Debugging the Code: How To Rewrite Tech’s Playbook with Cristina Mancini, CEO of Black Girls Code

This week on SUPERWOMEN, I’m joined by Cristina Mancini, CEO of Black Girls Code, the nonprofit on a mission to change the face of tech. Before joining Black Girls Code, Cristina built a career in film and television, where her curiosity about how to reach audiences between releases led her into the world of technology. What began as a quest to better engage fans soon evolved into a passion for using tech to drive impact and inclusion. Cristina is leading a powerful expansion of the organization’s focus: beyond teaching girls to code, she’s focused on launching them into the rooms where decisions are made. With her, Black Girls Code has grown to include not just education, but inspiration and real-world opportunity, ensuring that girls and women of color not only learn the skills, but build the confidence and community to thrive in tech. 

Mancini’s vision is clear: access isn’t enough, especially in a society in which “people are developing technologies that are not built with inclusion in mind.” Under her leadership, Black Girls Code has evolved beyond education, expanding into college campuses and adult programs that inspire, equip, and launch talent into real-world careers. Whether it’s helping a girl build her first app or ensuring she lands a paid internship, Cristina is building a future where representation is the rule, not the exception.

In a world where AI and emerging technologies are shaping everything from healthcare to hiring, Cristina is clear: inclusion isn’t optional, it’s crucial. From building out summer camps and national programming to creating pathways for paid internships and leadership, she’s working to ensure no girl is left behind just because the tech world wasn’t built with her in mind. 

Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to order my book, “Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success.”

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