Meet Kaylani, a 2025 PowHER Emerging Leader whose drive to create meaningful change is as powerful as her programming skills. A computer science major with a passion for game design and a commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices in tech, Kaylani is reshaping what leadership looks like in STEM. Whether she’s teaching coding to the next generation or advocating for greater inclusion in media, she leads with purpose, vision, and heart. In this spotlight, Kaylani shares her journey, her inspirations, and the values that guide her as a changemaker.
Let’s start with your story. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Chicago and currently attend the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where I am studying computer science with a minor in Game Studies & Design. Ultimately, I would love to be able to develop video games of my own, especially ones that represent diverse perspectives and deeper storylines. As a Puerto Rican and Assyrian woman, diversity in computer science is extremely important to me. I hope to be able to be the change that I want to see in not just video games or computer science, but media as a whole!
I am currently working at Girls Who Code as a Lead TA. In this role, I am teaching interactive daily lessons in p5.js that introduce programming fundamentals and game development principles to 60+ high school students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in tech. As an alumna of this program and a former Teaching Assistant, SIP has a special place in my heart as a place where students can get their first exposure to coding and begin building a support network of people in various tech-related fields!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? How close is that to what you’re passionate about now?
When I was younger, I wanted to be a lawyer and then the president once I was old enough. While my field now is computer science, my ultimate goal remains the same as it has always been: I want to make an impact on the world and my community while supporting my family. I am very passionate about making this happen through computer science, and I am currently exploring how I can accomplish this.
How does it feel to be recognized as one of the Nerdy Girl Success Emerging Leaders of 2025?
I am incredibly honored to be recognized as one of the Nerdy Girl Success Emerging Leaders of 2025. I have been a volunteer for Nerdy Girl Success for many years because of how important their mission is, which is the same mission that I bring to computer science and the organizations I have led. Empowering diverse groups of people to make an impact in their fields is extremely important to me and with the support and recognition of organizations such as Nerdy Girl Success, this goal feels possible!
What do you think makes someone a good leader?
A good leader is someone who can organize a team while being willing to adapt to changing circumstances. Even if everything is planned perfectly, things can always go awry, and so it’s important as a leader to support the team in these changes. Additionally, a good leader inspires their team. They should lead by example and set a precedent for how they want the team to function. In this, they also should be willing to listen to the team’s ideas and feedback to make sure that the flow works for everyone involved.
How do you feel about yourself as a leader?
I believe that any leader will always have space to grow in their methods and should always analyze what they could be doing better. I think that I do great at organizing a team, but I sometimes have a lack of confidence in my abilities. However, as I gain more experience in being a leader, I know my confidence will grow over time.
Who is one of your heroes and why?
One of my heroes is Mrs. Roberts, who was my computer science teacher freshman – junior year of high school. She was always positive, supportive, and hardworking no matter how life got. It has inspired me to take risks and persevere even when my goals feel difficult to achieve, and I couldn’t have gotten this far without the support she gave me.
What is one of your superpowers?
One of my superpowers is definitely my extreme organization skills! I keep a very rigorous calendar and agenda to organize all of my to-dos. This helps so much with taking stress off myself as seeing everything planned out gives me a clearer idea of what I need to do and when.
There is power in sharing our dreams and goals. What are the dreams and goals you have for yourself?
While I’ve previously talked about specific professional goals, my overall greatest goals in life have always been to be happy and successful. These are definitely quite broad, but this is intentional. What makes me happy can change from day to day, and being successful can be measured in a variety of ways! As long as at the end of most days, I feel satisfied with the work I completed, the people around me, and what I did that day, then that’s all I ultimately want.
What is one piece of advice you have for others?
Constantly reevaluate your goals and the way that you are working towards them. Your goals should be the greatest things that you want in life, but they should not come at the cost of your wellbeing. Make sure that you are taking care of yourself and that your goals are still serving what you want in life. This can be especially difficult when you transition to college as the difficulty of classes increases, but always keep in mind what is best for you!
Kaylani’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about intention, impact, and the courage to dream boldly. As a PowHER Emerging Leader, she’s not only breaking barriers in tech but also building bridges for others to follow. Her journey reflects the heart of Nerdy Girl Success®: equipping young women to lead with confidence, compassion, and clarity of purpose. We can’t wait to see the future she’s coding—because it’s one where everyone belongs.
If you’re inspired by Kaylani and the mission behind Nerdy Girl Success, we invite you to get involved, whether by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word. Together, we can help more young women like Kaylani rise, lead, and thrive.