We were lucky to catch up with Esha Sehgal And Shivika Varshney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Esha Sehgal and Shivika Varshney, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

One of our favorite workshops was at The Pilot School during the summer of 2024, a school dedicated to the inclusion of all different students and learning styles. We had the privilege of coming in and being a part of their Technology Day during their “STEM Week” during their summer camp. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to teach Scratch and Scratch Jr. and see the pure joy on the students’ faces as they created projects and watched their ideas come to life on the screen.
A specific student was so engaged and genuinely curious throughout the lesson, repeatedly raising her hand excitedly to share her progress, and to show us what she had accomplished. There were moments where she would go off-course of what was being taught, not because she was confused, but because our lesson had sparked something, an exploration of a new passion. Her excitement and gratitude were beyond rewarding. She shared how proud she was of her creation and how it inspired her to tinker with coding more!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For those hearing about Code Her World for the first time, we are a student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit determined and dedicated to closing the gender gap in computer science by providing girls free coding resources and mentorship. Growing up, we were both surrounded by technology and families involved in STEM, so we naturally gravitated to the world of coding. But as we progressed on this journey, we couldn’t ignore the statistic that we repeatedly saw in our own lives: the lack of female representation. That realization motivated us to create opportunities for others to feel included and empowered in tech. We host workshops, month-long camps, networking events, internship opportunities, and volunteer opportunities for those who wish to get involved with our mission! But, Code Her World is more than just teaching the technical skills of coding; it’s about building confidence for women at any point in their career or coding journey. We are proud of the supportive environment and community we have grown worldwide of 2,000 students impacted!

How did you build your audience on social media?

Since we didn’t know how to gain followers on Instagram, we initially began by following lots of student-led nonprofits. We used this technique called a “follow for follow” where we followed an account if they were willing to follow us back. This helped us gain lots of followers in the beginning. Once we had a foundation, we began posting frequently and using common hashtags that would help our posts appear on people’s suggested feed. Using the followers we had, we would reach out to them to like, comment, and share our posts to gain more views. In return, we would promote their organization. Once we had momentum going, we kept gaining more followers.

For those starting to build their social media presence, we recommend reaching out to people who may be interested in your product or service. If you’re a student-led organization, reach out to other students and local businesses who may be interested in supporting your organization. Get these people to follow your social media, offer them something in return (like a discount), etc.

Any advice for managing a team?

Always remain open-minded to your team’s ideas, no matter how small or unconventional they may seem. Often, the best solutions emerge from combining multiple perspectives. Foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing and brainstorming.

If your team feels unmotivated at times, make sure you always show enthusiasm regardless of how your business may be doing. It’s important to remain positive because it can really change the entire dynamic. It shows that you’re not going to let a failure stop you from trying to grow.

And finally, celebrate wins, both big and small, and acknowledge individual contributions. Recognition boosts morale and reminds your team of the value they bring to the table. Share the bigger picture with your team and how their efforts contribute to overall goals. Transparency creates trust, and providing support during tough moments shows you’re invested in their success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/codeherworld
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codeherworld/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/code-her-world