When Kimberly Bryant began her career as an electrical engineer in biotechnology, she often found herself as the only Black woman in the room. Determined to change this narrative for the next generation, she founded Black Girls CODE in 2011—a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching coding and technology skills to young Black girls.
Bryant's journey began in Memphis, Tennessee, where she excelled in math and science. She went on to earn a degree in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. During her career, she worked at leading companies such as Genentech, Merck, and Pfizer, where she honed her skills in technology and innovation.
The inspiration for Black Girls CODE came when Bryant noticed the lack of diversity at a coding camp she enrolled her daughter in. She realized that young Black girls needed access to the same opportunities, resources, and role models in tech as their peers. Her organization set out to provide girls ages 7 to 17 with programming and coding education, focusing on underserved communities.
Since its inception, Black Girls CODE has reached thousands of girls through workshops, hackathons, and community events. The organization has chapters across the United States and beyond, helping to build a future where Black women are represented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Bryant’s vision has garnered widespread recognition, including being named to Forbes' "America's Top 50 Women in Tech" and receiving the Champion of Change Award from the White House under the Obama administration.