Reshma and her family. @Mattel 2015

Reshma Saujani was born in the 70’s to parents who were South Indian refugees, who were outcast from by Idi Amin in 1972. She grew up in Chicago, and went to the University of Illinois, during which she volunteered for the Clinton-Gore campaign in 1996. As a graduate she attended Harvard’s School of Government, working a part time job to help pay for school. She earned her Master’s Degree in Public Policy, and traveled to South Africa to work on the post-apartheid government of Nelson Mandela.

Reshma joined the law firm of Davis, Polk, & Waddell, but continued her activist activities, volunteering to help people who she felt would not be represented properly. After the passing of the Patriot Act, Reshma offered her services free of charge to documented immigrants in Queens. (CAREER, 2010)

While visiting schools during her campaign for office in New York City in 2010, Saujani noticed the lack of computer science in the curriculum, and that access to education in technology for girls, especially was lacking. “With 1.4 million jobs in the computing fields by 2020, I knew we had to do something to close that gap.” (Reshma Saujani, 2014)

Growing up, Saujani’s biggest inspiration was Mahatma Gandhi, a fellow Gujarati and world renowned leader. She read his books and considers him her favorite politician of all time. (CAREER, 2010) In her new undertaking, she finds inspiration in the girls who are enrolled in the Girls Who Code program. (Reshma Saujani, 2014)

Saujani is currently married and living in New York City with her husband, Nihal Mehta, and 3 month old son, Shaan ()

Reshma with her husband, Nihal Mehta, and their 3 month old son, Shaan @New York Family Magazine, 2015