Meet Karlie Kloss, Model And Entrepreneur: She Launched A Coding School For Girls

“We are only at the beginning of a new era,” the top model and entrepreneur told our colleagues at George V Magazine. Interview with a top model and entrepreneur. 

When Karlie Kloss landed her first modeling gig at 18, she bought herself Cartier ring! “I remember going to a store and having it engraved on the inside,” says the model and entrepreneur. She decided to treat herself to a gift for each of her successes. “Throughout my career, I’ve gotten into the habit of buying jewelry when I reach a milestone,” she adds. “To remind myself of those milestones.” A jewelry box that must be bursting at the seams, because in recent years, her coding program for girls, Kode with Klossy, which is helping to redefine the rules of who can succeed in tech, has gone global. She’s invested in fashion startups—that use artificial intelligence—and spoken out against the devastating abortion bans in the United States. Two months ago, she announced the acquisition of one of the country’s most legendary magazines, “Life,” adding to the growing list of media assets
 
She has already acquired with her company Bedford Media, (co-founded with her husband, billionaire investor Joshua Kushner). This year, the model was invited to the Cartier Women’s Initiative, which supports women entrepreneurs around the world, giving them the tools and capital to develop their projects. She joined the thirty-three Cartier Prize winners in Shenzhen, China, who gathered to present their projects: innovative initiatives to address environmental and societal issues. The winners received between $30,000 and $100,000 in grants. They included Erica Cole of No Limbits, a US-based clothing brand for people with disabilities; Jiwon Park of sexual wellness brand SAIB to help women in South Korea take charge of their reproductive health; and Singaporean doctor Lynne Lim, who invented a robotic device that makes it easier for doctors to insert ear tubes into patients’ ears. The event ended with an awards ceremony, during which Karlie Kloss gave an inspiring speech on collective action, gender equality and the importance of entrepreneurship. She tells us why and how she got into tech.

GV: What is the future of women in tech?

Karlie Kloss. I’ve been in this field for almost a decade now, and so much has changed! It makes me very optimistic. I grew up in Missouri, in public school. There was no computer science curriculum. Today, there is, as in many other public and private schools in the United States. There are more and more opportunities for women and girls to learn to code. Our society is more aware of how technology is shaping our world, not just in Silicon Valley, but in music, media, finance, and business. But unfortunately, there is still a long way to go.
 
GV: Kode with Klossy has grown into a global nonprofit.

KK We provide technical skills, training in artificial intelligence, mobile app development, data science, and web development. All in an inclusive atmosphere and space. There is room to be very creative in these areas. We hope to increase the number of female participants in our programs. In the summer, we offered 5,000 free scholarships to female students to participate in Kode With Klossy. We have already trained hundreds of teachers. The goal is to inspire and encourage a real enthusiasm for technology.
 
GV: Do you think technology can advance the fashion industry?

KK We are just at the beginning of a new era. It is very important that people realize that technology can be used for great causes. It is a tool that can help find better solutions in all sectors and all businesses. Fashion – which is a huge water consumer – is one of the biggest polluters of our rivers and oceans. The industry has a lot of problems to solve, and that is part of the reason I am optimistic that more people will turn to technology to solve them. It is once we recognize the problems that we can find solutions.
 
GV: Weren’t you afraid to get started?

KK I am lucky to be friends with Natalie Massenet, the founder of Net-a-Porter, who is an extraordinary entrepreneur. Years ago, she asked me a question that still resonates with me: “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” That question resonated deeply with me because it highlights our many fears—the fear of judgment, the fear of failure.

GV: Is it important to have a community around you?

KK It takes a lot of courage to become an entrepreneur, no matter your gender, age, or experience level. But it’s true that networking is what really makes the difference. Many of our Kode With Klossy students have come back as teachers and in management positions. Many have won hackathons and scholarships. We’ve managed to create a community that continues to support each other and foster connections between each other.
 
GV: And now you’re launching into media with “Life” magazine…

KK This is a project that I am very excited about! With Bedford Media (the company founded by Karlie Kloss and her husband, Joshua Kushner, Editor’s note), we want to mix the creative space of media and the possibilities offered by technology to stimulate even more innovation. These two aspects are crucial for us. I am excited to see what the future holds.
 
GV: Is it important to be a “role model”?

KK I have two young children and I want to be the best mother I can be, but I also keep in mind that it’s important for women to be in leadership positions because our experiences are different than our male counterparts. Many of us juggle different responsibilities and identities, both personally and professionally. I just try to do my best every day to advocate for the people I love and do what I can to help others.
 
GV: For you, jewelry has a very strong and symbolic value…

KK For our wedding, my husband gave me a beautiful Cartier watch. One day, I will give it to our daughter, if I am lucky enough to have one, or to one of my two sons. I also allowed myself the luxury of diamond earrings. There is something very symbolic about that, it was a way for me to say to myself: “I can also give myself something.” Jewelry is very personal, sentimental to me. These vintage diamond earrings from the 1920s, with their fascinating history, imbued with the people who previously wore them, are very symbolic to me. That is the power of jewelry, whether old or new: it creates precious memories. To be able to share that with future generations is something that I find beautiful.