A Generation of Problem-Solvers: Prudential Financial Celebrates 25 Young Changemakers Reshaping America

The latest cohort of Prudential Emerging Visionaries represents something increasingly rare—a generation determined to tackle real-world problems with concrete solutions. In announcing its 2024 class, Prudential Financial is spotlighting 25 young leaders (ages 14-18) whose ambitious projects span everything from artificial intelligence ethics to mental health advocacy.

The Numbers Behind the Impact

Each of the 25 awardees receives $5,000 to accelerate their initiatives. The five finalists in the financial solutions category compete for an additional $10,000 grand prize, while employees can vote for a separate $5,000 Employees’ Choice Award. Beyond the funding, participants gain access to an all-expenses-paid summit at Prudential’s Newark headquarters in April, where they’ll receive direct mentorship from company professionals and connect with peers working on similar challenges.

This year’s recognition program—now in its third iteration—underscores a broader shift: young people are no longer just identifying societal gaps; they’re engineering scalable responses.

Where the Solutions Lead: Five Pathways to Financial Inclusion

The financial solutions cohort focuses on democratizing economic opportunity:

Bridging the Crypto Knowledge Divide: Michael Brode (17, North Carolina) created “Crypto Debunked,” addressing a critical gap in financial education for underserved youth. His platform demystifies blockchain and cryptocurrency—topics often shrouded in jargon—making them accessible to communities that need this knowledge most.

Microfinance for Unbanked Populations: Jonathan De Caro (16, Connecticut) identified a different problem: rural women in Latin America lack basic banking infrastructure. His “One Loan Fund” provides microloans, directly tackling economic exclusion at its source.

Mobile Financial Literacy: Caden Harris (14, Georgia) engineered an unconventional solution—“Financial Literacy for All,” a traveling program designed to embed financial education into school curriculums nationwide, particularly in under-resourced districts.

Employment for Overlooked Populations: Sebastian Tan (16, Pennsylvania) developed “OutsideConnection,” an online job platform specifically designed for formerly incarcerated individuals, creating pathways to legitimate economic participation and community reintegration.

Entrepreneurship Access for Girls: Remy Tsukahira (16, California) recognized that information gaps prevent young women from pursuing business careers. Her “Artemis Girls Business Academy” connects teenage girls with professional mentors, dismantling barriers through relationship-building.

Beyond Finance: 20 Visionaries Redefining Social Progress

The remaining 20 awardees channel their efforts into systemic social challenges:

Tech & Equity: Anika Dugal (17, New Jersey) co-founded “Girls for Algorithmic Justice,” confronting a largely overlooked problem—gender and racial bias embedded in artificial intelligence. Her global advocacy coalition works on policy interventions. Sreenidi Bala (16, Connecticut) tackled another tech gap through “Code for All Minds,” creating computer science pathways for neurodivergent learners and students with disabilities.

Climate Action & Community Building: William Charouhis (18, Florida) mobilized youth to plant 1 million mangroves by 2030 through “A Million Mangroves,” simultaneously addressing climate sequestration and coastal resilience. Angelina DiPaola (18, Ohio) approached sustainability differently—her “Compai” smart composting system uses sensors and mobile technology to scale community composting efforts.

Health & Well-Being: Multiple awardees targeted healthcare access gaps. Yaduraj Choudhary (17, Pennsylvania) founded “3 Tiny Bones” to advance hearing health policy and reduce stigma within schools. Anjani Sharma (17, Florida) created “Minds Without B0rders,” normalizing mental health conversations through youth-led advocacy. Donte Jennings (17, Texas) developed “EmpowerME,” blending literacy with mental health support for Black boys navigating psychological challenges.

Education Equity: Saawan Duvvuri (16, Tennessee) launched “LiteratureDiversified,” directly confronting racial disparities in curricula through youth-led advocacy. Adeline Smith (17, Idaho) brought “Growing the STEM” to rural communities, providing math and science programming where opportunities otherwise don’t exist.

Career Pathways & Inclusion: Mackenzie Goldsteen (16, Maryland) created “Buildgirls” to funnel young women into architecture, construction, and engineering—fields with severe gender imbalances. Maegha Ramanathan (16, California) founded “Girls4Sports,” expanding athletic opportunities in underserved neighborhoods. Marie Dillard (18, New Jersey) directed “The Crescendo Lab,” increasing access to classical music training for students of color underrepresented in orchestral spaces.

Civic & Systems Engagement: Preston Lieu (17, Virginia) built “Youthward,” an incubator connecting young activists with community organizers. Saheb Nibber (17, Texas) hosts “Smart City Houston,” non-coding hackathons where youth design civic solutions. Anuj Kakkad (17, Minnesota) co-founded “Vigilance Safety,” a technical nonprofit developing school safety innovations. OlaRose Ndubuisi (16, New York) leads “The Finding Scoliosis Kindly Project,” raising awareness while supporting affected youth.

Environmental & Economic Sustainability: Genshu Price (16, Hawaii) runs “Bottles4College,” converting recycling into college scholarships. Prisha Shroff (17, Arizona) spearheads “Sustainability Stars,” mobilizing youth around UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Immigrant & Refugee Narratives: Sunya Afrasiabi (17, New York) founded “#MyStory Program,” using oral history and photography to amplify immigrant and refugee experiences, counteracting invisibility through storytelling.

Cybersecurity for Small Business: Ethan Zhang (16, Oregon) co-created “Youth Secure Initiative,” equipping peers with cyberliteracy skills they then deploy to strengthen small business security.

The Selection Criteria: What Makes a Visionary

Winners weren’t randomly selected. Prudential and partner organization Ashoka evaluated submissions against four rigorous standards: innovation (does the solution break from conventional thinking?); scalability and impact (can it extend beyond the originator’s immediate community?); depth of understanding (does the student demonstrate genuine expertise in the problem space?); and passion combined with leadership capacity (will this young person inspire others to mobilize?).

The Broader Context: Evolution of Youth Leadership Recognition

Prudential Emerging Visionaries represents an evolution of the company’s “Spirit of Community Awards,” which over 26 years recognized more than 150,000 youth volunteers. The shift signals a recalibration—from celebrating service to spotlighting entrepreneurship and systems-level problem-solving.

The program operates internationally, with cohorts in Brazil, China, India, and Japan, suggesting that youth innovation and social entrepreneurship transcend geography.

What This Cohort Reveals

These 25 young leaders expose something vital: societal problems don’t need waiting for adults to solve them. Whether tackling algorithmic bias, mental health stigma, climate resilience, or financial inclusion, this generation sees broken systems and responds with prototypes, advocacy, and scalable models.

For organizations like Prudential Financial—working to advance financial wellness across diverse populations—supporting these changemakers isn’t charity; it’s investment in the infrastructure of future financial health and social stability.