Techbridge Girls & STEM Equity with Nikole Collins-Puri

Techbridge Girls STEM equity work is breaking barriers for girls from marginalized communities. In this episode, Lindsay talks with CEO Nikole Collins-Puri about building confidence, access, and opportunity through STEM education. Discover how equity-driven programming is reshaping futures and challenging systemic injustice. Nikole Collins-Puri and her team have been changing this statistic for a greater cause.

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It’s not only shooting for the stars, it’s setting the table to get there. Share on X

Shaping Futures by Reimagining STEM

As we grow up, we usually get a sense of where our lives might go. But for many girls, especially those from marginalized communities, access to careers traditionally dominated by men—like those in STEM fields—can feel out of reach.

Nikole Collins-Puri, CEO of Techbridge Girls and lifelong social justice advocate, is on a mission to change that. In this episode, she talks with Lindsay about what it means to be a woman of color leading a national organization that champions equity and opportunity through STEM education.

A Visionary Leader with a Purpose

Nikole Collins-Puri is more than a CEO—she’s a visionary, strategist, mentor, and TEDx speaker who has devoted her life to unlocking potential in underserved communities.

With a background that spans tech, philanthropy, and education, she brings people together with clarity and purpose. Nikole is also a wife, mother, daughter, and friend—roles she embraces alongside her leadership. Her passion? Closing the gender gap in STEM and dismantling the stigma that still surrounds girls in science and technology.

Leading with Heart and Impact

In today’s episode, Nikole shares how she reimagined Techbridge Girls into a transformative force for change.

She reflects on her experience as a woman of color navigating leadership and philanthropy—and her ambitious vision to reach one million girls globally with accessible, empowering STEM programming.

You’ll also learn the “secret ingredient” to Nikole’s success: heart work—the emotional, mission-driven labor that fuels lasting impact.

What we chat about on this episode:

(00:24) How Lindsay and Nikole met and the importance of supporting other women through philanthropy.
(02:26) The story of Techbridge Girls and the presence of female youth on STEM education.
(11:10) What it means for Nikole to be a woman of color in leadership and philanthropy.
(12:26) Nikole’s secret sauce and why her work is heart work.
(15:45) Nikole’s thoughts and experience of expanding organizations geographically.
(21:43) How Nikole’s passion has helped her create a super powerful and clear message.
(23:46) Her vision for the future: helping one million girls.
(26:53) Philanthropic needs and strategies to achieve her goals by 2030.
(29:29) The ideal board key roles and responsibilities according to Nikole.
(32:57) Nikole’s dream board size and the importance of contact when it comes to relationships
(38:17) Empowering our nonprofit leaders to guide resources where they are most needed.