November 8 marks National STEM Day, a chance to celebrate the individuals who are shaping a better world through their passion for science, technology, engineering, and math. While women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, they still hold only about one in four tech jobs, and just 20 percent of computer science graduates are female. Rewriting the Code (RTC), the nation’s largest network of women in tech with nearly 40,000 members across 159 countries, is working to change that.

Founded by Sue Harnett, a former tech entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, RTC helps women navigate every stage of their careers, from the classroom to the boardroom.

I spoke with Harnett about how RTC began, what keeps women inspired to stay in tech, and why diverse voices are essential to shaping the technologies of tomorrow.

What inspired you to start Rewriting the Code, and how has the mission evolved?

After creating and exiting my first technology company in 2013, I found my next opportunity as a consultant to my alma mater, Duke University, where I had conversations that changed my life. Engaging students and faculty in the computer science department, I learned that nationwide, women were exiting their computer science degree programs after just one or two courses and giving up on the pursuit of the major. They were often walking away from their interest in pursuing technology careers because they felt they did not belong.

When I heard stories from university women pertaining to feelings of doubt, not fitting in, and not feeling smart enough, they hit very close to home with my personal transition into college. As a first-generation student attending a top-ranked university with privileged students, I vividly recall a similar experience. It cultivated my desire to address these challenges for young women in ways that helped me overcome my own challenges. 

These conversations are how Rewriting the Code was born. From the inception of the idea of forming a community of young women in tech, I have built Rewriting the Code into a live, breathing organization with 40,000 members from 159 countries around the globe.

How can parents and educators help spark an early love for STEM in girls, and more importantly, help it stick as they grow?

Parents must address gender stereotypes and expose their daughters to women in STEM. This could be the family physician, family members who work in STEM fields, and incredible role models working in areas that interest them. There are college women and early career women who are tackling challenges across medicine, technology, and engineering, and who are very inspiring. I would suggest finding a topic that resonates with your daughter and doing some online research to highlight their work. 

Teen girls often wish to fit in with their peer groups and social circles, and it’s a time when gender roles and social norms rise to the surface. Men have dominated the technology field and can represent a culture that is usually for members of the boys’ club. Teen girls must be encouraged and supported by families and teachers to know that this is not true. Girls must feel confident in their abilities and believe that they are quite capable and needed in STEM.

What advice do you have for mentors who want to help women not only stay in tech but thrive in leadership roles?

Start by mentoring the whole woman. Even better, do it without her résumé. Allow her to show up as a person first, and as a future tech leader later. Meet her at her core, and your advice for her career will flow much more seamlessly.

Too often, mentorship focuses on helping women fit into systems that were never built with us in mind. Great mentors don’t teach women how to shrink to survive. They teach them how to move through systems with confidence, community, and collaboration, and instead of questioning themselves, to question those who don’t see them as leaders.

If you don’t share a particular part of her identity or lived experience, that’s not a barrier. It’s an opportunity. Offer to introduce her to someone in your network who can speak to that part of her journey. It helps her see the power of her own intersectionality and shows how committed you are to seeing all of her.

Also, make sure your advice doesn’t double down on outdated or harmful norms. Sexist and ageist practices have no place in mentorship. Recognize the wisdom and awakening this generation is bringing forward, and hold it alongside your own. Mentorship works best when both people are learning, evolving, and reminding each other what thriving really looks like.

You’ve said women must help design the future. Why is representation especially critical in these emerging fields?

Emerging technologies like AI are reshaping how we live, work, and solve the world’s biggest challenges. But if women, and especially women from underrepresented communities, aren’t at the table designing these systems, the outcomes won’t reflect the full spectrum of human needs.

We’ve seen what happens when tech is designed without diverse voices: biased algorithms, inaccessible tools, and innovation that reinforces inequity rather than solving it.

Women bring not just different lived experiences, but different questions, priorities, and ways of approaching problems. In AI, it’s ensuring ethics and fairness aren’t afterthoughts. In every domain, it’s about creating solutions that work for everyone.

This isn’t just a diversity issue; it’s an innovation imperative. The future of tech depends on who builds it. And we’re rewriting the code to make sure women are not only part of that future, but leading it.

What makes you optimistic about the next generation of women entering the tech industry?

Women have made great strides in medicine in the past decade. In 2023, 53,442 women students were enrolled at U.S. medical schools, making up 54.6 percent of all medical school students. 2018 was the first year that women surpassed men in medical school representation, and women have never looked back.

Girls and women can increase gender representation in technology and engineering, as has been done in medicine. Artificial intelligence, data science, mechanical and electrical engineering, software engineering, and more need the emotional and academic skills that girls bring. Let’s be sure to expose, encourage, and celebrate their success as they get started!

AI and a multitude of technology fields are advancing at an unprecedented rate. It is an exciting time to be part of the change and the solutions that will impact our personal and professional lives. Women play a key role in the leadership and participation of how these advances shape the products, services, and discoveries that advance in society. Incorporating broad populations of technologists with varied life experiences and perspectives will shape the impact and reach for beneficiaries around the world.

How can readers get involved with Rewriting the Code or support its mission?

Rewriting the Code exists because navigating tech shouldn’t be a solo journey. Whether you’re a student just starting out, an early-career professional facing workplace challenges, or someone passionate about building more inclusive tech ecosystems, there’s a place for you here.

• Join the community: Women in tech can join our free, always-on community of 40,000+ members across the globe. Through our Slack space, mentorship circles, tailored resources, and affinity groups, members receive support that spans from campus to career.
  
• Volunteer your expertise: Seasoned professionals can make a powerful impact as mentors, speakers, or workshop leaders, helping the next generation of women navigate career moves, technical leadership, and workplace dynamics.
  
• Partner with us: Employers and philanthropic leaders can collaborate with RTC to fund programs that create real outcomes, such as removing financial barriers, expanding access to opportunity, and accelerating career advancement.