Women In Leadership Symposium Inspires Innovation, Strength

By Abbey Gingras

Miami University journalism student

Reshma Saujani looked out on the crowd of men and women in the Armstrong Student Center and described her career failures — a lost race for Congress in New York, following a debt ridden stint in law school.

It wasn't until her mid thirties that Saujani found success with her organization Girls Who Code. It began when she saw a gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries ... industries dominated by males.

"I thought to myself: where are the girls? It didn't make sense to me," she told the crowd.

Girls Who Code is a national non-profit organization that runs programs in schools to teach girls (and boys) computing skills.

Since it began in 2012, the organization has spread nationwide to 40,000 members and 1,500 clubs. For Saujani, who doesn't know how to code herself, the organization goes beyond getting tweens and teens excited about technology.

"We're not just empowering them to be coders. We're empowering them to take over the world," she says. "The whole process of learning how to code is imperfection. It teaches bravery."

Saujani was the closing speaker of the 4th annual M.I.A.M.I Women in Leadership Symposium, which took place on Thursday, March 30. The lineup of speakers also included Miami University students, professors and alumni, as well as a keynote address from "Stranger Things" actress and Paralympic athlete Aimée Mullins.

"I had seen [Aimée Mullins'] Ted Talk and she's so inspirational and creative, she just seemed to fit," says Heidi Bortel, director of development for women's initiatives at Miami.

Bortel and others planned the symposium, which focused around STEM programs and the idea of being brave.

"A lot of women going into STEM careers are going against stereotypes, and they might be the only ones in their workplace or classroom," Bortel says. "That takes bravery."

For senior Gianna Sheffield, Saujani's speech — which focused on the idea of teaching girls to be brave — was the highlight of the symposium.

"She's the Beyonce of technology," Sheffield says. "It was awesome to have the opportunity to meet her."

Sheffield is president of Miami's Girls Who Code club, which began last year. The group works with local kids from grades 5-12 on weekends to spread computer programming skills throughout Butler County.

The Women in Leadership Symposium was more than lectures, though — it was an opportunity for students like Sheffield to network with alumni and professional women throughout the Midwest.

"Alumni love to see what students are doing on campus and what's new," says Bortel. "They want to connect and become mentors."

For students like Sheffield, making connections is a powerful way to make positive change.

"It really helped us establish a relationship with alumni," Sheffield says. She had numerous alumni from STEM backgrounds reaching out to get involved with Girls Who Code.

"It was a great event to go to."

Photo: Reshma Saujani speaks at the M.I.A.M.I. Women Leadership Symposium to a full crowd. Saujani travels the country to speak about women working in technology while running Girls Who Code and raising her young son. -- Photo by Abbey Gingras