One of the initiatives I’m really proud of is something I helped create for OnStar called Women of Color in Tech(WOCIT). It started from a really stark stat: only 1% of the tech industry is made up of women—and even less of that are women of color. That number stuck with me, and I knew we had to do something about it.
So my copywriter partner and I came up with an idea that’s designed to be a seamless integration with OnStar, with full support from the GM team. The goal is to build a pipeline of support for girls of color who are interested in tech, starting early and continuing throughout their careers.
One piece of the concept includes building on GM’s existing partnership with the Girl Scouts. We proposed offering educational content, hands-on resources, and mentorship opportunities to girls who are curious about tech. It's a ground-up approach to not only spark interest but actually help retain women of color in the tech industry long-term.
The idea was pitched to—and sold to—the OnStar team at GM. While it's still in development and hasn’t officially launched yet, I’m excited about the potential and proud that it’s already gotten internal buy-in.
The Annual Summit: A Space to Learn and Belong
We proposed the Girl Code Summit—a hands-on, inspiring event that brings together Girl Scouts of Color and WOC leaders in tech. The goal is to grow this into an annual summit, offering a mix of activities, seminars, and panels hosted by GM leaders and trailblazers in the tech space.
While all Girl Scouts are welcome, our primary focus is on reaching and uplifting girls of color. To help make that possible, we’re committed to offering transportation scholarships for Scouts from underprivileged communities—removing one more barrier between them and the future they deserve.
GM had already hosted events for younger age groups, so we saw an opportunity to build on that foundation and create something more sustainable and inclusive. The idea was simple: start them young, and stay with them as they grow.
To introduce Girl Code and root the initiative in something human and real, we concepted a Jubilee-style ad campaign—one that lets the voices of girls and women of color in STEM tell the story themselves.
It opens simply.
Super: We brought together women of all ages interested in STEM to learn about their perspectives.
Prompt 1: I like learning new things.
Prompt 2: I am excited about STEM.
Prompt 3: I want to pursue STEM.
Prompt 4: I have someone who can help me pursue my goals.
Prompt 5: I see people who look like me in STEM.
Supers:
We need more Women of Color in tech,
but they have voiced that lack of support is pulling them away.
“We were invited, but not welcomed.”
“…I feel so lonely.”
“There’s a cost.”
Super: That's why OnStar is partnering with the Girl Scouts to provide resources to the next generation.
Super: Support more girls of color in tech. Keep more women of color in tech.
Super: Learn more at OnStar.com/TheGirlCode
Badge Workshops: Learning Through Experience
As part of the Summit, we created badge workshops tailored to middle and high school Girl Scouts. These weren’t just lectures—they were interactive sessions built around:
App optimization
Remote control building
Data analytics and STEM exploration
By the end of each session, girls would walk away not just with new knowledge, but with a badge that recognizes their learning.
Redefining the Algorithm: WOC in Tech Panel
We aligned with the Girl Scouts' existing STEM career exploration badge to host a panel of WOC leaders across several tech verticals:
Engineering
Creative Technology & Design
Nature & the Environment
Computer Science
These weren’t just talks—they were bridges. After the panel, mentors and panelists stayed behind to connect with the Scouts and offer real support for their tech journeys.
At the end of the panel, we’d also announce a scholarship opportunity, reinforcing our commitment to making their dreams tangible.
Event Recap Reel
We took a social-first approach to bring the Girl Code experience online. Through Instagram and other platforms, we captured the energy of the event in real time—showcasing powerful moments from panels, workshops, and badge ceremonies.
The content celebrated the girls, elevated the voices of WOC in tech, and kept the momentum going beyond the event. Bold visuals, inspiring quotes, and storytelling made the initiative feel both personal and shareable—building awareness and community, one post at a time.
Rewriting the Code Award
To extend the reach of our initiative and spotlight real-life role models, we developed the Rewriting the Code Award in partnership with Baddies in Tech, presented annually at their flagship event, BaddieCon.
Each year, we honor four incredible women of color in tech who are making waves across the industry and within their communities. The award categories recognize:
A standout GM team member
An individual actively disrupting the tech space
An emerging talent pursuing a future in tech (with a scholarship to support her journey)
A leader building and enriching community for WOC in tech
Winners receive financial support—including scholarship funds and direct funding to pursue their next tech-related project or research. This is about more than recognition—it’s about real investment in their futures.
After each summit, we spotlight the winners across OnStar and GM’s social platforms, sharing their stories to inspire others and continue building visibility for women of color in tech.
Girl Code is OnStar’s commitment to increasing representation, access, and opportunity for Women of Color in tech—starting with the next generation.
In collaboration with my copywriter partner, I designed a clean, easy-to-navigate landing page with simple, intentional messaging—created to reflect the excitement and possibility that tech holds for the future of young women of color. Every element was crafted to feel inviting, informative, and empowering.
Through our partnership with the Girl Scouts, Girl Code brings together hands-on workshops, mentorship panels, scholarships, community awards, and storytelling—offering real support at every stage of the journey.
This site serves as the central hub for everything Girl Code: event details, sign-ups, resources, and ways to get involved.
Because the future of tech should look like all of us—and it starts here.
