#christy turlington burns

The supermodel-turned-mentor has made quite an impact since she founded the nonprofit Kode With Klossy in 2015.

by CHRISTY TURLINGTON BURNS

There are many definitions for the word model, and Karlie Kloss transcends all of them. It has been 10 years since Karlie came onto the fashion scene, and at 25 she remains at the top of her game, while in her “downtime” she has been quietly and graciously taking on so much more. These days she is most passionate about Kode With Klossy, the nonprofit she founded in 2015.

On the surface it’s about teaching girls—who may not have the access, resources, or nerve to seek out computer science training—to code. But at its core it gives young women a sense of self, supplying them with proof that there is no task they should shy away from attempting, no room they should feel unworthy of entering.

I launched my own nonprofit, Every Mother Counts, in 2010, with a mission to improve access to safe and respectful maternity care for all women, after experiencing a childbirth-related complication when I delivered my daughter. That was around the time that Karlie and I first met and discovered we were kindred spirits. We are both committed to improving access to skills and opportunities for girls and women, because we know in doing so the world will be a better place.

Christy Turlington Burns: Why did you create Kode With Klossy?
Karlie Kloss: I remember when you launched the movie for Every Mother Counts, No Woman, No Cry, in 2011, and watching a ­morning show where you were talking about the documentary. I must have been 18 years old, and I realized there was an opportunity to do more not only for myself but for others.

CTB: How did coding become part of your life?
KK: I ended up in a class in 2014 because I was curious about this language that a handful of people knew and were able to use to build things. After the first year of learning how to code, I put out on my social media platforms an offer for scholarships for 20 girls to learn the same. I got 1,000 entries for those spots.

CTB: Before you started modeling and took this path, were you at all interested in computers?
KK: I didn’t grow up with a smartphone. You’re a good mom, and your kids don’t always have phones around them…

CTB: Oh, they do.
KK: I didn’t have my first phone until I was 13, and that was only for emergencies. I never had a computer science class growing up. I was always good at math, science, and logic-based problem solving, but I wish I was exposed to this earlier on.

CTB: What is meaningful to you about passing on your knowledge to girls?
KK: There’s a real confidence that comes with learning something challenging. They’re recognizing their potential in an industry in which they previously hadn’t seen themselves.

CTB:They’re 13 to 18. Do you find that people in that age range like to be together and become a team easily? Is it a shared learning experience?
KK: The thing that’s awesome is watching them not only become comfortable in group dynamics but build strong friendships. Often, young women don’t take coding classes in school, if they’re lucky enough to be offered them, because they might be the only girl. We wanted to eliminate the barriers to entry that could keep someone from entering that classroom in the first place.

CTB: What do you think about the importance of mentoring?
KK: It’s ironic to be asked that question by you, because you’ve been such a role model. With the mentoring component of Kode With Klossy, there’s this byproduct that I never anticipated, which is the connection that is made throughout the community. We’re going into our fourth summer this year, and many of the girls who have been in our camps in the past want to be part of teaching other girls. There’s something so inspiring about seeing this circular experience.

CTB: When you realize that what you do can impact more people than you anticipated, it’s a powerful thing. It’s also daunting. Have you had that experience with your philanthropy?
KK: That word, philanthropy, is so formal. I never set out with the intention of being a philanthropist. I am somebody who was raised in a family and community where if you have something to give, that’s what you do. The girls in the community we’re building have the same desire. There’s a group of girls who built an app to better serve the homeless community in St. Louis; they built the app just to help but ended up winning a $50,000 GlobalHack prize. My perspective on philanthropy isn’t that you should work your whole life and then give it away, but that you should think about what you can do or give or share now that will impact people.

CTB: What advice would you offer someone who wants to give back?
KK: The best advice I can give is to lead from your gut, even if that’s different from what other people want you to do.

CTB: You were so helpful to my daughter recently when she was making a huge decision. I think you can learn from almost anyone in your life, but when there’s someone who’s just a bit ahead of you, that person can be someone to really look up to.
KK: Part of the beauty of giving is that it’s a chain. The way you have affected me, and so many others, I feel a responsibility to pass that on. We women can be tough on ourselves, and it’s important to remember that if you’re overwhelmed by everything that comes with being a young woman, give yourself the time and space to learn who you are.

CTB: What do you think success going forward looks like for Kode With Klossy?
KK: We have plans for year-round programs to support girls every step of the way to become leaders in tech or whatever they want to go into. Investing in teachers is something that’s been a big focus for us, building out curriculums, and working to change the idea that coding is only for a guy in a hoodie. Another inspiring part of building Kode With Klossy is learning about the other people out there, people like Melinda Gates, who I admire on so many levels.

CTB: She’s someone we share as a mentor. Early on with Every Mother Counts, she and the Gates Foundation were making bold investments in women’s health. I’ve loved seeing her talk recently about tech and computer science, which bridges both of our interests.
KK:Thank you, Melinda Gates! And thank you, Christy. I never would have thought to dream as big as I do if I hadn’t seen you on TV in that moment.

CTB: If that one morning show had that impact on you, imagine the way every time you talk about this issue affects people.
KK: In the world we live in, you can tell how many likes or eyeballs something gets, but there’s not an easy metric to measure the ways you’ve touched people’s lives.

CTB: Investing in teachers, training, skills building, and communities is the way to make the world the place we want to live in. I’m so going to have my daughter enroll in your camp at some point.
KK: I’m going to text her right now and tell her to apply! Applications close Sunday, so she needs to get on it.(x)