Project Management for Youth Changemakers: Turning Passion into Global Impact
Presented by Evelyn Chao, Anvi Palav, Saanvi Chiliveru, and Grace Andino
Young people are stepping up to solve global challenges, from climate change to social inequality. Yet, bridging the gap between great ideas and real-world results requires more than just enthusiasm. This presentation explores how project management techniques and mindsets can empower youth leaders to tackle global issues effectively.
Through case studies and practical examples, this session will show how young changemakers can apply project management approaches to organize their efforts, adapt to uncertainty, and deliver measurable impact. Attendees will discover actionable strategies to mentor, support, and inspire the next generation of project managers who are shaping a better future.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how project management techniques can help young changemakers turn big ideas into real-world impact
- Gain practical strategies to support and mentor youth leaders as they navigate uncertainty and drive change
- Explore case studies showing how project management mindsets empower the next generation to address global challenges effectively
About Evelyn Chao
Panel Moderator
Founder, PM Ready Inc.
Evelyn Chao earned the Project Management Ready™ Certification from the Project Management Institute at just 14 years old. Since then, she has focused her passion for social service on empowering young changemakers through project management.
In 2023, she founded PM Ready Inc. (www.pmready.org), the world’s first student-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing the next generation of project leaders. Her first book, Project ABCs for Aspiring Changemakers, won the International Impact Book Award. She is working on her second book, Youth Voices of Change: Case Studies of Impactful Student-Led Projects, in collaboration with youth leaders from around the world.
About Anvi Palav
Founder, BioMedizone
Anvi Palav is a first-year Stamps Eminence Scholar at The Ohio State University, majoring in Honors Neuroscience on the pre-med track with a full-ride scholarship. She is passionate about neurology and has published research on cognitive neuroscience and healthcare psychology in peer-reviewed journals, including The Scholarly Review Journal and Cureus Medical Journal.
Anvi is the founder of BioMedizone, a non-profit that expands biomedical research and education for students in third-world countries. She is originally from Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
About Saanvi Chiliveru
Co-Founder, Shade Seekers
Saanvi Chiliveru is an Indian-American senior at Coppell High School in Texas, United States. She is the 2025-2026 President of the Coppell Speakers Association and co-founder of Shade Seekers, a youth-led initiative addressing urban heat through green infrastructure.
A 2024 Digital4Good Changemaker and 2025 DoSomething BINfluencer, Saanvi also co-led a citywide book drive supporting underfunded Dallas ISD schools. Saanvi serves on the Executive Board of the Youth Oceanic Initiative and is the Texas DECA Social Media Ambassador.
About Grace Andino
Founder, MedYouthUnited
Grace Andino is a high school senior and incoming freshman at Yale University where she plans to study psychology and English while continuing her passion for dance. She is editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper and aspires to a career in clinical psychology, advocating for marginalized children in the education system.
She also promotes youth literacy through her organization, MedYouthUnited.
