All Episodes

February 24, 2022 62 mins
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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Therapy Gecko

Therapy Gecko

An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.