieva joined the Summer Immersion Program hosted by Twitter, she felt hesitant and unsure of her place in tech.⁴ But through the program’s support and real-world coding projects, she developed her skills and became a passionate advocate for more girls to participate in computer science.

Brenna’s story is just one of thousands. Time and again, Girls Who Code has shown that when girls are surrounded by supportive peers and mentors, their confidence grows, and they feel empowered to take risks they might have otherwise avoided.

The lesson here is to find your people. You could join women-in-tech groups like Women Who Code, Black Girls Code, Ada Developers Academy, or Girl Develop It. Attend meetups or online forums, build relationships with peers on a similar journey, and seek mentors who can help you make smarter decisions.

And once you’ve found your community, don’t just take—give back. Share your experiences and insights. Your journey might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

4. Be Brave Enough to Pivot

If there’s one thing Reshma’s story shows, it’s that it’s never too late to pivot. From law to politics to tech, she didn’t stick to one lane just because it felt safe. Instead, she followed her curiosity and adjusted when things didn’t work out.

In today’s fast-changing world, the ability to pivot isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary. Industries evolve, skills become outdated, and new opportunities emerge. The key is to stay flexible and open to change. Pivoting doesn’t mean you’re lost or indecisive—it means you’re paying attention and adjusting your course.

Sometimes pivoting feels like failure at first because you’re letting go of something familiar. But pivoting is also about growth and alignment—moving toward something that fits you better.

Read more: Reimagining Career Mobility: How Lattice Framework Helps You Rethink Career Growth

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References

1. “Vaughn Spotlights.” Vaughn College Blog, https://www.vaughn.edu/blog/category/vaughn-spotlights/page/2/. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
2. Saujani, Reshma. “Girls Who Code Turns Five: What I’ve Learned Since Our Founding.” Medium, 22 Mar. 2017, https://medium.com/@reshmasaujani/girls-who-code-turns-five-what-ive-learned-since-our-founding-4c70861e6769
3. Salwender, Mona and Stahlberg, Dagmar. “Do women only apply when they are 100% qualified, whereas men already apply when they are 60% qualified?” European Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 54, 1 Sept. 2024, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejsp.3109
4. “Girls Who Code Alum Takes the Stand to Fight for Girls’ Participation in CS.” Medium, 14 Feb. 2019, https://girlswhocode.medium.com/girls-who-code-alum-takes-the-stand-to-fight-for-girls-participation-in-cs-3980ba39d582