A Personal Message from Code Nation’s CEO Becca Novak
Friend & fans of Code Nation,
I am writing to share some big personal and professional news. I’ve decided to step down as Code Nation’s CEO at the end of the school year. I will continue to serve as CEO during the search for my successor, and am glad to be working closely with our Board of Directors and leadership team to support a smooth transition.
Joining Code Nation in the fall of 2013, as our first hire, was a life-defining moment for me. I came to Code Nation after the close of the first chapter in my career, as a public school teacher in San Francisco. In the classroom, I saw firsthand how the incredible opportunities in the tech sector were not being made fairly available to everybody. I wanted to change that, and found the opportunity to do so at Code Nation.
When I joined Code Nation, we were a fledgling organization without an office or health insurance, on a shoe-string budget and in-development programs operating in seven high schools in NYC. But we had a great idea, and we had a small community of people — teachers, students, tech workers, philanthropists — who believed in that idea.
Today, we’re a national organization operating in three of the largest educational systems in the U.S., with an approximately $7M annual budget, and a multi-tier program model that’s put thousands of students on a path to technology careers.
As I take stock of the past eight and a half years, including the most recent period of global change and crisis that I’ve been proud to lead through, I’m honestly a bit awed and overcome. This is a really special organization, and it’s been one of my greatest honors to get to lead, work, and learn alongside our incredible team and Board, and our community of educators, tech workers, teenagers, and volunteers.
With the organization entering an exciting new decade of growth, and with my own personal goals, I see this as an opportune time for a transition to new leadership. Code Nation’s Board has been incredibly supportive of me and this decision and over the next several months we’ll be working closely together to ensure a smooth transition. Josh Silverman, CEO of Etsy and Board chair, and Lauren States, Board director and chair of the Search Committee, are Code Nation’s fiercest champions and I admire their dedication — along with our entire Board’s commitment — to this organization.
I plan to pursue some long-held personal goals before figuring out my next professional moves. But there’s no doubt I’ll continue as a friend and advocate of Code Nation because I believe there’s a bright future ahead. I hope you’ll join me!
In the meantime, there’s plenty to do — so back to work!
Becca Novak
CEO, Code Nation
