Reshma Saujani

And I think the point is, is that we're just presenting these like polar opposite choices when really what we all want is something in the middle. I want to be able to pick my kids up, you know, at school every so often, give them a little hug and a kiss, have some flexibility, not be on the plane all the time. But I want to be able to crush it in the things that I care about.

And I think the point is, is that we're just presenting these like polar opposite choices when really what we all want is something in the middle. I want to be able to pick my kids up, you know, at school every so often, give them a little hug and a kiss, have some flexibility, not be on the plane all the time. But I want to be able to crush it in the things that I care about.

Love it.

Love it.

I feel like the way that we've built workplaces, we've set women up to fail, period. You know, and the thing I always think about, Megan, is like, look, we have the most educated workforce of women. Like, 75% of the high school valedictorians are girls, right? Most of those getting their PhDs are girls.

I feel like the way that we've built workplaces, we've set women up to fail, period. You know, and the thing I always think about, Megan, is like, look, we have the most educated workforce of women. Like, 75% of the high school valedictorians are girls, right? Most of those getting their PhDs are girls.

And we have to ask ourselves, why do we have the most educated population of women that have the lowest amount of participation in the labor force? And the reason is, is because when we become moms...

And we have to ask ourselves, why do we have the most educated population of women that have the lowest amount of participation in the labor force? And the reason is, is because when we become moms...

Because of the cost of childcare, because of the lack of availability of childcare, because we just don't make it possible for you to do both, oftentimes women are having to downshift or make choices. And the way we've tried to solve this problem is say, well, the problem is women, right? Like you got to get more confidence. You got to power pose, you know, your way before a meeting.

Because of the cost of childcare, because of the lack of availability of childcare, because we just don't make it possible for you to do both, oftentimes women are having to downshift or make choices. And the way we've tried to solve this problem is say, well, the problem is women, right? Like you got to get more confidence. You got to power pose, you know, your way before a meeting.

You got to get a mentor, right? It's all about you're wrong. You're broken. When really it's just structural, right? And what was so amazing about this and the pandemic is I think it gave us a window of what's possible. So, like, if you do have flexibility, if you can take care of your kid when they're sick and still get it on a meeting, right?

You got to get a mentor, right? It's all about you're wrong. You're broken. When really it's just structural, right? And what was so amazing about this and the pandemic is I think it gave us a window of what's possible. So, like, if you do have flexibility, if you can take care of your kid when they're sick and still get it on a meeting, right?

If you still can not be set up to fail because the school day is 830 and the work day is 9 to 5, right? If we can actually give people grace and flexibility and give women ownership over their time, right? you will actually see a shift.

If you still can not be set up to fail because the school day is 830 and the work day is 9 to 5, right? If we can actually give people grace and flexibility and give women ownership over their time, right? you will actually see a shift.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. We breastfed in closets. We didn't put our kids' picture on there. We're like, oh, my God, I'm sorry. Completely. Like, I always say, like, you know, Girls Who Code, mostly women work for me. They get pregnant all the time. And we kill it, right? I have built like two of the most fastest growing nonprofits and we live our values.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. We breastfed in closets. We didn't put our kids' picture on there. We're like, oh, my God, I'm sorry. Completely. Like, I always say, like, you know, Girls Who Code, mostly women work for me. They get pregnant all the time. And we kill it, right? I have built like two of the most fastest growing nonprofits and we live our values.

And so the sense of that, well, you know, you're not going to be productive or you're like, you know, watching Netflix while you're at work. It's just not true. And so we just have to. But there's so much resistance. to change. And I do think that part of that is about having women ask for what they need and are male allies.

And so the sense of that, well, you know, you're not going to be productive or you're like, you know, watching Netflix while you're at work. It's just not true. And so we just have to. But there's so much resistance. to change. And I do think that part of that is about having women ask for what they need and are male allies.

You know, one of the things that you've seen really shift in this remote work conversation is a lot of men are saying, okay, great, you want me to come back to work? Dads are saying, you need to support me in my childcare. You need to change your paid leave policies, right? You need to allow me to be a parent and just thrive. Right. But I think that is just absolutely right.

You know, one of the things that you've seen really shift in this remote work conversation is a lot of men are saying, okay, great, you want me to come back to work? Dads are saying, you need to support me in my childcare. You need to change your paid leave policies, right? You need to allow me to be a parent and just thrive. Right. But I think that is just absolutely right.