7. Grace Hopper: Mother of COBOL and Debugging
Grace Hopper was a trailblazer in computer science, whose work helped shape the digital era. She played a key role in developing COBOL, one of the first high-level programming languages, making computers accessible to businesses worldwide. Hopper also famously popularized the term “debugging,” cementing her place in tech lore. Compared to other computer pioneers, her influence on software engineering is profound—her innovations continue to guide programmers and problem-solvers across generations. Computer History Museum
