Kimberly Bryant is a trailblazing figure, inspiring countless women globally through her visionary journey.
Hailing from America, she wielded her expertise as an electrical engineer within the biotechnology sphere, serving at prestigious institutions like Genentech, Novartis Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Merck. In 2011, Bryant embarked on a groundbreaking endeavour, establishing Black Girls Code, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering African-American girls with technology and programming education.
Her visionary leadership swiftly earned her recognition, including a place among Business Insider’s “25 Most Influential African-Americans In Technology.”
Kimberly Bryant: Early life and education
Kimberly Bryant, born on January 14, 1967, emerged from the vibrant tapestry of Memphis, Tennessee, raised by a single mother amid the enthusiasm of the Civil Rights Movement. Describing herself as a “nerdy girl,” she showcased prowess in mathematics and science during her academic journey. In 1985, Bryant secured a scholarship to Vanderbilt University with aspirations of delving into civil engineering. However, captivated by the burgeoning landscape of technology, encompassing marvels like the microchip, personal computers, and portable cellphones, she pivoted her path, graduating in 1989 with a degree in Electrical Engineering, complemented by minors in Computer Science and Mathematics.
Black Girls Code
In 2011, the inception of Black Girls Code was catalyzed by Kimberly Bryant’s daughter’s interest in computer programming. Disheartened by the dearth of suitable courses in the Bay Area, Bryant recognized a pervasive gender and racial gap—mostly boys attended, with scarce representation of African American girls.
Drawing from her own experiences of isolation within the tech realm, Bryant sought to forge a nurturing environment for her daughter and others like her. She envisioned a platform where young girls, particularly those from minority backgrounds, could flourish in STEM, aiming to rectify the stark underrepresentation of African-American women in the tech industry, which currently stands at less than 3%.
Black Girls Code, headquartered in San Francisco, conducts after-school and summer programs with a mission to empower one million black girls with coding skills by 2040. With 15 chapters spanning across the US and abroad, including Johannesburg, South Africa, the organization has already impacted 3,000 girls.
In August 2017, Bryant declined a $125,000 donation from Uber, deeming it insincere in light of sexual harassment allegations within the company. She later partnered with Lyft, citing alignment of values. Bryant’s stance on inclusion has positioned her as a prominent figure in the tech community, evident through her engagements at prestigious events such as TedX and SXSW.
“People would say to me, ‘Well, shouldn’t all girls code?'” Bryant said. “And I would say, ‘Yes, all young women should learn to code, but when you look at how few women of colour there are in tech today … this needs to be our focus.’ “Words matter. We open our program to all girls, but we will always be called Black Girls Code.”
