Tarika Barrett

Dr. Tarika Barrett is the CEO of Girls Who Code, an international non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology that has served over 670,000 students. Girls Who Code is at the forefront of connecting young people to the future of emerging technologies through initiatives such as the Cyber Education Alliance — a coalition of organizations committed to safeguarding kids and students online through cybersecurity education. Tarika started her career as an educator and has spent two decades building educational pathways for young people at organizations like iMentor, the New York City Department of Education, New Visions for Public Schools, and New York University's Center for Research on Teaching and Learning. Tarika is co-Chair of New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s Emerging Technology Advisory Board, Chair of the New York University Steinhardt Dean's Alumni Advisory Board, and a member of The New Visions for Public Schools Board of Directors. Tarika has received prestigious accolades such as an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Medgar Evers College, CUNY; New York City Bar Association Huntington Bank's Her Hero Lifetime Achievement Award, is a PoliticsNY and amNY Metro’s Nonprofit Power Player, and named one of Crain’s 50 Most Powerful Women In New York. Under her leadership, Girls Who Code has been named The NonProfit Times' Best Nonprofits to Work For three years in a row and recognized as one of Fast Company’s Brands that Matter. Girls Who Code’s work has generated 14.6 billion impressions globally, with notable campaigns such as Doja Code, the world’s first codeable music video with Doja Cat.