Susan Gouijnstook Named Chief Executive Officer of Girls Who Code

Former Jobs for the Future and McGraw Hill executive to drive the nonprofit’s efforts to reach five million by 2030

NEW YORK, NY, September 15, 2026—Girls Who Code, the international nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology, today announced the appointment of Susan Gouijnstook as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Dr. Tarika Barrett. A seasoned champion for access and opportunity, Gouijnstook brings over two decades of experience leading innovation and driving transformation across education, career pathways, and technology organizations. Most recently, she served as the first Chief Solutions Officer at Jobs for the Future (JFF), where she led the organization's work to build and scale programs across the country.

At JFF, Gouijnstook led the launch of major initiatives, including the 75 Million Movement and programs across education, employers and AI’s impact on the workforce. Previously, she spent more than 16 years at McGraw Hill, a leading global provider of education solutions, where she led the Higher Education segment’s strategy, product development, research, and program management. 

“Susan brings a rare combination of vision, experience, and purpose. She has built solutions at scale, driven transformation both in global companies and mission-driven organizations, and never lost sight of the people those institutions are meant to serve," said Carol Juel, Chair of Girls Who Code’s Board of Directors and Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Synchrony’s digital platform. "Her record at Jobs for the Future and McGraw Hill speaks for itself, and I’m confident she is the right leader to carry Girls Who Code forward as we work to reach five million girls, women, and nonbinary people by 2030."

In this role, Gouijnstook oversees the organization's mission to inspire, educate, and champion girls, women, and nonbinary people, with a special focus on historically underrepresented groups, to become changemakers in tech. Since its inception, Girls Who Code has served over 860,000 students, including 425,000 alumni who are now college-or career-aged.

“In a moment when AI is being defined in real time, I’m excited to lead this organization and help ensure girls, women, and nonbinary people have a seat at the table in tech and the chance to shape it,” added Gouijnstook. “The developments happening in tech right now will have a deep impact, and our young people need a voice and a stake in that future.” 

Gouijnstook will become Girls Who Code’s third Chief Executive Officer, following founder Reshma Saujani and Dr. Tarika Barrett. Her appointment marks a new chapter for the organization as it continues to grow its reach and evolve its programming to meet the demands of a rapidly changing technology landscape.

About Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology. The organization has served over 860,000 students and is at the forefront of equipping the next generation to thrive in emerging fields like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Girls Who Code's work has generated 15.5 billion impressions globally, with notable campaigns such as Doja Code, the world's first codeable music video with Doja Cat.