Meet TIME’s first ‘Kid of the Year’ and America’s Top Young Scientist. Discover how this Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, TED speaker, UNICEF Ambassador and STEM influencer is changing the world.
North America
Core Intelligence Domain: Innovation & Technology
Location: United States | Languages: English
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence
Gitanjali Rao is a globally recognised inventor, scientist, and transformative advocate for STEM education, renowned for her unparalleled ability to leverage technology to solve critical global crises. As TIME Magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, she represents the pinnacle of Gen Z leadership. By designing proprietary technological frameworks and pragmatic solutions, Rao bridges the gap between scientific innovation and social impact, offering corporate leaders, educators, and global institutions profound insights into the future of youth-driven change and artificial intelligence.
Rao’s journey as an innovator began with her deep commitment to tackling systemic global issues through scientific intervention. She invented Tethys, a cutting-edge device utilising carbon nanotube sensors to detect lead compounds in drinking water faster and more affordably than traditional methods. Her relentless drive to address modern societal challenges also led to the creation of Epione, a pioneering early-stage diagnostic tool for prescription opioid addiction.
Recognising the digital challenges faced by her generation, she developed Kindly, an artificial intelligence-based anti-cyberbullying application and Chrome extension. Kindly utilises advanced natural language processing to identify toxic language in real-time, allowing users to pause and reconsider their messages before sending, thereby fostering a safer, more empathetic digital ecosystem.
Beyond her personal inventions, Gitanjali Rao is deeply committed to democratising innovation on a global scale. She has conducted innovation workshops for over 80,000 students across the globe, partnering with rural schools, STEM organisations, and international bodies to cultivate a global culture of problem-solving. As a UNICEF Youth Advocate, she champions the integration of STEM programmes into mainstream education to empower young minds.
Furthermore, her bestselling book, A Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM, serves as a foundational framework for students, educators, and corporate mentors, outlining her proprietary five-step innovation process: observe, brainstorm, research, build, and communicate.
"Jonathan, our lunchtime lecture has just ended. Gitanjali was engaging, visionary and inspiring. We had classrooms of students in attendance though screens were off so we cannot give you numbers. The audience was captivated by her story, inventions and insights. Thank you to you and Linda for facilitating this event, supporting us and Gitanjali in making today happen. We are very grateful to you. Please also do pass on our sincere thanks to Gitanjali for giving us so much to think about and for inspiring us to reflect on what we can all do to make our world a better and more just place. "
"Gitanjali's thoughtful insights and step-by-step guidance provide practical lessons for creative thinkers and problem solvers to build crucial real-world skills for personal growth and impactful innovation. A role model herself, Gitanjali's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to empowering young minds inspires readers of all ages. Students, educators, and parents will learn how to think differently and work more effectively to solve the problems of tomorrow."
"Gitanjali Rao is an inspiring innovator and motivational speaker about her experiences as America's Top Young Scientist. In her book, she provides an infrastructure to help students, teachers, and parents solve real-world problems in a way that can lead to real change. As a former educator, district leader, and STEM thought leader, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming an innovator to make the world a better place."
"Gitanjali has done a remarkable job breaking down the process of innovation—all the way from developing the curiosity and mindset of an innovator, to competing in global competitions. It is a very fun, fast read, with plenty of rich strategies and tips that are clearly drawing on her experiences as a young innovator, to competing in global competitions. It is a very fun, fast read, with plenty of rich strategies and tips that are clearly drawing on her experience as a young innovator. She doesn't shy away from sharing her hesitations at each step—brainstorming can feel unproductive, research can feel intimidating, teamwork can be slow—but for every roadblock, she provides. Well done, Gitanjali! I hope each and every kid in the world reads this book and realizes that nothing stops them from innovating and making the world better. What an awesome message!"
"In short, yesterday’s session was great. She (Gitanjali) is natural, authentic, genuine, intelligent and poised. It was a pleasure having her speak to the leaders yesterday, and I expect today’s session to go equally well." Leah Filipkowski | Dell Technologies US
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