Reshma Saujani, the charismatic CEO of Moms First, sat at the Economic Club of New York luncheon in September 2025, her voice echoing through the crowded room as she spoke about the untapped potential of mothers in the workforce.
"Childcare is not a personal problem, it's an economic issue," she declared, her words striking a chord with the audience.
Saujani's journey to becoming a leading advocate for women's rights began years ago, when she founded Girls Who Code to empower young women in tech. But it was her work with Moms First that brought her to the forefront of the national conversation on affordable childcare.
The Power of Moms First
Saujani's vision for Moms First is rooted in the idea that caregiving is not just a personal choice, but a necessary part of building a strong economy.
"We have to ask ourselves, why aren't moms first?" she asks, her voice filled with conviction. "Why are moms doing two-thirds of the caregiving work?"
For Saujani, the answer lies in reframing the way we view unpaid labor. "We have to stop viewing it as just the personal work that women do out of the goodness of their heart," she says.
A Broken System
Saujani's work with Moms First is driven by a deep understanding of the systemic barriers that prevent women from participating in the workforce.
"The entire system is set up to make you fail," she says, her voice laced with frustration. "And that's a feature, not a bug. That's the point."
For Saujani, the solution lies in creating structural change. "We need to make childcare affordable, so women have the freedom and choice to move in and out of the workforce," she says.
A Pivotal Moment
Saujani's advocacy for affordable childcare has brought her to the forefront of the national conversation on this issue.
In January 2025, she stood beside Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as they announced a $1.7 billion plan to deliver universal care for children under the age of 5.
But Saujani's work with Moms First began long before this moment. In 2010, she founded Girls Who Code to empower young women in tech. And it was this experience that led her to realize the deep-seated issues that prevent women from participating in the workforce.
Reclaiming the Conversation
Saujani's vision for Moms First is not just about providing affordable childcare, but about reclaiming the conversation around unpaid labor.
"We need to stop viewing unpaid labor as just a personal problem," she says. "We need to recognize that it's an economic issue, and that workers can't work without childcare."
For Saujani, the future of the economy depends on our ability to reframe the way we view women's work. And it's a conversation that she's determined to lead.
Saujani's work with Moms First is just beginning, but one thing is clear: she's on a mission to create a more equitable society, where women have the freedom to participate in the workforce on their own terms.
As she sat at the Economic Club of New York luncheon, her voice echoing through the crowded room, it was clear that Reshma Saujani is just the leader to bring about this change.
https://time.com/5878537/every-girl-has-to-learn-how-to-code-reshma-saujani-wants-to-make-space-for-young-women-in-tech/?utm_source=beehiiv&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-the-leadership-brief