The Team
Alena Suleiman
Alena is currently a senior and serves as a curator for TEDxHarkerSchool. Beyond TEDx, she is the editor-in-chief of Harker Aquila, a humanities scholar, and an exhibited artist. In her free time, she enjoys reading magical realism and exploring art museums.
Daniel lin
Daniel is currently a senior and serves as a curator for TEDxHarkerSchool. Aside from TEDx, Daniel's involved in student council, the football team, and the debate team. In his free time, Daniel enjoys watching the 49ers with his family and going on long walks. He's also trying to pick up gardening as his new hobby!
Medha Yarlagadda
Medha is currently a senior and serves as team manager for TEDxHarkerSchool. Aside from TEDx, Medha is interested in journalism, DECA, and STEM. In her free time, Medha enjoys attempting to cook pasta, spending time with friends, and traveling.
Vardaan Ghai
Vardaan Ghai is currently a senior and serves as Director of Speakers for TEDxHarkerSchool. Aside from TEDx, Vardaan is interested in economics and heavily involved with Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, a nonprofit ensuring every child in the Santa Clara County foster care system has a stable adult in their life. For fun, Vardaan enjoys playing basketball, driving around with friends, and learning new songs on the guitar.
Sara Glusman
Sara is currently a junior and serves as the Marketing Director for TEDxHarkerSchool. Outside of TEDx, she is a social media leader and general member of the Life Board, she founded the Jewish Affinity group, and she's on the Harker Girl's Soccer Team. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with her friends, being the Vice President of Membership for her BBYO chapter, and playing guitar!
Naiya Daswani
Naiya Daswani is a current junior at The Harker School and serves as the Director of Booths for TEDxHarkerSchool. In addition to TEDx, Naiya is on the Harker Honor Council. In her free time, Naiya enjoys writing blog articles, leading community activism, playing the piano and tabla, and volunteering with children at her temple.
Anwen Hao
Anwen is currently a junior and serves as a Booth Engagement associate for TEDxHarkerSchool. Outside of TEDx, he is interested in journalism and enjoys ballet and fencing in his free time.
Vedant Balachandran
Vedant is currently a junior and serves as a Marketing Associate for TEDxHarkerSchool. Aside from TEDx, he does Tech Theater, DECA, and co-leads Investment Club. Outside of school, he likes to cook, do martial arts, and hang out with his dog.
Mindy Truong
Mindy is currently a sophomore and serves as a Marketing Associate for TEDxHarkerSchool. Beyond TEDx, Mindy enjoys playing the piano, and she serves as the outreach coordinator for Tri-M Music Honor Society. In her free time, Mindy enjoys listening to music, going on road trips, and watching TV shows with her friends.
Minal Jalil
Minal is currently a sophomore and serves as a Speaker Engagment Associate for TEDxHarkerSchool. Beyond TEDx, Minal is a reporter for Harker Aquila, MSA co-founder, and a Girls' Volleyball and Basketball player. In her free time, Minal enjoys spending weekends making memories with her cousins, playing card games with her grandmother, and napping with her cat.
MICHAEL ACHEATEL
Mr. Acheatel is a business and entrepreneurship teacher at The Harker School where he teaches business courses and advises extracurricular programs including TEDx Harker School, Harker DECA, Harker Incubator, CareerConnect, Harker Podcast Network, and BEcon. Prior to joining Harker, he worked as the President of The Startup Garage where he helped over 150 startups launch and/or raise capital in a wide range of industries with a focus on web/mobile tech and consumer products. He earned an international MBA from Tel Aviv University, Israel’s top business school, and a B.A. in Global Economics & Latin American Students from UC Santa Cruz.