TEDxCumming Youth

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aadhya Guntupalli

  Student

  Aadhya Guntupalli is a 9th-grade student from West Forsyth High School with a passion for making a difference in our community. She’s all about teamwork and helping others. At her school, she’s dedicated her time to being a part of DECA, the debate team, and several other associations. She is particularly interested in computer science and business and hopes to one day attend Georgia Tech and change the world with her ideas. Outside of school, you can find her volunteering at the library or crocheting at home. For the past eight years, Aadhya has been learning Kuchipudi, a South Indian classical dance form. Through performances, her academy has raised funds for various causes and non-profit organizations, such as Sankara Netralaya, which provides medical services to underprivileged people in India.

• Akbar Ali

  Activist, Politician, Business Owner

  Akbar Ali is a 21 year old proud son of Gwinnett County, a small business owner, KSU graduate, First Vice Chair of the Gwinnett Democratic Party, and now a candidate for the GA State House District 106 Special Election. From leading local campaigns and student marches to serving on the Citizens Transit Advisory Board, Akbar stays rooted in our communities and neighborhoods through active involvement in PTAs, the Gwinnett NAACP, and grassroots organizations. He's running on a platform that puts neighborhoods first and can meet the crucial moment our democracy is in. If elected, Akbar would be the youngest elected official in the GA General Assembly. He has been endorsed by the outgoing incumbent Rep. Shelly Hutchinson and 15 other elected officials. Akbar's running for State House not for himself, but for the communities around him, the neighbors whose voices go unheard, and those who’ve been silenced.

• Anya Arora

  Student

  Anya Arora is a senior at Okemos High School who isn’t afraid to chase big ideas and turn them into action. That mindset has shaped everything she does, from leading her peers to creating projects that bring people together. At her core, Anya cares about impact: sparking curiosity, opening doors for others, and showing that even small efforts can ripple outward. She believes growth happens when you take risks, stay curious, and invite others to join you along the way.

• Devanshi Bhargava

  Student

  Devanshi Bhargava is a third-year Aerospace Engineering student at Georgia Tech with a passion for public speaking, creative writing, and storytelling. Devanshi believes in the power of connection, resilience, and self-awareness, and that true success comes not from pushing yourself to the brink, but from leaning on the people who support you. A published author, she channels her love for writing into sharing stories that spark dialogue, encourage reflection, and empower young people to see the strength in their own voices. Her favorite quote is by Winston Churchill: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal – it is the courage to continue that counts.”

• Jaytirth Joshi

  Student

  Jaytirth Joshi is a young entrepreneur and passionate about making healthcare more understandable through technology. Allowing a journey of complex medical records into simple conversational information, giving people more control over their health and the choices they make on their health, no matter what language they speak. It’s through his enterprise named HeathSathi. In addition to leading his company, Jaytirth is an AI SME while being a senior at Walton High School. His global background, having lived in India, China, and the US, provides a unique perspective for his goal: building technology that solves real-world problems.

• Jothsna Kethar

  Student Coach

  Jothsna Kethar, affectionately known as “Coach Jo” by her students, is an Educational Consultant, College Counselor, on a mission to demystify the college process. As the founder of Gifted Gabber, she’s led transformative work with thousands of teens, especially those from immigrant families and with learning differences—equipping them to navigate complex admissions, build standout profiles, and secure life-changing scholarships. When she’s not demystifying college applications, building unique "spikes," or securing real-world internships, Coach Jo is leading InspireYouth, a nonprofit fostering leadership and humanitarianism in teens. She is living proof that personalized guidance, unwavering support, and a belief in every student’s unique potential can unlock any door. Coach Jo’s favorite saying on LIFE: Every child has a unique spark; and my mission is to ignite it.

• Sheona Diwakar

  Student

  Sheona Diwakar is a first-year Industrial Engineering student at Georgia Tech and the founder of Soaring Doves, a nonprofit dedicated to ending period poverty and sparking conversations around menstrual health. Since launching the initiative in high school, she has helped distribute over 70,000 products across the U.S. and internationally. For Sheona, the fight against period poverty is about more than access to products. it’s about breaking the silence around topics people often avoid. She believes that progress begins when we lean into uncomfortable conversations, using them to dismantle stigma and create lasting solutions.A passionate speaker and advocate, she channels her energy into encouraging young people to embrace authenticity, confront taboos, and see the power of their own voices.

• Shruti Sunil

  Student

  Shruti Sunil is a dynamic junior at Alpharetta High School with passion for leadership and building meaningful, lasting connections. Whether she is diving in to challenging projects, contributing to her community, or taking the stage, Shruti embraces every opportunity to connect, collaborate, and create an impact. She’s a firm believer in the idea that -Opportunities don’t happen—you create them, often through the people you meet. Shruti, an artist since age five, uses dance and music to uplift others. Through nonprofits Third Eye Dancers, Inc. and Voice of Soul, she has been part of fundraisers that unite creativity with purpose. As a proud TEDx Cumming Youth speaker, Shruti is thrilled to share her voice and vision on a platform that empowers ideas to inspire others to turn their passion into purpose.