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Reshma Saujani didn’t becomea champion for gender empowermentovernight.
Ever since she was young, Saujani had an interest in civil and gender rights.
And today she’s the founder of two organizations:Girls Who CodeandMarshall Plan for Moms.
I spent 10 years building Girls Who Code, Saujani tellsGlamour.
NELSON CHENAULT III
I raised $100 million to build the largest women and girls organization in the world.
I wouldn’t have to strap my second baby to my back and hustle for every $50,000 check.
Saujani spoke with Jaclyn Corin, cofounder ofMarch for Our Lives, about the importance of young women voters.
Since 2018,youth voter registration has increased, making them a burgeoning voting bloc for future elections.
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Glamour:Whats your typical morning routine?
Reshma Saujani:I get up at around 6:45.
I have to get my two-year-old and seven-year-old ready, then walk the dog all by 8:15.
Then my husband takes our kids because I’m normally working out at that point.
Afterward, I am either doing calls or clearing my inbox.
What was your childhood dream job?
I’m doing exactly what I wanted to do.
My parents came here as refugees, and I led my first march when I was 13.
I’ve been organizing for most of my life.
I never wanted to be a firewoman or an actress.
What I’m doing today is not different than what I was doing when I was 13.
Shockingly, when I’ve had a moment to sit back and draw the lines, it makes sense.
What was your first actual job?
I desperately wanted a dog.
My mom would not buy me one because she didn’t have time.
Of course, I found a free dog in the paper.
So my first dog and my first job were when I was 12I had to get a permit.
It was walking dogs at the local pet store.
That’s how badly I wanted a dog.
I’m building Marshall Plan for Moms, my second organization.
I spent 10 years building Girls Who Code.
I raised $100 million to build the largest women and girls organization in the world.
I wouldn’t have to strap my second baby to my back and hustle for every $50,000 check.
Women have to constantly prove themselves.
This is why impostor syndrome is a lie we’ve bought into.
We’ve been made to feel that we’re not good enough.
We’ve always been good enough.
So when we understand the way the world works, it enables us to operate in very different ways.
I don’t question myself when I walk into rooms now and ask whether I belong.
I know I belong.
Whats the last book that you read?
How do you treat yourself?
A chocolate chip cookie.
I love cookiesit’s my weakness.
Whats your go-to thank-you gift?
When people have babies, I have a stool with their name that I always send.
I’d be a Bollywood dancer.
I love music, and I love to dance.
When I was growing up, the way that the Indian community came together was around these dance competitions.
For us, it’s called Garba.
Learning how to dance is a big part of our culture.
What are some work essentials that you could’t live without?
I use my phone like a computer.
And I would say Google Calendar.
I am obsessed with my schedule.
I’m constantly editing every minute of my life to make it all fit in.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.Monique Wilson is the editorial assistant atGlamour.
