What do you believe your greatest impact is with Girls Who Code?

Girls Who Code is inspiring teenage girls with passion for technology at a time when just .3% of high school girls say they plan to major in computer science in college. Our programs are building a pipeline of female engineers, entrepreneurs, and CEOs.

Have you ever faced prejudice as a woman working in a technological field? If so how? What made you go past this prejudice and go after your goal?

My background is actually in law and politics; I’m not an engineer. But at times when I have faced prejudice, I have been fortunate to have other women around me who lift me up and push me forward towards my goals. That’s the kind of sisterhood we are creating in Girls Who Code. Our girls are each others biggest advocates.

Why did you want to pursue technology? What makes technology interesting to you?

Even though I never studied computer science; I wish that I could code so that I could build my ideas. When I was running for Congress, I always wanted the ability to tinker with my website. When there’s a policy issue I want to push, I wish I could build an app to help organize people around it. Our whole staff at Girls Who Code is now learning to code.

If you were to give advice to a young girl who wasn’t sure about whether or not she wanted to pursue a career in technology, what would you say?

I would tell her that whatever she wants to do in her life, whatever problem in the world she wants to solve, technology can enable her to do it. Plus, tech jobs pay well and companies are desperate to hire women. It really is a smart career path for young women and we need to start opting into these fields.

What type of legacy do you hope to leave when you are finished with your work with Girls Who Code?

Girls Who Code seeks to create gender parity in the computing fields. We have a long way to go, but I know it’s possible. In law and medicine, we closed the gender gap in less than 40 years, and I want to see us do the same thing in tech.

Is there anyone who inspires you?

I’m incredibly inspired by Hillary Clinton – she has always been my role model.