She started out wanting to be a doctor but then fell in love with computer science. Brenda Darden Wilkerson turned that passion into purpose; from building computer programs at Chicago Public Schools to leading a global organization that works to bring intersectional gender and pay parity to the tech industry. She shares with Jeanne why she quit pre-med and jumped wholeheartedly into computer science; her biggest challenges as a Black woman in tech, how she overcame them and now helps others find their voice; her best advice for young people entering the workforce; and what happened when President Barack Obama came calling.

About Brenda:

Brenda Darden Wilkerson is an advocate for access, opportunity, and social justice for underrepresented communities in technology. She currently serves as the President and CEO of AnitaB.org, an organization that connects, inspires, and strives for greater equality for women technologists in business, academia, and government. She founded the original Computer Science for All program, building computer science classes into the curriculum for every student in the Chicago Public Schools, and serving as the inspiration for the Obama administration’s national CS For All initiatives.

Twitter: @BrendaDardenW
Instagram: @brendadardenw
LinkedIn: Brenda Darden Wilkerson