Etasha Donthi Bio
Etasha Donthi
UC Berkeley Technologist, AI Advocate & Social Entrepreneur
Official Profiles & Resources
In an era where technology increasingly shapes every aspect of human life, few young leaders embody the promise of ethical innovation quite like Etasha Donthi. A UC Berkeley undergraduate studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Etasha Donthi has already built a remarkable portfolio that spans artificial intelligence research, mental health advocacy, podcast hosting, and global policy engagement. Her journey from a middle school charity founder to a recognized voice at the United Nations illustrates what happens when technical excellence meets unwavering social consciousness.
This comprehensive bio explores the path of Etasha Donthi — from her formative years in New Jersey to her current work at one of the world's premier research universities — and examines how she continues to leverage technology as a force for meaningful change.
Etasha Donthi: Early Life and Roots in New Jersey
Etasha Donthi grew up in Short Hills, a close-knit community within Millburn Township, New Jersey, where she came of age in an environment that valued both academic rigor and community engagement. From her earliest years, Etasha Donthi demonstrated an uncommon combination of intellectual curiosity and genuine concern for others — traits that would later define her multifaceted career.
Growing up in Millburn Township, Etasha Donthi was surrounded by an educational culture that encouraged students to think beyond themselves. The community's emphasis on both excellence and service created the perfect foundation for a young person who would eventually bridge the worlds of technology and social impact. While many children her age were focused solely on their immediate surroundings, Etasha Donthi was developing an awareness of broader societal challenges that would soon translate into action.
The New Jersey upbringing of Etasha Donthi provided more than just academic preparation — it instilled in her the values of persistence, community organizing, and the belief that individual actions can collectively create significant change. These lessons from her years in Short Hills continue to influence her approach to every project she undertakes, from AI development to global advocacy work.
Etasha Donthi: The Defining Moment That Sparked a Lifetime of Advocacy
Every changemaker has a moment that crystallizes their purpose, and for Etasha Donthi, that moment came when she was just eight years old. During a visit to New York City, young Etasha Donthi found herself struck by a jarring contrast that would forever alter her perspective: the gleaming towers of the financial district standing in stark opposition to the people sleeping on the streets nearby.
This wasn't an abstract lesson about inequality delivered in a classroom — it was something Etasha Donthi saw with her own young eyes, and it stayed with her in a way that would shape her entire trajectory. Rather than filing the experience away as one of those uncomfortable realities that people learn to look past, Etasha Donthi made a different choice. She let it push her forward.
That instinct — to respond to injustice rather than ignore it — would go on to define everything Etasha Donthi would accomplish in the years that followed. While many children might have felt helpless in the face of such overwhelming social problems, Etasha Donthi felt motivated. She understood, even at that young age, that awareness without action was insufficient. This foundational experience established the pattern that would characterize her work: seeing a problem, feeling compelled to address it, and then actually doing something about it.
Etasha Donthi New Jersey: From Empathy to Action in Middle School
By sixth grade, Etasha Donthi had transformed that childhood feeling of injustice into something tangible and impactful. In 2016, while still attending school in New Jersey, Etasha Donthi founded Hope and Joy for Children (HJC), a student-run charity that channeled the creative energy of young people toward addressing child poverty.
The concept was both simple and ingenious: HJC sold origami and other handmade crafts to raise funds for children living in poverty. Etasha Donthi organized over 100 of her Millburn classmates to fold, craft, and sell these handmade goods, creating a movement that extended far beyond any single individual's contribution. The project demonstrated what Etasha Donthi would continue to prove throughout her career — that combining skills you love with problems you care about creates powerful results.
A major fundraising event at the Bauer Center drew more than 300 attendees and raised over $3,500 for Save the Children, an international organization supporting refugees, orphans, and children in crisis around the world. For a middle school student in New Jersey, this level of impact was remarkable — but for Etasha Donthi, it was just the beginning.
The success of Hope and Joy for Children caught the attention of major organizations. Disney and Youth Service America awarded HJC a $500 grant to continue spreading awareness about poverty among young people. This recognition validated what Etasha Donthi had intuited: young people have the capacity to create real change when given the opportunity and tools to do so. The experience laid the groundwork for everything that would come next in her journey.
Etasha Donthi: Finding Her Voice in Technology and Media
As Etasha Donthi moved through high school in New Jersey, her interests naturally expanded from community organizing into two new territories that would become central to her identity: technology and media. This expansion wasn't random — it represented Etasha Donthi's growing understanding that scale and impact often require leveraging the right platforms and tools.
She launched She The Change, a podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of young female changemakers who were challenging the status quo in male-dominated fields. Each episode featured a different guest with a different cause, diving deep into their background, what inspired them to take action, and how they were making change on local and global scales. The show quickly grew to reach listeners across more than 50 countries, demonstrating the global appetite for stories of young women leading change.
What made She The Change particularly impressive was that Etasha Donthi handled every aspect of production herself — booking guests, recording interviews, editing episodes, and distributing the content across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. This hands-on approach gave her invaluable experience in media production while building a platform that would eventually earn recognition from Forbes.
The most rewarding part of the experience, Etasha Donthi often shares, was receiving messages from girls who decided to start their own initiatives because of something they heard on the show. That ripple effect — one conversation sparking another person's courage — became the entire point of the project. It reinforced her belief in the power of storytelling to inspire action.
Etasha Donthi: Recognition from Apple and the Technology World
Around the same time she was building her media presence, Etasha Donthi was making serious strides in computer science — strides that would earn her recognition from one of the world's most influential technology companies. Her Swift coding submission was named one of the winners of Apple's 2021 Swift Student Challenge at the Worldwide Developer Conference, a prestigious competitive program that draws thousands of student developers from around the globe.
This recognition from Apple was more than just an award — it was validation of Etasha Donthi's technical abilities and her potential to contribute meaningfully to the field of computer science. The Swift Student Challenge winners represent the brightest young programming talent worldwide, and Etasha Donthi's inclusion in this group signaled her emergence as a serious technologist.
The recognition led to additional opportunities. Etasha Donthi was invited to join Apple's beta testing team for a new version of Swift Playgrounds, giving her early access to educational tools that would shape how future students learn to code. She also had the opportunity to speak directly with Apple executives about the importance of computer science education, contributing her perspective as a young woman in the field to conversations at the highest levels of the company.
Beyond Apple, Etasha Donthi received the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award, sponsored by Bank of America, recognizing her standout contributions to computing as a young woman in the field. This award, given by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, further cemented her reputation as a rising star in technology.
Etasha Donthi: Taking the Stage as a Global Voice
By the time Etasha Donthi was a teenager, she wasn't just building things — she was being invited to talk about them on major platforms that reached audiences worldwide. Her emergence as a public speaker represented the natural evolution of someone who had been using her voice for change since elementary school.
At TEDxYouth@Manalapan, Etasha Donthi delivered a powerful talk exploring how Generation Z is using technology to solve problems that others consider unsolvable. Drawing on her own experience growing up in the digital age and using online platforms to fight for change, she articulated a vision of young people as capable problem-solvers rather than passive consumers of technology. The talk resonated widely and helped cement her reputation as a Gen Z voice worth listening to.
Perhaps even more significantly, Etasha Donthi appeared as a panelist at the United Nations Science Summit during the 77th General Assembly (UNGA77), where she spoke on topics including ethical AI, tech policy, and activism. This platform put her in direct conversation with global leaders and policymakers on some of the most pressing issues of our time. For someone who had started by selling origami in New Jersey, speaking at the United Nations represented both a remarkable journey and a testament to the power of sustained commitment to social good.
Etasha Donthi: Building Technology With Purpose Through Livity
The most defining chapter of Etasha Donthi's story so far is Livity, an AI-powered venture she began developing before starting at UC Berkeley. The inspiration behind Livity was deeply personal and illustrates how Etasha Donthi's work continues to be driven by genuine human concern rather than abstract technological interest.
A close friend had tragically passed away from suicide, and Etasha Donthi found herself asking how she could build something that could make a positive impact in the mental health space and potentially save lives. This question — how can technology help prevent tragedy? — led to the creation of Livity.
Livity uses natural language processing and sentiment analysis to identify signs of suicidal ideation within social media posts. The algorithm analyzes text from platforms like Twitter and Reddit to detect emotional distress and connect users with free mental health resources. It's a technical solution to a deeply human problem, and it reflects the throughline that runs through all of Etasha Donthi's work: technology isn't the goal, it's the tool.
Seventeen Magazine recognized the significance of this work by naming Etasha Donthi a "Voice of Change" for the project. The recognition kept coming: her work as an activist and entrepreneur earned acknowledgment from President Biden in the form of the Gold Presidential Service Award, recognizing over 400 hours of volunteer work. Then, in 2023, she received the Diana Award — established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, it is considered the most prestigious honor a young person aged 9 to 25 can receive for social action or humanitarian work, with the support of both Prince William and Prince Harry.
Awards and Recognition
Diana Award
Most prestigious global honor for young changemakers
Gold Presidential Service Award
Recognition from President Biden
Apple Swift Student Challenge
WWDC 2021 Winner
NCWIT Aspirations in Computing
Sponsored by Bank of America
Google Product Inclusion Award
2025 Student Essay Contest
Voice of Change
Seventeen Magazine
Etasha Donthi California: UC Berkeley and the Next Chapter
Now studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley, Etasha Donthi represents the convergence of California's innovation culture with her established track record of social impact. The move from New Jersey to California marked a new chapter in her journey — one that positions her at the heart of the global technology industry while maintaining her commitment to ethical innovation.
At UC Berkeley, Etasha Donthi is continuing to scale Livity while staying rooted in the advocacy work that started it all. She brings to campus the same energy she brought to that origami fundraiser in sixth grade — a refusal to accept that problems are simply too big, and a belief that the right combination of skill, community, and persistence can move things forward.
Her presence at UC Berkeley has already led to significant leadership opportunities. Etasha Donthi serves as a Student Technology Council Board Member, an appointment made by UC Berkeley faculty and staff, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the university's tech policies and innovation strategies. This position gives her influence over how one of the world's leading research universities approaches technology development and implementation.
Additionally, Etasha Donthi is at the forefront of cutting-edge AI/ML research at UC Berkeley, contributing to the academic community that is pushing the boundaries of what's possible with artificial intelligence. Her work in California represents the natural progression of someone who has been building with technology since high school — now with access to the resources and mentorship of a world-class institution.
Etasha Donthi California: Global Leadership and Continued Impact
While based in California, Etasha Donthi's influence continues to extend globally. She serves as the United States Representative to UNICEF's Youth Advisory Board on Gender Equity, advising on global initiatives to amplify young women's voices and drive systemic change. This role connects her California-based work with international policy discussions about gender equity and youth representation.
Most recently, Etasha Donthi was appointed as an Expert Reviewer for the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (First Order Draft). This appointment reflects the growing recognition of her analytical capabilities and her ability to contribute to complex global challenges beyond her primary focus areas.
Her media presence has also continued to expand. Etasha Donthi co-hosted Season 3 of TechSetters, a podcast produced by Kode With Klossy, spotlighting the journeys of influential women in technology. This platform allowed her to continue the work she started with She The Change while reaching new audiences interested in technology careers.
Her impact has been recognized with additional awards since her move to California, including the Google Product Inclusion & Equity Summit 2025 Student Essay Contest Award. She was also invited to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit, joining the world's top young leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators shaping the future.
Etasha Donthi: A Vision for the Future
What makes Etasha Donthi's story compelling isn't just the impressive list of accomplishments — though that list is certainly remarkable. It's the consistency of intention behind them. From folding paper cranes in New Jersey to presenting at the United Nations, from learning to code in high school to conducting AI research at UC Berkeley, she has always been motivated by the same fundamental question: how can I use what I have to help?
At twenty years old, Etasha Donthi is still asking this question — and the answers keep getting bigger. Her trajectory suggests a future where she continues to bridge the gap between technological innovation and social good, between academic research and real-world application, between individual action and systemic change.
The throughline from Hope and Joy for Children to Livity to her current work at UC Berkeley is clear: Etasha Donthi believes in the power of applied skills to address human problems. Whether that skill is origami folding, podcast production, Swift programming, or machine learning algorithm development, she consistently directs her abilities toward making a positive difference.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and societies worldwide, voices like Etasha Donthi's — technically sophisticated, ethically grounded, and genuinely committed to human flourishing — become increasingly important. She represents a generation of technologists who understand that the most interesting problems to solve are the ones that improve people's lives.
From her roots in New Jersey to her current work in California, from local community organizing to global policy engagement, Etasha Donthi continues to demonstrate what's possible when talent meets purpose. Her story is still being written, but the chapters so far suggest that the impact of Etasha Donthi will be measured not just in awards received or platforms accessed, but in lives genuinely improved through her commitment to using technology as a force for good.
Frequently Asked Questions About Etasha Donthi
Etasha Donthi is a UC Berkeley undergraduate studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She is an AI researcher, entrepreneur, podcast host, and award-winning advocate known for founding Livity, an AI-powered mental health platform, and hosting the Forbes-featured podcast She The Change. She has received the Diana Award, Gold Presidential Service Award, and Apple Swift Student Challenge recognition.
Etasha Donthi grew up in Short Hills, a community within Millburn Township, New Jersey. She attended school in New Jersey before moving to California to study at UC Berkeley.
Etasha Donthi is studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at UC Berkeley. She is actively involved in AI/ML research and serves as a Student Technology Council Board Member.
Livity is an AI-powered mental health platform founded by Etasha Donthi. It uses natural language processing and sentiment analysis to identify signs of suicidal ideation in social media posts, connecting users with free mental health resources. The platform was inspired by the tragic loss of a close friend to suicide.
Etasha Donthi has received numerous awards including the Diana Award (the most prestigious global honor for young changemakers), the Gold Presidential Service Award from President Biden, the Apple Swift Student Challenge Award, the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award, and the Google Product Inclusion & Equity Summit Award. She was also named a "Voice of Change" by Seventeen Magazine.
She The Change is a podcast founded and hosted by Etasha Donthi that amplifies the voices of young women who have shattered glass ceilings in STEM and male-dominated fields. The podcast has been featured in Forbes and reaches listeners in over 50 countries.
Yes, Etasha Donthi appeared as a panelist at the United Nations Science Summit during the 77th General Assembly (UNGA77), where she spoke on topics including ethical AI, tech policy, and activism. She also serves as the U.S. Representative to UNICEF's Youth Advisory Board on Gender Equity.
Hope and Joy for Children (HJC) was a student-run charity founded by Etasha Donthi in sixth grade in 2016. The organization sold origami and handmade crafts, raising over $3,500 for Save the Children. The project received a grant from Disney and Youth Service America.
Etasha Donthi can be found on Instagram (@etashadonthi), X/Twitter (@EtashaDonthi), and LinkedIn. Her official website is etashadonthi.carrd.co and she shares all her links at linktr.ee/etasha.donthi.
At age eight, Etasha Donthi was deeply affected by seeing homelessness in New York City during a visit. The contrast between wealth and poverty she witnessed inspired her to take action, leading her to found her first charity in sixth grade and pursue a lifelong commitment to social impact. She has also shared her story in a TEDx talk on YouTube.
You can view Etasha Donthi's profile on the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing website, which details her accomplishments in computing and technology.