Rare to Accessibility: Pranav Mahendran on Building a Teen Council for VACTERL Syndrome

On this episode of the Global Impact Council podcast, host Maya Ayubzadeh sits down with Pranav Mahendran, an Eagle Scout who's turning his own experience with VACTERL syndrome into a support system for other teens. Pranav shares how carrying medical equipment on scouting trips pushed him to found a teen council inside the Pull Through Network, an organization that's supported him since he was two years old. He talks about getting his first proposal rejected, learning to be vulnerable about his condition in front of people who don't share his exact experience, and why empathy has been the core value guiding him through it all. Pranav also opens up about what he's learned about leadership, why he believes even small, tight-knit communities can drive real change, and what advice he'd give to any teen looking to start their own impact project. Connect with Pranav on LinkedIn or reach out directly if you want to talk impact project ideas, and consider supporting the Pull Through Network if this conversation moves you.