Teen Vogue Summit 2023 was filled with inspiring leaders and important discussions. One particular panel focused on three people who have become winners of a global initiative that helps boost promising young people.
Rise Global winners Mia Lee (2023), Rishabh Ambavanekar (2022), and Hawi Annette Odhiambo (2021) spoke with Teen Vogue contributing editor Alyssa Hardy during the Elevating the Voices of Tomorrow panel, sponsored by Rise. Each application year, the global program awards up to 100 people between ages 15 and 17 for a special project they’ve worked on, providing scholarships, mentorship programs, and more. The winners also get to attend a fully funded residential summit that rotates locations globally; this year it was in London.
Teen Vogue and Rise were honored to host these three brilliant minds, who have already made an impact on their communities at such a young age. During the panel, they discussed the power young adults have to make change and how they can shape a better future for themselves and others.
Mia Lee, a 2023 Rise Global winner, comes from Southern California, where she is a published author, influencer, and public speaker. The project that earned her the Rise Global award was her development of LingoX, a nonprofit organization that helps underserved communities access language education. The organization is one of many that Lee has started. On top of what she’s doing for the community, she’s also one of Instagram’s top Chinese language and culture content creators.
Rishabh Ambavanekar, a 2022 Rise Global winner, earned his spot on the panel after developing a brain-computer interface to help stroke patients communicate via translation of their inner dialogue. Ambavanekar was inspired to create the interface after his father suffered a transient ischemic attack, which is a stroke that lasts a few minutes. The young teen also has a personal interest in neuroscience after his own experience with OCD. He said he plans on continuing his education to the highest level — by completing his PhD.
Hawi Annette Odhiambo, a 2021 Rise Global winner, came to this year’s Summit after she was awarded the coveted Rise honor for designing a prototype for a water system to support farming in Kenya. Odhiambo, who attends college in Illinois, worked closely with farmers on the design and created instruction booklets in both Swahili and English. The design uses recycled materials for a more sustainable system. Odhiambo plans to continue her education and study economics, international relations, and Chinese.
Each panelist is hoping to continue their pursuit of a better future and wants to provide services for others. In keeping with the theme of elevating the voices of young people and planning for the future, Summit attendees were given the opportunity to practice their networking skills throughout the day, including access to working professionals and a space that was set up to have headshots taken.
Teen Vogue was pleased to welcome A24 TV executive Briar McQuilkin, along with LinkedIn’s consumer communications and partnerships manager, Regina Paul, to the networking portion of the day. McQuilkin spoke with attendees who are interested in a career in entertainment and gave advice on how to navigate the competitive industry. Paul used her expertise to give advice on how to nail a job interview and how to pitch to employers.
The job market is tough in any industry, which is why it’s important to learn from the best. The three Rise Global winners also stuck around to connect with people and answer questions they might have had about their winning projects.
Rise is an organization that finds young people who want to serve their communities and beyond and helps further their goals by providing the tools necessary to succeed. Rise connects its winners with a network of past winners and community members to help foster their path forward. In addition to providing scholarships and mentors, the organization also gives winners the technology they may need for college, including a laptop or tablet.
Rise is currently accepting applications for the 2024 Rise Challenge. Participants who are interested can apply now until January 17. Applicants are required to work on a project that demonstrates their strength and passion and also helps better the community.
Teen Vogue Summit is sponsored by Rise.
