In the latest episode of Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan Sussex sits down with Reshma Saujani for a frank and yet-needed conversation about what it really takes to lead. Saujani, who founded Girls Who Code and Moms First, shares her personal journey from political failure to national changemaker. Together, the two women challenge the myths of resilience, perfection, and power that continue to burden women—especially mothers.

Their conversation offers fresh insight into how leadership, motherhood, and success can evolve to meet the needs of a new generation. And it’s deeply personal. Both Meghan and Reshma speak with the kind of vulnerability often denied to women in the public eye.

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Timeline of Meghan Sussex and Reshma Saujani’s Friendship

Meghan Sussex and Reshma Saujani’s relationship has developed through years of mutual support, shared advocacy, and public collaboration. Here’s a look at how their friendship and advocacy evolved over time:

2018

Meghan and Reshma first met at Kensington Palace while Reshma was expanding Girls Who Code into the UK. Meghan was pregnant with Archie at the time. Their meeting focused on coding education and empowering young girls in tech.

2019

Following Meghan’s emotional ITV interview—where she famously said, “Not many people have asked if I’m okay”—Reshma publicly supported her on Twitter, calling her brave and using the hashtag #BraveNotPerfect.

October 2021

Meghan partnered with Saujani’s Marshall Plan for Moms (now Moms First) to advocate for paid family leave in the United States. Meghan’s open letter to Congress was published on the Marshall Plan for Moms website, and Reshma praised her for using her platform to speak out.

November 2021

The Archewell Foundation made a financial donation to Marshall Plan for Moms. Reshma publicly thanked Meghan and Harry, saying the gift brought her to tears after hearing the stories of struggling mothers.

Reshma Saujani Shares Why She Chose to Step Aside

Saujani opens up about her childhood in Illinois, where she faced racism and bullying as a South Asian girl trying to fit into a white, working-class town. She tried to assimilate, even asking her parents why they hadn’t named her Rachel. But when she was beaten up behind her school one day, something shifted. She decided to stop hiding and instead start building something new.

That same determination led her to Yale Law School, then to a congressional race she lost in spectacular fashion. But the failure didn’t break her. It gave her permission to create something more lasting. She went on to build Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that gave young women a path into tech—and a future in the middle class.

Years later, with a sustainable organization and a capable successor in place, Saujani chose to walk away. It wasn’t easy. The silence after her announcement felt like a loss of power. But as she tells Meghan, the decision was about growth. “This was the thing I thought I was supposed to do,” she says. “And I didn’t win. But I’m not broken.”

Reshma Saujani quote reading “This is why people don’t give up power—because when you don’t have power, you’re not important anymore.” She is smiling, wearing a green leather jacket, and seated beside the quote. The image emphasizes the emotional and personal complexity behind stepping away from leadership roles.

Related | Meghan Sussex Launches New Podcast Celebrating Women in Business

Meghan and Reshma Call for a New Kind of Leadership

Both women understand what it means to show up while suffering. Meghan speaks openly about her miscarriage, while Reshma shares how she gave speeches to young girls hours after being told she would lose her pregnancy. The pressure to keep going, to smile through pain, to never seem fragile—that’s the part they both challenge.

Leadership, they argue, must include honesty. It must also include help. “What is the bravest thing you’ve ever said?” Meghan asks, quoting a children’s book. “Help,” the answer reads. For Saujani, asking for help didn’t come naturally. She had built her career on strength and grit. But burnout forced her to rethink everything.

The conversation turns to paid family leave, workplace equity, and the urgent need to design systems that support—not punish—mothers. Meghan reminds listeners of her public advocacy for paid leave, including her 2021 letter to Congress and the Archewell Foundation’s donation to Moms First. Reshma recalls how deeply Meghan’s support moved her, especially when other leaders remained silent.

What unites them is a shared purpose: to leave something better behind. Not just for women like them, but for those coming next. They know they may not see the full impact of their work. Still, they keep going. Not to be perfect. To be present.

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