Code Nation CEO Rebecca Novak to Step Down in 2022
For Immediate Release
Contact: Celia Alicata: celia@brightergood.com
(January 24, 2022 — San Francisco, CA) — Code Nation today announced that Rebecca Novak, CEO, will step down in May 2022. Novak, the organization’s first hire in 2013, has served as CEO since 2019. Novak leaves behind a growing organization that has reached more than 6,500 students from under-resourced high schools with the skills, experiences, and connections that create access to careers in technology.
Prior to becoming CEO, Novak was Managing Director of the Bay Area (2016-2019), Director of Programs and Community affairs (2014-2016), and Education Manager/Founding Team Member (2013-2014).
“Building the organization alongside so many passionate individuals has been one of my greatest honors,” said Novak. “From our early days in New York City, I never would have dreamed that nearly a decade later we’d work with schools in three cities, with hundreds of tech company partners and volunteers — not to mention, be surrounded by such a talented staff who works tirelessly to break deep-seated inequities and increase diversity in the tech sector. As Code Nation enters its second decade with tremendous momentum and stability, I am so excited about what a new leader can mean for the organization’s future.”
In Novak’s nearly nine years at Code Nation, the organization expanded to new regions, developed a robust network of funders and donors, and codified its one-of-a-kind volunteer teaching programming and curriculum. Novak personally led the organization’s programmatic growth in New York City and first national expansion to the San Francisco Bay Area, and secured the organization’s largest-ever multi-million dollar donations.
During her tenure as CEO, Novak guided the organization through an expansion to its third region, Chicago. She led the team during a global health crisis to develop and implement remote versions of the Code Nation program while strengthening organizational operations — making key investments in leadership, talent and culture, and maintaining healthy financial reserves having raised a total of $30M during this time and expanding Code Nation’s operating budget to $7M. And now, as she steps down from the role of CEO, Code Nation has a strong financial position, an experienced leadership team, and a national presence that is changing the future of the tech industry.
“First and foremost, the Board of Directors thanks Rebecca for her persistent commitment to the mission and vision of Code Nation,” said Josh Silverman, CEO of Etsy and Chairman of Code Nation’s Board of Directors. “Rebecca’s leadership was instrumental in establishing and expanding the organization, and we’re poised for continued growth and impact because of the strong foundation that she helped build. As the tech industry dominates the job market, we know that more young people need access to computer science and coding in high school to find pathways to careers in tech. Our work has never been more important or more needed. Leadership from people like Rebecca is so essential and we applaud her for being a steadfast champion for the cause.”
Code Nation has retained Koya Partners to partner with the Search Committee of the Board of Directors to identify and recruit its new CEO. Koya Partners is an executive search firm with an exclusive focus on recruiting CEOs and senior leaders to mission-driven roles. Koya is one of five specialty firms that comprise Diversified Search Group, the largest woman-founded executive search firm in the world. Koya has assumed a leadership role in building diversity and equity internally and through its placements. Code Nation aims to have a new CEO in place by summer 2022.
About Code Nation
Code Nation equips students with the skills, experiences and connections that together create access to careers in technology. With a volunteer teaching corps of nearly 350 professional web and software developers and a network of school and company partners, we provide coding courses and work-based learning programs to students who attend under-resourced high schools. For more information, visit www.codenation.org.
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