Founder, River Valley Irregulars

Sheila Manokaran

Redefining youth empowerment through trust, purpose, and possibility. Sheila Manokaran is the founder of River Valley Irregulars (RVI), a youth-led community platform dedicated to nurturing young changemakers through conversation, collaboration, and creativity. From mentoring online portfolios to building safe spaces for dialogue and experimentation, RVI empowers youth to lead with empathy and impact. 

Her biggest lesson? It's about listening deeply, showing up with care, and building relationships that last beyond the moment. She sees the future of youth development in purpose-driven ecosystems, where young people aren’t just included but leading, designing, and reimagining the systems around them.

To stay inspired, she listens to youth stories and lived experiences, grounding RVI’s direction in the real hopes, challenges, and passions of its community.

The boldest risk she took? Investing in unconventional youth is often overlooked by traditional systems. That choice didn’t just spark transformation, it became the heartbeat of RVI’s mission.