Kimberly Bryant is probably best known for founding Black Girls Code, an organization dedicated to introducing technology and computer science to girls of color between the ages of 7 and 17. But her career extends beyond this one (major) contribution to tech.
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Fun Facts about Kimberly Bryant:
- Grew up in Memphis, Tennessee
- Graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Engineering and a Computer Science minor
- Has worked in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries for more than 20 years at companies such as Pfizer, Merck, and Genentech
- Recognized for her work with Black Girls Code by the White House Champion of Change Tech Inclusion honor in 2013
- Serves on the National Champions Board for the National Girls Collaborative Project
- Serves on the National Board of the NCWIT K-12 Alliance
- Serves as an Advisory Board Member for Glitch
- Has spoken about her work on inclusion and bridging the digital divide at events like SXSW and TedX Kansas City
Having been an early leader in the movement to make computer science a more inclusive discipline, Bryant has noted her work, specifically that of Black Girls Code, means going beyond teaching coding skills.
In a March 2020 interview with a Shondaland reporter, Bryant said, “... What we are focusing on is making sure our girls don't just learn how to write the code but they understand how to use coding as a tool for whatever they want to do. We're giving them this technical toolkit that can help elevate whatever that career path is….”
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