Get to know and celebrate our new members of Challenge Leads for the 2025-2026 Social Innovation Challenge!
In preparation for the upcoming year’s Social Innovation Challenge (SIC), six incredible individuals took on new roles as Challenge Leads! We look forward to their leadership this fall as they guide the organizing team in putting on a phenomenal program for our 14th Cohort of Social Innovators. We would love to give a warm welcome to Shreya, Turner, Chelsi, Kamila, Sahej, and Estrella!
Shreya Sokhal
Co-President
Class of 2027
Majoring in Public Health - Pre-Med
Hi, I am Shreya. I joined optiMize because I loved the people I met during my time when I was in the Support Team, and the overall energy made me want to get more involved and take on a bigger role in the community.
I’m excited to work alongside my fellow Challenge Leads and build leadership and public speaking skills while facilitating workshops. I’m also really looking forward to seeing all the hard work we’ve done over the summer come to life and watching the changes we’ve planned actually take shape.
I also hope to learn how to confidently facilitate large groups and better support and mentor participants, and build on the skills we started developing during my time with the Support Team, and grow even more in this role.
“optiMize already has such a supportive culture, and I want to help maintain that. I hope to continue fostering an inclusive, uplifting, and nonjudgmental environment where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas and bringing them to life.”
If you could live in a fictional world, where would you be?
I would live in Bikini Bottom with SpongeBob and Patrick if I could live in any fictional universe.
Turner Labadie
Co-President
Class of 2028
Majoring in Business Administration
Hi, my name is Turner. I joined Optimize because I liked the people. I am excited to work with other challenge leads and meet participants at the workshops. I hope to learn more about interpersonal connections and community building.
I believe in “Work hard, play hard.”
If you could live in a fictional world, where would it be?
I would want to live in a universe where people got along a little better.
Chelsi Pizarro
Mentorship Challenge Lead
Class of 2028
Majoring in Business
Hello, I am Chelsi. I joined optiMize because I wanted to hone my leadership skills and work with other remarkable individuals to support and guide other peer students. It was an opportunity for me to build meaningful connections with people of diverse backgrounds.
This year, I’m extremely excited to spend more time with the Challenge Leads and create a bond, gaining new skills while leading workshops. I also hope to learn how to become more proactive and hold onto that discipline to complete tasks.
“The culture I hope to foster in my work environment is one of open communication, mental health awareness, and encouraging collaboration.”
If you could live in a fictional world, where would it be?
If I could live in any fictional universe, I would choose to live in the Spy Kids realm because each day is unpredictable.
Kamila Martinez Albuja
Support Team Challenge Lead
Class of 2027
Majoring in Business
Hi, I am Kamila. I joined optiMize because it's such a unique organization compared to everything else I’m involved with. As someone interested in entrepreneurship and leadership, getting involved with the Support Team in the past and now as a Challenge Lead has been amazing! I’m excited to be the first Support Team Challenge Lead this year and to help Support Team members grow their skills and feel empowered to become future leaders in the organization. I’m also looking forward to being more involved in the workshops and meeting participants. This year, I aim to learn how to manage larger groups of people and continue developing my problem-solving and organizational skills.
The culture I hope to foster is the one that is:
“encouraging, creative, communicative, and full of excitement.”
If you could live in a fictional world, where would it be?
If I could live in a fictional universe, I would choose the Marvel universe because I love the movies, and meeting the superheroes would be so cool!
Sahej Rayat
Challenge Lead
Class of 2027
Majoring in Public Health
Hello, my name is Sahej. I wanted to join optiMize because I knew of people working for and participating in the organization who had such amazing experiences. I also personally always felt so incredibly welcomed by all the staff at optiMize and wanted to be a part of the mission as well!
I’m super excited to see all of the new SIC projects and meet so many new teams! It’s truly so inspiring how creative peer students’ ideas are, and I’m so excited to be able to work with them directly. I’m hoping to learn more about entrepreneurship and the process behind start-ups, especially as a student. I’m also super excited to continue developing my public speaking and communication skills as a challenge lead.
I definitely hope to uphold the welcoming and inclusive environment that optiMize strongly embodies. “I hope to help every person understand they can have a place within optiMize and make an impact with their ideas!”
If you could live in a fictional world, where would it be?
I love Pink! So, I would love to live in the Barbie universe! Where everything is super peaceful and there are endless possibilities with fashion and careers. And all the houses and cars are pink, of course :)
Estrella Victoriano Bautista
Org culture challenge lead
Class of 2028
Major: Biology
Hi, I am Estrella. I joined optiMize through the support team in hopes of helping others in their projects while also learning more about the SIC and maybe, in the future, developing my own project.
This year, I am super excited to be a part of the SIC as the org culture challenge lead. I am looking forward to every workshop we have planned, and I'm excited to see all our work come together.
“I hope to set a foundation for the org culture that can foster a stronger community for all staff and participants.”
The type of culture I envision to foster in my work environment is an environment where everyone feels supported, included, and overall, a fun environment for all.