2023 Prudential Emerging Visionaries Look Book

Congratulations to the 2023 Prudential Emerging Visionaries!

We are proud to celebrate these remarkable young people from across the country for the powerful vision and meaningful change they are bringing to their communities and beyond.

“The goals of our Emerging Visionaries program reflect Prudential’s overarching purpose: to make lives better by solving the financial challenges of our changing world,” said Chairman and CEO Charles Lowrey. “We applaud all of our honorees for their commitment to improving the lives of others and creating inclusive and thriving communities.”

Prudential Emerging Visionaries is a collaboration between Prudential Financial and Ashoka with advisory support from the Financial Health Network.

Outside the United States, the program operates in countries where Prudential has a significant business presence including Brazil, China, India, and Japan.

The 2023 class of Prudential Emerging Visionaries was selected for their impactful work in two categories: Financial Solutions for a Changing World and Societal Solutions for a Changing World.

Financial solutions for a changing world

Nikita Agrawal

Nikita Agrawal, 17, of Chicago, Illinois, is the co-founder and president of “FinPro World,” an initiative that promotes financial literacy among middle and high-school-aged students by teaching them computer programming skills. Through a 10-week series, participants learn financial concepts that they then apply and demonstrate through coding.

Nikita’s spark moment came when she realized she could use her programming skills to build financial wellness and resiliency for those around her. “That feeling of being able to add value using my skills, along with my desire to make an impact in my community, triggered the idea of combining financial concepts with computer programming into a powerful educational platform for students,” she explains. So far, her project has impacted more than 200 students across 17 countries.

Okezue Bell

Okezue Bell, 17, of Easton, Pennsylvania, founded “Fidutam,” an accessible mobile app that is expanding financial access to unbanked and low-income communities.

The initiative offers micro-loans specifically targeted to underserved communities to expand their access to financial services. “As a person of color and a Nigerian, I’ve seen the devastating effects that the racial hegemony in banking and finance can have on communities,” he says. So far, the initiative has reached more than 100 people across the United States and will be piloted in Nigeria.

Aaryan Doshi

Aaryan Doshi, 16, of Cupertino, California, leads “CirFin,” a global initiative that aims to inspire young people to use fintech to support and strengthen more sustainable economies. “CirFin” equips young leaders with the education and resources they need to create innovative fintech solutions to address sustainability issues, such as new technologies for reusing materials and decreasing waste, and use them as a launching point to create innovative enterprises that serve their communities.

“I realized how little this generation knew about the circular economy and its financial components. Who will be the change agents if youth do not understand how crucial the circular economy is to combat biodiversity loss and pollution threatening our planet?” he says. So far, the initiative has more than 100 international participants and four international chapters.

Catherine Mellett Felix

Catherine Mellett Felix, 17, of New York, New York, started a mobile app to address gender economic inequality by teaching young women how to manage and grow their personal finances. The app assesses the user’s financial health and priorities to customize a learning journey of engaging modules on topics such as credit scores and the basics of investing.

Catherine decided to start this project after learning about the difficulties faced by women and those impacted by domestic violence and how financial autonomy might provide an opportunity for a better life. “My project centers on giving the millions of young Latin American women who want equality but are unaware of how to achieve it the tools to break apart from antiquated roles and end the cycle of violence through financial education,” she says.

Jordyn Wright

Jordyn Wright, 15, of Rosharon, Texas, started a youth entrepreneurship program to teach young people how to identify their passions and use them as a launching point for creating innovative enterprises that serve their communities.

Jordyn’s initiative gives young people access to the resources and mentors they need to get started exploring a business venture. Programming covers topics including entrepreneurial mindset, business budgeting, pitching and financing. At the end of the training, students convene to present their product or service. So far, Jordyn has mentored more than 60 young people and has hosted 17 youth entrepreneurs during her annual summer convening.

Societal solutions for a changing world

Jack Bonneau

Jack Bonneau, 17, of Broomfield, Colorado, launched “Teen Hustl,” a start-up on a mission to create environmentally conscious opportunities for youth employment in today’s gig economy.

In previous generations, many teens’ first job was delivering newspapers. Jack wants to create a new experiential work opportunity—that also has an environmental benefit—through local package delivery by teens on bikes or e-scooters. The enterprise creates new jobs for teens, helping them learn about work and responsibility while developing social and life skills such as time management and customer service.

Varuni Chopra

Varuni Chopra, 18, of North Royalton, Ohio, is the founder of “Bridge the Gap Initiative,” a project that teaches digital literacy skills to senior citizens, boosting their connectivity and increasing their quality of life.

Varuni decided to start this project after seeing how her grandparents struggled with online communication during the pandemic. “Being an immigrant with my grandparents halfway across the world really opened my eyes to the struggles senior citizens face every single day with technology,” she explains. Since its founding, “Bridge the Gap Initiative” has worked with 1,200 senior citizens on more than 50 topics. The project operates across 15 states and five countries.

Sydnie Collins

Sydnie Collins, 18, of La Plata, Maryland, is the founder of “Perfect Timing,” an international podcast that promotes youth positivity by giving young people the space to celebrate their achievements and combat mental health stigmas.

The goal of “Perfect Timing” is to build confidence among young people and give them a safe space to share their stories. Sydnie invites young role models onto the show who are using their platforms to motivate, raise awareness or educate others. “Exposing these changemakers to my audience will not only show them who they can be, but also empower them to use their voices in a way that uplifts their own communities,” she says. Since its launch, 109 episodes have been released.

Kean Dao

Kean Dao, 17, of Winterville, North Carolina, co-founded “Environmental Droners,” an initiative that utilizes technology to engage and educate the public on protecting the environment by identifying polluted areas in need of cleanup. He started the project after noticing an alarming increase in single-use plastics during the pandemic.

His project uses drones to film polluted areas on land and identify trash islands in waterways. This technology, along with a mobile app, identifies locations where trash removal is needed. So far, they have located and removed more than 5,000 pounds of trash and engaged hundreds of volunteers in cleanups.

Mia Fritsch- Anderson

Mia Fritsch-Anderson, 18, of Chicago, Illinois, is the creator of “Choose to Breathe,” a movement to educate young people about asthma and reduce the stigma around using inhalers.

Through the creation of fun and engaging videos on social media and by crafting inhaler covers that are colorful and fashionable, Mia is teaching young people about asthma and combating stereotypes and misconceptions about the disease. In just two years, the initiative has 20,000 followers and is now partnering with a nonprofit organization to increase outreach to young people.

Kylee Hamamoto

Kylee Hamamoto, 17, of Honolulu, Hawaii, created “WeGo! Hawaii” to foster strong and independent female leaders and create a community space for young women to pursue changemaking.

The initiative operates through a four-step process where participants discover their passion, build confidence under the guidance of the WeGo! Leadership program and ultimately create a venture. Then participants pay it forward, working with the next cohort of young women leaders. Kylee’s project has helped more than 200 students create 50 projects across the United States and Japan.

Zoya Haq

Zoya Haq, 18, of Dallas, Texas, leads “HiStory Retold,” a global initiative to promote inclusivity in history classrooms by encouraging community storytelling and new classroom policies and curriculum resources.

“HiStory Retold” promotes an equal understanding of all backgrounds and voices by developing new curriculum resources and classroom modules as well as working with school boards and national education coalitions to change education policy. The initiative also mobilizes students to stand up for educational change in their communities, connecting them with opportunities for public testimony, phone bank events and conversations with local legislators.

Lillian Hertel

Lillian Hertel, 17, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the founder of “Students Stand Up,” an international program that provides young people with the necessary resources to get started in advocacy and grassroots organizing.

Lillian realized that many young people who want to make a change don’t know how to get started. Her organization creates a path for getting youth involved in their communities. It offers a six-week curriculum delving into everything young people might need to know as prospective organizers, from strategic planning to social media content creation. So far, her initiative has worked with 200 young people from more than 50 countries.

Shraman Kar

Shraman Kar, 16, of Louisville, Kentucky, co-founded “Community AI,” a nonprofit that trains youth in creating scalable technology products that better the world. The project teaches middle and high-school-aged students the concepts they need to use AI to create scalable, community-focused projects. Initiatives to come out of “Community AI” include a website that recommends charitable organizations based on news stories and a tool to predict wildfires before they happen.

Through the organization, participants learn the basics of AI and project development for application in a variety of social good initiatives. They now have more than 800 members from 45 states and 50 countries.

Sidney Keys III

Sidney Keys III, 17, of Marietta, Georgia, founded “Books N Bros,” a book club that improves the relationship young Black men have with reading by amplifying African American stories and literature.

Sidney started the program to increase literacy among young men of color. His project curates boxes of books representing diverse perspectives that are shipped across the country monthly, along with hosting virtual and in-person meet-ups. The club is a safe space for young men of color to connect and grow a relationship with books together. The program serves more than 700 young men internationally.

Isheta Kulshreshtha

Isheta Kulshreshtha, 16, of Hockessin, Delaware, is the founder of “Leveled Legislation,” an initiative that aims to increase gender parity around the world by advocating for equitable policies and increasing youth civic engagement.

The initiative advocates for women’s rights by writing new policy proposals and sharing them with legislators. Isheta’s team also researches gender injustice and works to educate young people about gender equality, encouraging them to get involved in political processes. The initiative currently operates in 11 states and 10 countries.

Vaishnavi Kumbala

Vaishnavi Kumbala, 15, of Metairie, Louisiana, is the founder of a mobile app developed to improve teen mental health as well as expand access to mental wellness resources, particularly in disaster-prone areas. The app is tailored to help teens cope with stress and manage anxiety through a range of methods.

Vaishnavi decided to create her initiative after Hurricane Ida shut down her school for a month and she noticed the effects on the mental health of those around her. “I am interested in the mental wellness aspect of storms. Developing an adequate support system is vital in my community since disaster-induced trauma and victims’ anxiety about their families and home is very real,” she shares.

Mark Leschinsky

Mark Leschinsky, 17, of Mahwah, New Jersey, is the founder of “Student World Impact Film Festival,” a film competition that elevates the voices of young storytellers from underserved communities. Mark started this project to create a more equitable filmmaking community, tackling barriers young people often encounter when entering the film festival circuit, such as large submission fees and discrimination.

“A story can’t exist without a storyteller. And, to pave the way for a more inclusive, culturally accepting and equitable society, we need to hear more of the perspectives and viewpoints of storytellers from historically marginalized communities, especially youth,” he says. The initiative has grown to include more than 8,000 submissions.

Aanand Mehta

Aanand Mehta, 17, of Phoenix, Arizona, co-founded “Magical Motors,” an assistive technology initiative to help children with mobility impairments regain autonomy by rewiring ride-on toy cars to be handcontrolled instead of foot-powered.

This initiative also offers programming in schools, medical centers and therapy clinics across the country, working to train the next generation in STEM. With the help of 150 young people they have trained as builders, the initiative has made cars for over 25 beneficiaries. Aanand is hoping to donate 100 more cars and start two to five more chapters.

Joshua Oh

Joshua Oh, 14, of Gambrills, Maryland, co-founded an initiative to increase access to diapers across the United States through innovative distribution methods and lobbying to remove diaper taxes.

Joshua’s initiative currently runs bi-weekly pop-up pantries at local elementary schools, which have distributed more than 200,000 diapers. His team also successfully lobbied the state senator of Maryland to remove the diaper tax, saving families $12 million a year. They are now using the same toolkit to campaign against the diaper tax in 29 other states.

Rishan Patel

Rishan Patel, 16, of Atherton, California, leads “The Lending Locker,” which increases youth access to sports by providing free athletic gear year-round to underserved schools. The cost of athletic equipment is often prohibitive, making sports programs inaccessible to many young people. Rishan’s initiative aims to change this while reducing landfill by pairing a student “captain” with a participating school to install a storage unit and maintain the equipment in the locker through sports gear donation drives.

So far, “The Lending Locker” has piloted their program with five lockers, including one in India, and they have 10 new partner schools and captains ready to install lockers. Rishan envisions 100 more Lending Lockers worldwide by the end of 2024.

Riyah Patel

Riyah Patel, 17, of Concord, New Hampshire, started “New American Scholars” to close the achievement gap between students who are refugees and their American-born peers by providing academic support and educational resources. Through her initiative, peer tutors help youth who are refugees overcome the unique educational challenges they often face, such as language barriers or new cultural norms.

After hearing her mother’s story about the struggles that came with being an immigrant in America, and seeing how refugee communities were being even further isolated by the pandemic, Riyah decided to start “New American Scholars.” Her organization now serves more than 100 students with refugee status in New Hampshire and works with refugee support organizations across the state to implement its educational programming.

Austin Picinich

Austin Picinich, 18, of Kirkland, Washington, created the “Save Our Salmon Through Art” initiative, which stages public art projects that encourage community members to be stewards of local salmon to preserve their once-thriving populations and spawning streams in the greater Seattle area.

Austin, an artist, was inspired to start this project after learning about the decline of Northwestern salmon. “I believe that art, when combined with a community-focused purpose, can have a much larger impact and inspire others to make a difference,” he says. So far, the initiative has engaged more than 370 volunteers and raised $22,500 for restoration efforts.

Siona (Dolly) Pramoda

Siona (Dolly) Pramoda, 14, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, is a leader of “SafeTeensOnline,” a peer-led and experience-sharing community that teaches young people online safety and privacy skills.

“SafeTeensOnline” identifies students as high-risk based on their usage patterns, awareness and perceptions of cyber risks. Participants then take part in learning modules on online safety topics co-created with experts in the field and led by youth ambassadors in their community. The initiative runs in more than 40 schools across four countries and 15 states in the US.

Kosha Upadhyay

Kosha Upadhyay, 16, of Bellevue, Washington, started “Buzz Bowl," a quiz game that aims to elevate the percentage of female STEM graduates by giving 5th through 8th-grade girls access to an AP-level education in science and math subjects.

“Buzz Bowl” is a buzzer-based competition that challenges young people to answer questions across a variety of STEM topics. Kosha’s goal was to make the process of learning STEM more exciting and increase girls’ participation in competitive STEM activities. So far, more than 1,800 young people have participated in the initiative.

international award recipients

maria eduarda rocha brazil

Maria Eduarda Rocha, 20, from São Paulo, Brazil, founded the “OBMLibras Project,” the first Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad made entirely in Libras (American Sign Language, or ASL, in English). Maria’s spark moment was when she learned about the low number of students who are deaf in Brazilian universities. She wanted to offer educational opportunities that would make Brazilian education more inclusive and dynamic for people who are deaf.

“When I attended high school, I had a deaf friend, and I couldn't stand to see that she had disadvantages compared to hearing students in school Olympics,” Maria Eduarda says. “My Olympiad respects the language of deaf people, bringing a solution that has never been realized before and contributing to a more humanized education.” The initiative has already impacted more than 3,500 students who are deaf in 18 Brazilian states.

Yunyang Shi

china

Yunyang Shi, 15, from Shanghai, China, co-founded the “Heart Light” project with the mission to harness the power of youth philanthropy in raising funds for disaster relief. Under Yunyang's leadership, the "Heart Light" project has become a platform for young people to showcase their creativity and compassion, inspiring more and more peers and their families to engage in philanthropy and make a positive difference in the world.

Over the past three years, Yunyang and her team have mobilized more than 5,300 students and their families from more than 50 schools across China, raising over $110,000 in funds. These resources were used to purchase more than 70,000 pieces of essential goods, including aid supplies and daily necessities, to support relief efforts in areas affected by floods and other disasters.

Siyuan Zhou

china

Siyuan Zhou, 17, from Shanghai, China, is on a mission to empower children with autism through music by creating a high-quality learning environment. After years of poring over music therapy theory, Siyuan was able to combine her interests and talent to create an innovative initiative for children with autism.

Over the past five years, Siyuan has provided rehabilitation training and academic guidance for over 200 children with autism through notes and chords while organizing special concerts for them. With her encouragement, more and more children with autism have improved their lives and social skills through sensory training in music. Siyuan uses the power of music to cross the communication gap, allowing young people in her community to grow together in mutual aid.

Tarini Malhotra

Tarini Malhotra, 17, of Haryana, India, started the “Nai Subah Foundation,” which aims to provide paths for social mobility to individuals who are neurodiverse. The foundation’s goals include generating employment and ensuring income generation for individuals impacted by autism, ADHD and other neurological or developmental conditions.

Tarini believes that the best way to celebrate each milestone is to set new goals, reach them and surpass them. That spirit has allowed the “Nai Subah Foundation” to partner with more than 35 multinational corporations and six nonprofits.

Rahini Parthiban india

Rahini Parthiban, 13, from Tamil Nadu, India, started a "Low-Cost Innovative Toilet" project to increase access to restrooms in her community. Her ingenuity made it possible to craft a low-cost toilet out of an abandoned, damaged plastic tank, a breakthrough that changed lives both in her hometown and beyond.

After seeing the success of Rahini’s project, many of the residents of her village who lacked the resources to construct traditional toilets decided to build their own, at a cost of only 2,000 rupees each. As news of Rahini’s innovation spread, residents of neighboring villages became motivated to construct their own toilets as well.

Sota Hamada

Sota Hamada, 18, of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, co-created the youth-led group “Get CHANCE,” which offers free tutoring and lectures to students who could not otherwise afford them. The organization provides its services through two main platforms: “Online Tutoring School GET” hosts tutoring lessons and “Life Lessons CHANCE” hosts lectures by experts and professionals in various fields.

Sota became interested in addressing the educational disparities between children when his own family experienced economic difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing that factors such as birthplace and socioeconomic status can contribute to deep-rooted achievement gaps, Sota believes that circumstances beyond one’s control should not deprive children of their individuality and future prospects. Since its inception, “Get CHANCE” has grown by almost half, from 28 to 41 members.

Marika Kikuchi

Marika Kikuchi, 17, of Tokyo, Japan, co-founded the group “Read by Anna,” which helps Japanese children broaden their horizons by exposing them to English at an early age. The group’s events, which Marika leads, involve reading English picture books together with Japanese children.

Marika’s desire to help others was shaped by her time living in Singapore and India as a young girl. When she returned to Japan at age 11, Marika volunteered with various organizations but wondered how she could utilize her unique skill set to help others. Together with several friends, Marika started “Read by Anna” to address the lack of accessible, affordable opportunities for children to learn English in Japan. Through “Read by Anna,” Marika hopes to create a system by which children can teach others what they have learned, allowing the program’s lessons to reach a wider audience.