We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Viraja Shivhare, Janani Janakiraman, Aanya Ramamswamy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Viraja Shivhare, Janani Janakiraman, Aanya Ramamswamy, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome showed up a lot when we were starting out, especially around grants. We’d spend weeks putting together applications, only to get the sense that grantors didn’t fully trust us because we were high schoolers. Even when our ideas were strong, we could tell people hesitated, like they weren’t sure young founders could actually follow through. It was frustrating because it made us question ourselves too.
What helped us overcome that wasn’t some big mindset shift; it was proof. Every time we delivered meals, ran workshops, expanded to a new chapter, or built a partnership, we created tangible evidence that age wasn’t a barrier to impact. We used that to strengthen our applications, show measurable outcomes, and make it impossible for grantors to ignore results just because we were teenagers. Eventually, those wins stacked up, and the same identity that made people hesitant at first became part of what set us apart.
A lot of overcoming imposter syndrome for us was just pushing through the moments when it felt like we didn’t fit the mold of who “should” be running a nonprofit. We didn’t wait to feel legitimate; we built legitimacy through the work itself. If we had advice for anyone early in their journey, it would be this: don’t let skepticism make you shrink. Keep doing the work, collect your results, and let them speak louder than the doubts.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As co-founders of Fuel the World, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we lead one of the world’s largest youth-driven organizations focused on combating malnutrition in underserved communities. Alongside our executive board members, Arushi Shah and Adharsh Rajeshkumar, we have built Fuel the World around a shared mission: to reimagine the fight against hunger by not only feeding communities, but equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary for lasting nutritional security. Through our flagship initiatives, NourishNet and our Nutrition Literacy Workshops, we deliver fortified, culturally responsive meal packages tailored to specific community health needs, such as iron-rich meals for anemic youth or low-sugar options for families managing diabetes, while prioritizing dignity, culture, and long-term wellness. We also run free, youth-led in-person and virtual workshops at schools, libraries, and community centers that teach participants how to navigate nutrition labels, make affordable and healthy food choices, and prevent chronic illness through diet. Over the past three years, we have collectively raised nearly $24,000, secured grants from The Hershey Company, Youth Service America, Karma 4 Cara, and Destination: Home, expanded to 31 chapters globally, partnered with organizations such as the Akshaya Patra Foundation, LifeMoves, SF Marin Food Bank, BigHelp for Education, CityTeam, Jamba Juice, Panera Bread, Chipotle, Shake Shack, Hot Table, and the County of Santa Clara, mobilized over 300 youth volunteers, and reached more than 90,000 people through outreach and social media. As three co-founders united by a commitment to nutritional equity, we remain dedicated to expanding Fuel the World’s impact and building sustainable, community-centered solutions to global malnutrition.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back on our journey with Fuel the World, one of the most impactful qualities we developed was empathetic curiosity, not just toward others, but toward our own stories. All three of us grew up seeing malnutrition up close in our own families and communities, yet it wasn’t until we started Fuel the World that we began digging into the root causes of why it persists. We learned that malnutrition isn’t just about lack of food; it’s shaped by generational and biological history. For example, many Indian communities face higher rates of malnutrition, diabetes, and obesity because our bodies evolved to retain calories during historical droughts, and because our cultural diets, while rich and meaningful, can be high in sugars and refined carbs that heighten chronic disease risk. Understanding this complexity forced us to broaden our perspective: malnutrition is a deeply personal issue, but it’s also a systemic one shaped by history, culture, and inequality. For anyone early in their journey, our advice is to start by examining your own experiences and then expand your lens. The more you learn, the more compassionate and effective your solutions become.
The second quality that defined our growth was adaptability, especially when we realized our initial vision didn’t match the true scale or nuance of the problem. Early on, we had programs that worked, but they weren’t transformative. That realization pushed us into a complete rebrand: rethinking our identity, refining our mission, and sharpening our understanding of what meaningful impact actually looked like. We redesigned our flagship initiatives from the ground up, making NourishNet more culturally responsive and scientifically grounded, and transforming our Nutrition Literacy Workshops into hands-on, empowering experiences rather than static lessons. Reinventing ourselves was hard, but it made us better. If you’re just starting out, don’t cling to your first version of your idea. Let your mission evolve as you learn. Reinvention isn’t something to be feared but something to be embraced.
The final skill we leaned into was fearless learning. None of us began as experts in nutrition science, nonprofit management, or community partnerships. We learned everything piece by piece: through research, mentors, trial and error, and an openness to being beginners. That willingness to constantly learn allowed us to grow far faster than we expected. Our best advice: don’t wait to feel qualified or “ready.” Curiosity and humility will take you farther than expertise ever could at the beginning. Ask questions. Seek guidance. Embrace not knowing everything.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely! We’re always excited to collaborate with people who share our passion for nutritional equity and community-driven impact. Fuel the World grew because people believed in young changemakers and were willing to build with us, and we’re eager to keep that spirit going. We love partnering with nutritionists, schools, community organizations, food companies, youth leaders, and local agencies who want to rethink how we fight malnutrition, whether that means co-creating fortified meal packages, hosting workshops, launching new chapters, or bringing fresh ideas to our programming. We’re especially drawn to collaborators who value culture, dignity, and long-term change, and who are energized by the idea of working alongside youth who genuinely care about the families we serve. If you’re reading this and thinking, “I’d love to be a part of that,” we’d love to hear from you. Reach out through our website, email, or social media, our team is always excited to meet new partners, explore creative projects, and find ways to make a bigger impact together. Let’s build something meaningful and nourishing for communities everywhere!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fueltheworldinc.org/
- Instagram: @fueltheworldinc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fuel-the-world/
- Other: Email: [email protected]
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