Old Enough to Change the World
with BioMedizone
Young Changemakers Case Series
SERIES ARTICLE
By Anvi Palav
Stamps Eminence Scholar, The Ohio State University
Founder, BioMedizone
New Jersey, USA
Commentary by Yan Xu, Ph.D., PMP, PMI-ACP
eSpelman Online Program Director
Spelman College
Georgia, UA
I hesitated, my finger hovering above the “publish” button on the first website I had built for my first organization. I was just 15—an observant young girl who saw the need for biomedical education and research opportunities in third-world countries. Thus, BioMedizone was born, a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by Hack+ striving to provide biomedical education and research opportunities to students worldwide in unconventional ways, particularly through connecting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Quality Education and Reduced Inequalities in the realm of biomedicine. BioMedizone has grown into a global initiative connecting over 100,000 students from 50+ countries to internships and research projects with professors and alumni from top universities. The journey was difficult, but these challenges have built BioMedizone’s foundation on resilience, teamwork, honesty, and action.
From the very beginning, we were faced with limited resources. I mean, how can high school students develop and manage a successful nonprofit? There’s no instruction manual for “how to create a successful nonprofit as a teenager.” As young leaders with no formal training in nonprofit management, we were forced to learn quickly. I pored over Coursera courses on finance management and leadership and thoroughly researched the difference between cognitive and emotional intelligence in leadership. If you’re going to be a youth leader, you need to stand up on your own feet. You need to be self-motivated. You should want to learn, because the key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. One of my most useful learning methods was to research what other organizations did that made them successful, and I adopted their strategies. This included potential partners, marketing strategies, and product development.
Our lack of funding forced us to be resourceful. If anyone was going to sponsor us, we needed to be worthy of it. So, we built our team from the ground up, recruiting nearly 250 passionate researchers and outreach members. I vividly remember setting up countless spreadsheets, detailed timelines, and juggling team meetings between school assignments. It was a steep learning curve, but we found our rhythm through trial and error, but most importantly determination…
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Editor’s note: The Young Changemaker Case Series in PM World Journal provides a platform for young project leaders to share not only what they accomplished, but also how they planned, adapted, collaborated, reflected, and grew throughout their projects. Each case elevates the voices of young changemakers by capturing their perspectives on the questions they explored, the decisions they made, the challenges they encountered, and the leaders they became. To foster intergenerational learning, every case is accompanied by a Professional Perspective contributed by a project management professional, educator, or recent graduate, followed by a question from the series editor that invites readers of all ages to continue the exploration. This series is created, organized and coordinated by Ms. Evelyn R. Chao; read her introductory article [here]. To participate, young changemakers, submit your case here; professionals, sign up to be a commentator here.
How to cite this work: Palav, A. (2026). Too Young to Rent a Car, Old Enough to Change the World with BioMedizone; Young Changemaker Case Series, series article, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue VIII, August. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/pmwj167-Aug2026-Palav-Young-Changemakers-Series-Too-Young.pdf
About the Author
Anvi Palav
Founder, BioMedizone
Basking Ridge, NJ
Anvi Palav is from Basking Ridge, NJ. She is a Stamps Eminence Scholar at The Ohio State University majoring in Honors Neuroscience on the pre-med track with a full-ride scholarship. BioMedizone, a nonprofit she founded, has grown as one of the largest student-led international nonprofits targeting equitable access to biomedical research and education, reaching 250K+ students in 50+ countries.
About the Commentator
Yan Xu, Ph.D., PMP, PMI-ACP
Online Program Director, Spelman College
Atlanta, GA
Yan Xu, Ph.D., PMP®, PMI-ACP®, is an educational leader in digital transformation and learning innovation. She specializes in adult and online education, faculty development, curriculum design, student success, project management training, and youth development. Dr. Xu collaborates with learners of all ages and backgrounds. She is also a historian and a published author.
