Empowering Future Generations: Girls Who Code Aims to Close Tech Gender Gap

The nonprofit Girls Who Code, founded in 2011, aims to close the gender gap in technology jobs. Through various initiatives, it has served approximately 760,000 young women and nonbinary students in middle and high school, with 50% from historically under-represented groups.

Of those, 218,000 are now college or career-aged alumni, actively reshaping the future of technology. According to Dr. Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code, the organization is on track to close the gender gap in new entry-level tech jobs by 2030.

In a recent interview with the podcast CXOTalk, Barrett emphasized the importance of connecting with the students through programming that teaches them to code. The organization is launching its Five by Five initiative to expand programming for younger students, extend summer high school immersion programs to year-long experiences, build regional chapters led by alumni, and support technical projects of college students.

The goal is to reach 5 million girls, young women, and nonbinary individuals over the next five years. Barrett stated that this initiative is not just about numbers; it's about creating a workforce that embraces change and innovation.

This marks a pivotal moment for both the tech industry and Girls Who Code as it adapts to meet the evolving needs of the next generation.