Reshma Saujani

Reshma Saujani – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Reshma Saujani is a lawyer, activist, and founder of Girls Who Code. Explore her journey, her bold approach to life, memorable quotes, and lessons in courage, failure, and leadership.

Introduction

Reshma Saujani is an American lawyer, politician, activist, and social entrepreneur who has dedicated much of her life to tackling gender disparities—especially in technology—and championing women’s economic empowerment. As the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First, she is best known for urging girls and women to choose bravery over perfection. Her journey from daughter of refugees to thought leader continues to inspire many.

In this article, you will discover her early life, education, career path, published work, her philosophy, and some of her most impactful quotes. By the end, you’ll see not just her biography, but the lessons we can take from her life.

Early Life and Family

Reshma Saujani was born on November 18, 1975, in Illinois, U.S.

Growing up in a family shaped by displacement and resilience, Saujani often speaks of how her immigrant roots informed her work ethic and sense of responsibility.

Youth and Education

In her youth, Saujani exhibited interest in civic engagement and activism. (She later recalled being involved in debates over inequality, representation, and social justice.)

She pursued her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, graduating in 1997 with a degree in Political Science and Speech Communication.

During these years, Saujani sharpened her interest in law, public policy, and systemic change. Her education equipped her both with theoretical tools and networks to move into law, finance, and politics.

Career and Achievements

Early Legal & Finance Career

After law school, Reshma Saujani joined the prestigious law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where she defended securities fraud cases and took on pro bono asylum work. Blue Wave Partners, a subsidiary of the Carlyle Group, as an associate general counsel.

Though some of these financial firms later faced scrutiny (e.g. Carret Asset Management’s connection to legal controversies), Saujani’s role was legal and advisory; she has stated she was not aware of misconduct at the time.

Political Engagement & Campaigns

Saujani’s shift into politics was bold. In 2010, she ran as the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 14th congressional district, challenging long-time incumbent Carolyn Maloney. She became the first Indian-American woman to run for Congress.

In 2013, she ran for New York City Public Advocate. She came in third in the Democratic primary.

These campaigns, even in defeat, played a formative role: they exposed her to systemic inequities and further motivated her to build institutions rather than just contest politics.

Founding Girls Who Code

In 2012, Saujani founded Girls Who Code—a nonprofit aimed at closing the gender gap in computer science by encouraging and teaching young girls to code and break into tech fields.

Saujani also became internationally recognized. Her TED talk, Teach Girls, Bravery Not Perfection, has been widely viewed and shared.

In recognition of her work, she appeared on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list in 2015.

Moms First and Broader Advocacy

More recently, Saujani launched Moms First (formerly known as the “Marshall Plan for Moms”) to push for systemic changes to support mothers, such as affordable childcare, paid leave, and equal pay. This work reflects her shift to intersectional advocacy, acknowledging that gender equity must consider caregiving responsibilities and economic structures.

She also hosts the podcast My So-Called Midlife through Lemonada Media, bringing conversations about midlife, identity, and social change forward.

In her nonprofit roles, Saujani continues to fundraise, advocate, and build networks to support girls, women, and mothers globally.

Historical Context & Key Milestones

• 1970s Uganda expulsion: Her parents’ forced migration from Uganda during Idi Amin’s regime shaped her family narrative.

• 1990s–2000s: Her education and early legal/finance career unfolded amid debates on globalization, Wall Street, and financial crises.

• 2010 congressional run: As a newcomer challenging an established incumbent, her campaign reflected a new style of politics with tech tools and grassroots energy.

• 2012 onward: With Girls Who Code, she rode the wave of increasing awareness of gender gaps in STEM and tech, contributing to a global conversation about women in computer science.

• 2020s: Her work with Moms First ties into larger debates on work–life balance, childcare policy, and gendered labor expectations in the modern economy.

Legacy and Influence

Reshma Saujani’s legacy is still evolving, but several hallmarks stand out:

1. Shifting norms about risk and perfection – One of her most enduring contributions is the cultural message: women must be encouraged to try, to fail, to be brave, rather than being held back by perfectionism.

2. Institution building – Unlike many activists who remain in critique mode, she built Girls Who Code and Moms First, organizations that continue beyond her individual influence.

3. Inspiring generations of girls – Through programs, events, digital resources, and her own public voice, Saujani has become a role model for young women pursuing tech, policy, entrepreneurship, and social change.

4. Bridging policy and activism – She operates both in grassroots and structural arenas, pushing for policy changes (e.g. for mothers) while also cultivating communities.

5. Global resonance – Although based in the U.S., the themes she raises—gender gaps in tech, caregiving burdens, representation—resonate worldwide.

Her voice and movement are likely to continue influencing how we think about women, work, innovation, and risk.

Personality and Talents

Reshma Saujani is known for her boldness, pragmatism, persistence, and storytelling. She blends empathy with action, often speaking from personal experience about fear, failure, and reinvention.

Some qualities and talents:

• Courage: She often frames her most significant steps—running for office, founding nonprofits—as acts of bravery against fear.

• Storytelling & communication: Her speeches, writing, and media presence articulate complex ideas in accessible and emotionally resonant terms.

• Strategic thinking: She has navigated legal, financial, political, and nonprofit domains adeptly, folding them together in service of her mission.

• Network building: She builds coalitions—among tech firms, philanthropists, policymakers, and grassroots—amplifying impact.

• Resilience and growth orientation: She publicly embraces failure as a teacher and encourages others to see mistakes as part of growth.

Her public persona also carries warmth and authenticity: she often speaks candidly about motherhood, imperfection, and self-doubt.

Famous Quotes of Reshma Saujani

Here are selected powerful quotes that reflect her philosophy, mindset, and mission.

“Embracing failure is the most important trait I’ve developed in my career. I have tried to learn from my failures, and I believe it has made me stronger, more confident and more resilient.”

“Teach one girl how to code, she’ll teach four. The replication effect is so powerful.”

“The desire to be perfect holds us back in so many ways. We don’t speak up for ourselves … because we don’t want to be seen as pushy … or unlikeable.”

“The immigrant mentality is to work hard, be brave, and never give up in your pursuit of achieving the American dream.”

“Never give up. People will always discount you, and you’ll always get rejected. But set your sights high. Be boldly ambitious. Be relentless and never give up.”

“Most girls are taught to avoid risk and failure. We’re taught to smile pretty, play it safe, get all A’s. Boys … are taught to play rough … and then just jump off headfirst.”

“I’ve chosen opportunities where I might fail rather than live in the shadow of my own potential.”

“We must stand up and fight for an America that welcomes young doers and dreamers … instead of categorically denying entry to so many simply based on their religion or country of origin.”

These quotes reveal recurring themes: the value of risk, rejecting perfectionism, leveraging one’s influence, and a moral commitment to inclusion and justice.

Lessons from Reshma Saujani

From her life and words, we can distill some universal lessons:

1. Be courageous before you feel ready
   Saujani ran for office at 33 despite never having run before; she started Girls Who Code without being a coder. She pushes the idea that bravery precedes competence.

2. Use failure as fuel, not a stop sign
   Instead of retreating, she reframed her campaign losses as signals pointing toward her greater impact: institution-building rather than electoral success.

3. Don’t wait your turn
   Her book Women Who Don’t Wait in Line reflects her belief that marginalized people often get trapped waiting for permission; she models stepping forward despite resistance.

4. Scale through replication and networks
   “Teach one girl how to code, she’ll teach four” points to leveraging exponential impact through communities and peer models.

5. Bridge activism and structural change
   Her shift into policy and institutions (especially via Moms First) shows that deep change must engage systems, not only hearts.

6. Balance principle with pragmatism
   While visionary, she also must negotiate funding, politics, organizational limits, and practical constraints—offering a model of grounded idealism.

7. Authenticity and vulnerability are strengths
   Her openness about imperfection, motherhood, and fear draws trust and connection, rather than undermining authority.

Conclusion

Reshma Saujani’s life is a testament to the idea that one person’s courage can ripple outward into communities, institutions, and policy. From the daughter of refugees to founder of a global movement, she has reshaped conversations about girls, technology, motherhood, and ambition.

Her prevailing message—to teach girls bravery, not perfection—is more than a slogan; it’s a call to action. Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a teacher, a parent, or someone navigating transition, Saujani’s journey offers hope, strategy, and direction.