Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, has announced the appointment of Dr. Tarika Barrett as the new CEO.
In a Medium post, Saujani said that Dr. Barrett will take over the role as of April 2, 2021. Saujani, meanwhile, will move to the position of Board Chair.
“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 leaders who will carry our mission into its next decade,” said Saujani in a press release.
Barrett, who joined Girls Who Code in 2016, also wrote in a statement:
“I am honored 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 have 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.”
As CEO, Barrett will continue to help young women pursuing careers in technology succeed. Specifically, she aims to push Girls Who Code forward to its goal of closing the gap in entry-level jobs in tech by 2030.
Girls Who Code has become a global movement that has both changed the face of women in tech and opened up a broader conversation. To date, the organization has helped more than 300,000 women get their careers in the industry.
