Barcelona, January 16, 2020. Celebrity Cruises has announced Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of the international non-profit organization Girls Who Code and author of the international bestseller "Brave and Imperfect," as godmother of Celebrity Apex, the second ship in the Edge series that is revolutionizing the industry. Saujani will christen the new ship at the official christening ceremony in Southampton, UK, on March 30, 2020.
Traditionally, the godmother is the spiritual embodiment of the ship, inspiring and protecting all who sail on board. With its innovative Edge-Series ships, Celebrity is selecting godmothers who are paving the way for people around the world in their respective fields. The first Edge-Series godmother, who inaugurated Celebrity Edge in November 2018, was Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, recognized for her advocacy for educational opportunities for girls worldwide.
Since its launch in the United States in 2012, Girls Who Code has reached 185,000 girls at nearly every stage of their educational journey. The organization is on track to close the gender gap in new entry-level computer science jobs by 2027, with Girls Who Code alumnae now in college majoring in computer science and related fields. In 2019, Girls Who Code was named the number one nonprofit on Fast Company’s list of the most innovative companies.
In addition to being the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani has been a lifelong activist and burst onto the political scene as the first Indian-American woman to run for the U.S. Congress in 2010. Her viral TED Talk and international bestseller, "Brave and Imperfect," have sparked a global conversation about how we are raising our daughters and inspired countless women to fear less, fail more, and live better. Saujani's work on behalf of women and girls has earned her widespread recognition: Fortune World's Greatest Leaders; Fortune 40 Under 40; WSJ Magazine Innovator of the Year; Forbes Most Powerful Women Changing the World; and Fast Company 100 Most Creative People, among others. She is also a recipient of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Award in education.
“Reshma is closing the gap in the historically male-dominated tech industry,” said Celebrity President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “She’s changing the image of what a computer programmer looks and does, inspiring a whole new generation of girls and women to openly pursue this field. Because she’s a game-changing visionary, she’s the perfect godmother for a game-changing ship like the Celebrity Apex.”
““Girls Who Code is committed to giving girls more visible role models in computer science and helping them see that this is a field where they can truly thrive,” said Saujani. “Just as we are on a mission to close the gender gap in the tech sector, Celebrity Cruises is leading the way in creating a more diverse future in the maritime industry. Therefore, it is an honor to have Celebrity Cruises’ support in our work and to be named Godmother of Celebrity Apex.”.
In addition, Celebrity will also collaborate with Girls Who Code to offer educational coding programs as part of the cruise line's Camp at Sea STEM experiences aboard Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge, along with related experience and product offerings.
Celebrity Apex will begin its inaugural season in April 2020 with a mini-season of five itineraries to destinations in Northern Europe, followed by a summer cruise of seven to twelve nights in the Mediterranean. In November, Celebrity Apex will head to Fort Lauderdale for a winter season featuring week-long Caribbean cruises.
For more details on Celebrity Apex 's offerings and destinations , visit https://www.celebritycruises.com/int/cruise-ships/celebrity-apex . For more information on all Celebrity Cruises offerings, visit www.celebritycruises.com , or speak to a travel advisor.
