Birthright Citizenship: Celebrating First-Generation American Stories

Business & Equity: “Coding Confidence”

When Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Code in 2012, she launched a movement that has since reached hundreds of thousands of young women across the country, closing the gender gap in technology and inspiring a new generation of leaders.  As a first-generation American, her journey reflects how the children of immigrants often transform challenges into opportunities that benefit the nation as a whole.

Born in 1975 in Illinois to Indian parents who had immigrated from Uganda, Saujani grew up with a deep awareness of resilience and opportunity.  Her parents, who had fled political turmoil, instilled in her the importance of education, service, and perseverance.

Saujani earned degrees from the University of Illinois, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and Yale Law School.  Though her early career included law and a run for Congress, her true legacy emerged when she turned her focus to technology and equity.  In 2012, she founded Girls Who Code, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in computing and empowering girls with the skills and confidence to pursue technology careers.
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Under her leadership, Girls Who Code has grown into a global movement, reaching over 580,000 girls across all 50 states.  Beyond teaching technical skills, the program fosters confidence, community, and advocacy—helping dismantle stereotypes about who belongs in technology.

"We cannot be what we cannot see.” – Reshma Saujani

Saujani has also championed broader issues of equity, including paid family leave and workplace policies that support women and caregivers.  Her work demonstrates how first-generation Americans often lead not just in innovation, but in creating more inclusive and equitable systems.
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Her journey from the daughter of immigrants to a national leader in technology and advocacy underscores the promise of birthright citizenship:  that each new generation can bring forward fresh vision and lasting change.


Did You Know?

• Women make up 26% of the STEM workforce, highlighting the need for initiatives like Girls Who Code to close the gender gap in technology. 
• 46% of Fortune 500 companies in 2024 were founded by immigrants or the children of immigrants, underscoring their significant impact on the U.S. economy. 
• By 2050, children of immigrants are projected to account for one-third or more of the U.S. child population, shaping the nation's future workforce