Trisha Prabhu : In a world where technology often makes headlines for its negative impact on society, there shines a beacon of hope, a remarkable young woman named Trisha Prabhu.
At the age of 22, Trisha Prabhu is not just an innovator; she is a social entrepreneur, a global advocate, and the inventor of ReThink™, a groundbreaking patented technology designed to detect and prevent online hate. Her journey is not just inspiring; it’s a testament to the power of determination and compassion.
Trisha Prabhu’s Genesis of Change
In the fall of 2013, Trisha Prabhu, at the tender age of 13, stumbled upon a heart-wrenching news story. It was the tragic tale of a 12-year-old girl who took her own life after enduring relentless cyberbullying for a year and a half.
The news hit Trisha Prabhu hard, not only because it was a horrific tragedy but also because she had experienced harassment herself. Trisha couldn’t stand idly by; she decided to be an “Upstander” rather than a bystander.
In response to this appalling incident, Trisha embarked on a mission to combat online hate. She channelled her outrage and empathy into the creation of ReThink™, a revolutionary technology that detects and halts online hate before it takes root and inflicts harm.
Her groundbreaking research revealed that with ReThink, adolescents changed their minds a staggering 93% of the time, choosing not to post offensive messages.
A Trailblazer in the Business World
Trisha’s ingenuity did not go unnoticed. In 2016, she received an invitation from none other than President Barack Obama and the U.S. State Department to showcase her work at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
Shortly after, ReThink gained national attention when featured on ABC’s hit TV show, Shark Tank. Her trailblazing journey continued as ReThink secured the Grand Prize at Harvard University’s President’s Innovation Challenge in 2019.
But Trisha’s accolades don’t stop there. In 2020, she became one of the inaugural winners of the prestigious Elevate Prize and an Adrian Cheng Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Social Innovation and Change Initiative. In 2021, she made history as the youngest honoree on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Social Impact list.
Honours and Awards Galore of Trisha Prabhu
Trisha’s unwavering dedication and innovative approach have earned her a slew of well-deserved awards and recognition. As a testament to her scientific prowess, Trisha Prabhu was named a Google Science Fair Global Finalist in 2014. The following year, she received the MIT INSPIRE Aristotle Award, followed by the 2016 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Illinois High School Innovator Award.
Trisha’s commitment to combating cyberbullying also led to prestigious accolades, including being selected as a 2015 Global Teen Leader by the We Are Family Foundation and receiving the 2016 WebMD Health Hero of the Year Prodigy Award.
The International Princess Diana Awards honoured her with the Anti-Bullying Champion Award, while Auburn University bestowed upon her the Global Anti-Bullying Hero Award.
The Tyler Clementi Foundation recognized her contributions with the Upstander Legacy Celebration Award, and she earned the Daily Points of Light Honor from the George H. W. Bush Foundation for extraordinary volunteering and service.
Inspiring Change, One Speech at a Time
Trisha’s impact extends far beyond her technological innovations. She has taken her message against online hate to over 100 keynotes around the world, delivering speeches in three languages. Her platforms include prestigious events like TED, TEDx, The Aspen Ideas Festival, La Ciudad de Las Ideas, SAP, Girls Who Code, and various universities, schools, and conferences.
Outside of her work with ReThink, Trisha Prabhu remains actively involved in initiatives close to her heart. In 2017, she made history by becoming Illinois’s Youth Governor, the first female in 28 years to hold the position.
Her commitment to empowering women in the entrepreneurial community shines through her involvement with Girls Who Code and her leadership in SoGal Boston, a chapter of the SoGal movement dedicated to closing the diversity gap in entrepreneurship.
The Rhodes Scholar and Her Dual Life
In 2022, Trisha Prabhu reached yet another milestone by being selected as a Rhodes Scholar. Currently pursuing her research into the social sciences of the internet at Oxford University, UK, Trisha continues to lead the charge against cyberbullying.
As she navigates her impressive journey, Trisha Prabhu humorously likens herself to Hannah Montana, living a double life between her entrepreneurial endeavours and her academic pursuits. Her time management skills and unwavering commitment to her mission have propelled her to remarkable heights, proving that age is no barrier to creating meaningful change.
Overcoming Challenges and Shattering Stereotypes
Trisha’s journey to combat cyberbullying was not without its challenges. As a young woman of colour in the tech industry, she faced scepticism and doubters who underestimated her abilities.
Many dismissed her as a novelty, but she persisted with unwavering determination. Trisha’s resilience and dedication allowed her to break down barriers and prove that she was not only passionate but also serious about her mission.
ReThink: More Than a Technology
ReThink isn’t just a technology; it’s a force for positive change. Through this innovative keyboard, Trisha and her team have achieved a remarkable feat. Adolescents using the ReThink keyboard now reconsider their actions over 93% of the time when prompted by an alert.
Beyond preventing cyberbullying, ReThink encourages users to reflect on the impact of their words and the humanity of those on the receiving end of their messages.
A Secure Solution for a Digital Age
One crucial aspect of Trisha’s journey is her commitment to ethical technology. ReThink does not collect personal information or messages. It operates solely to detect and prevent offensive content, ensuring the user’s privacy is protected.
Balancing Acts and Passion-Driven Success
Trisha’s ability to balance her academic pursuits at Harvard with her entrepreneurial endeavours is a testament to her dedication. She thrives on early mornings when the world is still asleep, using that time to make a difference. When you love your work as she does, it becomes more than a job—it becomes a calling.
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