Join us for an important discussion of the mental health impact on our youth of the fast pace and changing environment—and the volatility and uncertainty—of the post-COVID era.

Afterward, stay for our post-program reception.

About the Speakers

Clara Armstrong is a 16-year-old sophomore who is deeply committed to advocating for youth mental health. Since November 2024, she has been an active member of the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Youth Advisory Board, where she has taken on leadership roles, including planning and leading youth listening sessions. In addition, Clara spoke at the Breaking Barriers Symposium, representing the board and sharing the perspectives of local youth on mental health. Clara has also been a part of Mind Out Loud since October 2024, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about mental health challenges. Driven by a strong desire to change how both youth and adults perceive mental health, Clara is dedicated to breaking down stigma and creating a more supportive, understanding environment for young people.

Mav Li is a perpetual learner, currently focused on healing, exploring new hobbies, and transitioning, while based in San Francisco as a barback at Old Skool Cafe. A Harvard early graduate and former quant trader, Mav once represented the United States in chess and earth science during high school. Despite outward achievements, they grew up in a toxic household, which deeply impacted their ability to form healthy relationships—with others and with themselves. Recognizing these patterns, Mav came to understand that many high-achieving peers from immigrant backgrounds also carry the weight of intergenerational trauma. While society often detects trouble at home in students who act out or do poorly in school, it frequently overlooks those who excel and follow the rules. Mav first sought mental health support in college and has since observed a persistent challenge: high-functioning individuals often face skepticism from care providers because their external lives seem “perfect.” This disconnect makes it not only harder for them to admit to needing help, but also for care providers to understand their internal turmoil. Now early in their gender transition, Mav is grateful to organizations like LYRIC for their support. Their academic focus has shifted from technical domains to the study of healthy relationships. They aspire to pursue graduate education in this field.

Brihanna Best, 17, is a high school junior, youth leader, and mental health advocate based in San Leandro, California. As a Digital Media Intern at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, she uses storytelling and creative technology to uplift the voices of her peers and spark conversations around emotional well-being. She is currently enrolled in a Child Development ROP program and aspires to become a child psychologist, with a focus on creating safe, affirming spaces for youth. A proud member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro, Brihanna brings a thoughtful and compassionate perspective to every space she enters, grounded in her commitment to community care and youth empowerment.

Anjali Menon is a serial entrepreneur and founder of tbh, a venture-backed mental health platform built to support high school and college students across the country. As CEO of tbh, Anjali works with colleges and K–12 districts around the country to offer virtual coaching, therapy, and basic needs support. tbh has serviced more than 500,000 students to date, with a particular focus on underserved and underrepresented populations. Most recently, it has partnered with the cast of Bling Empire to bring awareness to minority mental health. Prior to tbh, Anjali sat on the executive team of IfOnly and led the sale of the company to Mastercard. Previous to that she was head of operations at Magic (Y Combinator) and a product manager at Twitter. Anjali holds degrees from the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley and enjoys singing opera in her spare time.

Special Intro: Paula Ambrose is a principal at Blue Shield of California, where she leads the company's signature social impact initiative BlueSky and supports corporate giving efforts. With more than 30 years of experience in program management and leadership, across multiple industries and functions, Paula has a proven track record of developing and implementing effective strategies to drive positive change and results. She is passionate about creating a more equitable and just society, and is committed to leveraging her skills and experience to make a lasting impact.

Our moderator Zach Gottlieb is a mental health activist, speaker, and the founder of Talk With Zach, a community and platform that aims to change the culture around wellness for the next generation. He is head of partnerships at Crew Dog, a lifestyle collegiate apparel brand, and consults for startups. He attends Stanford University, has spoken in many media forums, and has been published in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Boston Globe and more.