Business leader

Reshma Saujani

The American lawyer politician, civil servant, and the

founder of the nonprofit organization Girls Who
Code, which aims to increase the number of women
in computer science and close the gender
employment difference in that field.

Over 10,000 girls have participated in camps

organized by her firm, which has locations in 42
states.
 Reshma Saujani was born in Illinois on November 18, 1975. She is of
Gujarati Indian descent.
Her parents lived in Uganda, prior to being expelled along with other
persons of Indian descent in the early 1970s by Idi Amin.

Reshma is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Harvard’s Kennedy

School of Government, and Yale Law School. Her innovative approach to
movement building has earned her broad recognition on lists including:
Fortune World’s Greatest Leaders; Fortune 40 Under 40; WSJ Magazine
Innovator of the Year; Forbes Most Powerful Women Changing the
World; and Fast Company 100 Most Creative People, among others.

She is the winner of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education.

Reshma lives in New York City with her husband, Nihal, their sons,
Shaan and Sai, and their bulldog, Stanley.
 Reshma Saujani is a multifaceted leader who has
contributed immensely to the empowerment of
women and girls.

As an accomplished author, her international

bestseller Brave, Not Perfect has inspired women
to embrace their imperfections and take risks in
pursuit of their goals.
The book challenges women to let go of the
unrealistic expectations of perfection society
imposes on them and instead encourages them to
embrace bravery and resilience.
 2004 2012
founded "South Asians for Kerry" during the 2004
founded Girls Who Code.
presidential election

2005 2013
ran for the role of New York Public
joined the investment firm Carret Asset
Advocate
Management

2008 2013
Career served on the National Finance Board for Hillary
Clinton
Publication of the first book

2010 2015

hallenged incumbent Democratic Representative named to Fortune Magazine's 40 Under

Carolyn Maloney 40 list.

2011
named one of City & State's "40 under 40" or
being a young influential member of New York
City politics
 Reshma Saujani has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and
girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most
recently advocating for policies to support moms impacted by the pandemic.

Finance industry

After Reshma Saujani received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School
in 2002, she worked at the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where
she defended securities fraud cases and handled asylum cases on a pro
bono basis. In 2005, she joined the investment firm Carret Asset
Management.
Subsequently, she joined Blue Wave Partners Management, a
subsidiary of the Carlyle Group, the global alternative asset management
firm specializing in private equity.
 Reshma Saujani was an associate general counsel at Blue Wave, an equity multi-strategy hedge
fund, which was closed in the aftermath of the 2008 market collapse. Prior to running for Congress,
she served as a deputy general counsel at Fortress Investment Group.

In 2012, Saujani founded Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization that works to close the gender
gap in technology.

According to Internal Revenue Service filings, in 2015 she earned a salary of $224,913 from the
organization. In September of the same year, Saujani was named to Fortune Magazine's 40 Under 40
list.
 In March 2022, Reshma Saujani was selected to be a Holistic Wealth Trailblazer by the Institute on
Holistic Wealth, founded by best-selling author Keisha Blair, as part of the celebration of the release of
Blair's book "Holistic Wealth Expanded and Updated."
 Politics

Reshma Saujani served on the National Finance Board for Hillary

Clinton during Clinton's campaign for president in 2008. Following
the primaries, she was named Vice-Chair of the New York
delegation at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Saujani has contributed to the Huffington Post and WNYC, and
has been featured on NY1, MSNBC, FOX, and CNBC.

In 2010, she gained prominence in the political scene as the first

Indian American woman to run for the U.S. Congress.

In September 2011, Saujani was named one of City & State's "40
under 40" for being a young influential member of New York City
politics.
2010 House election

Saujani challenged incumbent Democratic Representative Carolyn

Maloney in the 2010 House elections. She was a relatively unknown
challenger, but she gained attention for her use of social media and
for her support from some high-profile tech industry figures.

Despite the attention her campaign garnered, Saujani ultimately

lost the primary to Maloney by a significant margin. However, her
candidacy marked a significant moment for South Asian Americans,
as Saujani was the first Indian American woman to run for Congress.

Saujani's 2010 House campaign demonstrated the potential for

technology and social media to play a role in political campaigns, and
also highlighted the growing influence of South Asian Americans in
politics.
Public Advocate election

In 2013, Reshma Saujani ran for the position of New York City Public Advocate, a role that serves as a watchdog over city
agencies and investigates complaints from citizens. Saujani's campaign focused on issues such as affordable housing, education,
and women's rights.

During the campaign, Saujani faced off against several other candidates, including Letitia James, who ultimately won the
election. Despite not winning the race, Saujani's campaign was notable for its innovative use of technology and social media to
engage with voters.
Saujani was the first candidate to launch a mobile app for a New York City election, which allowed voters to receive updates
on her campaign and access information about polling locations and voter registration. She also used social media platforms
such as Twitter and Facebook to connect with voters and share her vision for the city.

Although Saujani did not win the Public Advocate election, her campaign helped to elevate important issues such as
affordable housing and education, and inspired young people and women to get involved in politics and public service.
Additionally, her use of technology and social media demonstrated the potential for these tools to be used in innovative ways
to engage voters and build support for political campaigns.
Girls Who Code

Saujani founded Girls Who Code in 2012 after visiting schools and
becoming aware of the gender disparity in computing while
campaigning for Congress.[39] Saujani was a speaker at the 2016 TED
Conference, with her talk focusing on encouraging young girls to take
risks and learn to program.
In February 2018, Saujani launched a companion podcast of the
same name to her book Brave, Not Perfect.

Since launch, it has featured guests including First Lady Jill Biden,
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others.

In January 2021, she placed advertisements in The New York Times

and The Washington Post calling on the Biden administration to
support the passage of a “Marshall Plan for Moms” in the form of a
resolution introduced by Representative Grace Meng and pass a series
of financial relief executive actions benefiting mothers and women in
the workforce
 In response to the disproportionate impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic on America’s moms,
Reshma launched the Marshall Plan for Moms
to advocate for policies that value women’s
labor in and out of the home.

The movement has framed the national

conversation about how we support moms
and is backed by A-list celebrities, activists,
and business leaders.

Reshma has successfully worked with

House and Senate leaders to introduce
“Marshall Plan for Moms” legislation at the
federal level and is continuing to act as an
outside agitator to change culture through
creative awareness campaigns.
 Saujani is also the author of several books that
focus on women's empowerment and gender
equality.

One of her most well-known books is "Brave, Not

Perfect," which encourages women to embrace
imperfection and take risks in order to achieve their
goals.

Saujani argues that society often pressures women

to be perfect in all areas of their lives, which can lead
to a fear of failure and a reluctance to take on new
challenges.

In "Brave, Not Perfect," she shares personal stories

and practical strategies for overcoming this mindset
and pursuing a fulfilling life on one's own terms.
 Another book by Saujani is "Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World," which is
designed to teach girls the basics of computer programming and inspire them to pursue careers
in technology. The book includes real-life success stories from girls who have participated in
Girls Who Code programs, as well as coding activities and challenges that encourage readers to
develop their skills and creativity.

Overall, Reshma Saujani's books offer insightful perspectives on issues related to gender
equality and women's empowerment, and provide practical guidance for individuals who want
to effect positive change in their lives and communities.
 Reshma Saujani is a remarkable figure whose
leadership skills have earned her recognition and
admiration from many quarters.

She has made a significant impact in the tech

industry by founding Girls Who Code, a nonprofit
organization that seeks to close the gender gap in
technology.

Saujani's leadership style combines multiple

theories and is characterized by a strong commitment
to social change, innovation, and empowerment.
 Thomas Carlyle's "Great Man" leader theory suggests
that leaders are born, not made.

In the case of Reshma Saujani, her upbringing and

early experiences played a crucial role in shaping her
leadership style. She was raised in a family that placed a
high value on education and hard work, which helped to
instill in her a strong work ethic and a desire to achieve
great things.
This drive and determination would serve her well as
she pursued her career and became a successful leader in
her own right.
 The Fiedler Model of leadership suggests that effective leadership depends on the leader's
style and the situation they are in. Reshma Saujani leadership style is highly collaborative and
empowering, which aligns with the relationship-oriented approach of the Fiedler Model.

Saujani encourages her team to share their ideas and perspectives, and she provides them with
the support and resources they need to succeed. This approach helps to build strong
relationships between Saujani and her team members, as well as among team members
themselves.
 The Path to Goal Theory suggests that leaders must
set clear goals and provide their team with the
necessary guidance to achieve them.

Reshma Saujani is an excellent example of a leader

who has successfully applied the Path to Goal Theory
in her work. She founded Girls Who Code with a
clear goal in mind – to close the gender gap in tech –
and has provided countless young women with the
support and guidance they need to pursue careers in
technology.

Her leadership style is characterized by clear

communication, goal-setting, and a focus on
empowering her team members to achieve their full
potential.
 The Transformational and Transactional
Theories of leadership suggest that leaders must
inspire and motivate their team to achieve their
goals.

Reshma Saujani is a leader who embodies both

transformational and transactional leadership
qualities.
Her vision and passion have inspired many
people to join her cause and have helped to
make a significant impact in the tech industry,
while her focus on providing her team with the
resources they need to succeed has ensured that
her organization is effective in achieving its
goals.
 Reshma Saujani embodies many of the qualities
that are typically associated with effective
leaders, according to the Implicit Leadership
Theory.

For example, she is known for her integrity,

her commitment to social justice, and her
collaborative leadership style. Her work at Girls
Who Code demonstrates her commitment to
empowering young women and closing the
gender gap in the tech industry.

She has a strong work ethic and a desire to

make a positive impact in the world, which are
qualities that are highly valued in effective
leaders.
 Finally, the Authentic Leadership Theory suggests
that effective leaders must be true to themselves and
their values.
One again Reshma Saujani is an excellent example of
this. She is passionate about empowering women and
girls, and she has dedicated her life to making a
difference in this area.

One of the key reasons why Reshma Saujani is such

an effective leader is because she is true to herself and
her values. She is transparent and authentic in her
interactions with others, and she is guided by a strong
sense of purpose.
She has also demonstrated consistency between her
words and actions, which has helped her to build trust
and credibility with her team and others in the
industry.
 Reshma Saujani is a truly remarkable leader who has inspired countless
individuals with her vision, values, and approach.
Her collaborative style is one of her most defining qualities. She believes in
working with others and building strong, diverse teams to achieve shared goals.
This collaborative spirit has allowed her to achieve great success in her work as an
advocate for social justice and women's empowerment.

Saujani's commitment to social justice is another key aspect of her leadership

style. She has devoted her career to fighting for greater equality and opportunity
for marginalized communities, particularly women and girls.
 Saujani's passion for empowering others
is truly inspiring. She has made it her
mission to lift up those around her, to give
them the tools they need to reach their full
potential, and to create a better world for
all.

Her leadership is characterized by

empathy, compassion, and a deep
understanding of the challenges that
people face.

By embodying these qualities, Saujani has become a role model for leaders
everywhere, and an inspiration to anyone who wants to make a positive impact on
the world.
Thank you for
your attention!