Kimberly Bryant

Founder of Black Girls CODE

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Biography

Kimberly Bryant is the Founder of Black Girls CODE, a non-profit organization dedicated to “changing the face of technology” by introducing girls of color (ages 7-17) to the field of technology and computer science with a concentration on entrepreneurial concepts. Read More >

Prior to starting Black Girls CODE, Kimberly enjoyed a successful 20+ year professional career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries as an Engineering Manager in a series of technical leadership roles for various Fortune 50 companies such as Genentech, Merck, and Pfizer. Since 2011 Kimberly has helped Black Girls CODE grow from a local grassroots initiative serving only the Bay Area, to an international organization with fourteen chapters across the U.S. and in Johannesburg, South Africa. Black Girls CODE has currently reached over 10,000 students and continues to grow and thrive.

Kimberly has been nationally recognized as a thought leader for her work to increase opportunities for women and girls in the technology industry and has received numerous awards for her work with Black Girls CODE. Kimberly has been awarded the prestigious Jefferson Award for Community Service for her work to support communities in the Bay Area, named by Business Insider on its list of “The 25 Most Influential African-Americans in Technology”, and named to The Root 100 and the Ebony Power 100 lists in 2013. Kimberly has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People. Kimberly was named a White House as a Champion of Change for her work in tech inclusion and for her focus on bridging the digital divide for girls of color and received an Ingenuity Award in Social Progress from the Smithsonian Institute. She has been identified as a thought leader in the area of tech inclusion and has spoken on the topic at conferences nationally and internationally such as the Personal Democracy Forum, TedX Kansas City, Platform Summit, Big Ideas Festival, South By Southwest (SXSW), and many others. Read Less ^

Speaker Videos

TEDx: Black Girls Code

TEDx: The Risks of Failure Are Not Equitably Distributed

TEDx: Planting Seeds of Innovation

Speech Topics

Reclaiming Our Space: Exploring The Contributions of People of Color in Technology Past & Future

Have you ever heard of James West? How about Mark Dean? Probably not. Without James your phone wouldn’t have its microphone. Mark helped to develop the IBM PC, and holds one third of IBM’s original patents. When we talk about the development of technology, it’s rare that we discuss the past contributions from minorities or explore what it means for organizations such as Black Girls Code and other advocates who seek to create a more inclusive innovation space. In this brand new talk, Kimberly Bryant traces the history of how minorities have shaped our technological culture and the importance of amplifying their innovations of the future.

Time to Come Out of the Box: Creating a More Inclusive Future in Tech

Kimberly Bryant the founder of social movement Black Girls CODE will share her journey as what she calls an “accidental social entrepreneur” and the lessons learned along the way in shaping a new paradigm for women and girls of color in the technology industry. She will explore how recognizing our innate power to become change agents in our own lives and the lives of others by pushing through traditional boundaries and perceived limitations can help us drive change in our world.