A milestone moment — and a lifetime of opportunities for girls in tech
April 15, 2024 | By Zainab Ibrahim
In January 2021, I was a junior at Hunter College majoring in media studies, with a minor in computer science. As a woman of color from a Bangladeshi immigrant family, I had always harbored doubts about my place in the tech sector, but then I crossed paths with Susan Warner, a remarkable advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology.
Susan is the founder of Girls4Tech, Mastercard’s award-winning program to cultivate young girls’ interest and ability in science, technology, engineering and math careers, introducing them to concepts like algorithms, big data and biometrics in fun and engaging ways. When she founded it — 10 years ago this week — the number of girls pursuing STEM careers was at an all-time low, with only one in 20 girls interested in seeking STEM degrees, as compared with one in five boys.
Today the program has educated nearly 7 million girls on six continents, and its programming now ranges from young girls to college students. That includes partnering with organizations like Break Through Tech, which targets underrepresented college students in New York City. That’s where I first encountered Susan — at a virtual event with companies offering short internships through Break Through Tech.
Instantly, I was captivated by her unwavering passion for promoting diversity and creating a safe space for women in technology. One piece of advice sticks with me: Never feel alone in the technology space, because your ideas will always be heard — even if it’s not always by the person you expected.
Under her guidance, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. She encouraged me to brush up my résumé and seize an opportunity for a summer internship at Mastercard, where I joined a product development team that drove a 15% increase in user adoption in one product and helped improve user experience for another.
I also participated in the Girls4Tech Python boot camp, tailored exclusively to City University of New York students like me. In addition to gaining a strong foundation in Python essentials, the program also shared advice for navigating technical and nontechnical interviews and put me in touch with campus recruitment staffers, recent hires and a woman senior technologist at Mastercard.
On April 23, Girls4Tech founder Susan Warner, center, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach, to her right, were joined by other Mastercard executives and employees and Girls4Tech participants to celebrate the STEM program's 10th anniversary.
Girls4Tech participants at the ringing of the bell at the New York Stock Exchange April 23.
To celebrate International Day of the Girl October 11, Girls4Tech volunteers in 12 locations across seven countries hosted hundreds of girls. Here, longtime volunteer Susan Gaudio coaches girls at the company's Purchase, N.Y., headquarters as they work through an exercise on big data.
Girls4Tech has reached 5.7 million girls across the world. Here, girls in Dublin approach a challenge under the guidance of Mastercard employee mentors.
The Girls4Tech program — in action here in Singapore — is based on global science and math standards and incorporates Mastercard's expertise in technology and innovation, encouraging exploration of a range of STEM careers, such as fraud detection, data science and software engineering.
Girls4Tech founder Susan Warner, right, and Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach, second from left, at an event in Purchase.
The program has added curriculum to give students deeper exposure to the growing fields of cybersecurity and AI, and has expanded to new age cohorts.
Susan’s mentorship bolstered my confidence as I navigated the program, equipping me with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the world of technology.
Throughout my journey from school to the workplace, Susan remained a steadfast mentor, guiding me every step of the way. She envisions Girls4Tech not only as a platform for girls worldwide to learn about technology but also as a community where Mastercard employees could mentor and inspire the next generation of women leaders.
And so, when I joined Mastercard as an associate product specialist in cybersecurity last summer — the first Girls4Tech alum to become a full-time Mastercard employee — I joined the company’s corps of employees (7,000 since 2014) who volunteer with the program.
My involvement, particularly through volunteering sessions and mentorship opportunities, has been incredibly rewarding. I vividly recall a recent session where I had the privilege of mentoring a young girl named Mei. Her heartfelt gratitude and newfound knowledge of algorithms served as a moving reminder of the impact we can have on young minds.
As Girls4Tech celebrates its 10-year anniversary, I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this transformative program. It has not only empowered me to pursue my passion for STEM but has also inspired me to pay it forward and change the lives of others. As a first-generation college graduate, I am determined to be a voice for girls like me, bridging opportunities and breaking barriers in STEM.
In celebrating Girls4Tech’s milestone anniversary, I am reminded of the countless lives it has touched and the endless possibilities it continues to unlock. Here’s to another decade of empowering girls in STEM and shaping the future of technology, one girl at a time.
Banner photo: Zainab Ibrahim, left, and Girls4Tech founder Susan Warner.
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