Why did Kimberly Bryant start Black Girls Code?

Kimberly Bryant started Black Girls Code initially to find a productive activity for her daughter, who was interested in gaming and computer science. She realized the severe underrepresentation of women, especially women of color, in tech and felt compelled to change that reality.

What are the key lessons for entrepreneurs mentioned in the talk?

Key lessons include doing what matters most by defining core values, discovering and living out your purpose, setting 'big audacious goals' that inspire, embracing a 'reckless disregard for the impossible', building a strong team, envisioning the future, and following your passion.

What is the significance of training 1 million girls by 2040?

The goal of training 1 million girls of color to code by 2040 was chosen intentionally. It aligns with the year when demographic shifts in the US will make these populations the majority, preparing them for future leadership and competitiveness.

How did Black Girls Code achieve rapid growth in its early years?

Through initiatives like the 'Summer of Code' in 2012, Black Girls Code demonstrated rapid expansion by taking their programs to multiple cities, reaching 1000 girls instead of the initial goal of 200. This success led to scaling the organization with chapters and volunteers.

What are the challenges of building a team as a founder?

A major challenge is finding the right people who share the company's purpose and drive, as many want to 'ride the bus' but not 'do the work'. Founders must also hire individuals who are smarter and more skilled than themselves in various areas to ensure organizational growth.

What is the importance of passion in an entrepreneurial journey?

Passion is crucial; it's what you would do even without pay. Finding and focusing all your energy—spiritual, intellectual, and technological—on your passion helps answer other questions and provides the drive needed to overcome difficulties.

Key Moments

Kimberly Bryant Speaks at Female Founders Conference 2015

Y Combinator

Science & Technology3 min read23 min video

Feb 23, 2015|2,846 views|23

FFC Y Combinator Kimberly Bryant Female Founders Conference 2015 YC

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Black Girls Code founder Kimberly Bryant shares lessons on purpose, vision, and passion for female founders.

Key Insights

Black Girls Code aims to empower girls of color to be creators, not just consumers, of technology.

The organization focuses on social equity and justice by addressing the underrepresentation of women of color in tech.

Key entrepreneurial lessons include defining core values, owning one's purpose, setting big audacious goals (BHAGs), and having a 'reckless disregard for the impossible'.

Building a strong, capable team is crucial, and founders should hire people smarter and more skilled than themselves.

Maintaining a clear vision of the future and staying true to one's passion are vital for sustained success and overcoming challenges.

The lack of diversity in tech impacts innovation, making initiatives like Black Girls Code a business imperative and a social justice issue.

FOUNDING BLACK GIRLS CODE: A MISSION OF EMPOWERMENT

Kimberly Bryant founded Black Girls Code in 2011 from Oakland, California, with a clear mission to introduce girls ages 7-17 to technology and computer science. The organization strives to create a culturally sensitive and welcoming environment, pairing students with mentors who reflect their own backgrounds. The ultimate vision is to train one million girls of color to code by 2040, transforming them from technology consumers into creators and leaders in the field.

THE CRITICAL NEED FOR DIVERSITY IN TECH

Bryant highlights the stark underrepresentation of women, particularly women of color, in the technology industry. She shares her own experience, noting that while women once comprised a significant percentage of computer science graduates in the late 80s, that number has drastically declined. For women of color, the statistics are even more alarming, underscoring the urgent need for initiatives that actively promote diversity and inclusion, framing it as an issue of social equity and justice.

CORE VALUES AND DEFINING YOUR PURPOSE

Drawing from Jim Collins' 'Good to Great' and Oprah Winfrey's wisdom, Bryant emphasizes the importance of defining core values and owning one's purpose. For Black Girls Code, this meant standing firm on the belief that a diverse tech industry leads to better innovation. Bryant's personal journey to becoming a 'social entrepreneur' stemmed from a desire to change the dispiriting statistics for her daughter and other girls of color, shifting her initial for-profit aspirations to a non-profit mission.

SETTING BIG, AUDACIOUS GOALS (BHAGS)

Bryant advocates for setting 'Big, Audacious Goals' (BHAGs) that stretch beyond perceived limitations. Black Girls Code's ambitious goal to train a million girls by 2040 was strategically chosen to align with demographic shifts in the US. This 'reckless disregard for the impossible' was demonstrated through their 'Summer of Code' initiative, which rapidly expanded from a small pilot program to reaching hundreds of girls across multiple cities, proving that bold vision can lead to unexpected success and scalable impact.

THE ART OF BUILDING A GREAT TEAM

A significant challenge for any founder is building a strong team. Bryant stresses the need to surround oneself with individuals who elevate the mission and possess the capabilities to drive it forward. Founders, acting as the 'drivers' of their organizations, must identify and recruit 'key people' who are not only aligned with the company's purpose but are also often more skilled or knowledgeable in specific areas. Hiring individuals who are better than oneself is essential for sustained growth and success.

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE AND FOLLOWING PASSION

Keeping the end in mind is crucial for navigating the inevitable challenges of entrepreneurship. Bryant encourages founders to create the grandest possible vision for their company and ensure every step aligns with that future state. Ultimately, she underscores the profound importance of finding and following one's passion. This deep-seated drive, something one would pursue even without compensation, is the engine that sustains effort, answers complex questions, and fulfills one's purpose on earth.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Organizations

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Black Girls Code Founder's Lessons

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Do what matters most by defining and standing for your core values.

Discover your purpose and dedicate yourself to living it out.

Set big, audacious goals that make you a little scared.

Embrace a reckless disregard for the impossible when tackling challenges.

Surround yourself with people who will lift you higher.

Hire people smarter and more knowledgeable than yourself.

Create the highest, grandest vision for your life and company.

Find your passion and pour all your energy into it.

Keep the end in mind and envision your future success.

Avoid This

Don't be afraid to break rules if they hinder progress.

Don't underestimate the potential impact of ambitious initiatives.

Don't be the best person on your team if you want the team to grow.

Don't let perceived impossibilities stop you from pursuing goals.

Don't be afraid to pivot your path if it leads to greater impact.

Representation of Women in Computer Science Degrees

Data extracted from this episode

Group	Percentage of Degrees (Late 1980s/Peak)	Percentage of Degrees (Current)
Women (Overall)	35-36%	12-14%
Women of Color (African-American)	N/A	3%
Women of Color (Latino/Native American)	N/A	<1%

Common Questions

Black Girls Code is an organization founded to empower girls aged 7-17 from underrepresented communities to become creators of technology. Their mission is to train 1 million girls of color to code by 2040 and to foster diversity and social equity in the tech industry.

Topics

Entrepreneurship Goal Setting Mindset & Self-Improvement Technology & Innovation Leadership Development Founder Story Coding Education Career & Skills Diversity In Tech Nonprofit Management

Mentioned in this video

Locations

Bay Area

The region where Black Girls Code was founded and where people traveled from for the Misilla leadership team summit.

New York City

A location from which people traveled for the Misilla leadership team summit.

Memphis, Tennessee

A location from which people traveled for the Misilla leadership team summit, and where the speaker grew up.

Johannesburg

A city in South Africa where Black Girls Code has a chapter.

Atlanta

The first city where Black Girls Code held a 'Summer of Code' workshop, exceeding expectations with 85 students.

Detroit

A city visited during the 'Summer of Code' initiative where workshops also saw high attendance.

Organizations

Black Girls Code

An organization founded to empower girls of color to become creators of technology, aiming to train 1 million by 2040.

Code.org

An organization focused on teaching youth how to code and break into the technology space.

Girls Who Code

An organization focused on teaching young women and men how to code.

Girl Scouts

An organization that Black Girls Code aims to become the 'de facto girl scouts of technology'.

The organization that asked Kimberly Bryant to give the presentation and inquired about her founder story.

People

Jim Collins

Author of 'Good to Great', whose concepts on core values, purpose, and 'big audacious goals' are referenced by the speaker.

Oprah Winfrey

Referred to as 'Mother Oprah', her wisdom on personal values, purpose, teamwork, and passion is frequently invoked.

Concepts

electrical engineering

The field in which Kimberly Bryant received her degree, noting a peak for women in the late 80s.

Computer Science

The field in which Kimberly Bryant received her degree and which has seen a significant decline in female representation since the late 1980s.

Books

Good To Great

A book recommended by the speaker for entrepreneurs, containing tidbits about core values and purpose.

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