ABOUT US

About Young Leaders in Cybersecurity & AI

Empowering teens worldwide with cybersecurity and AI knowledge through hands-on training, interactive workshops, and leadership opportunities. We help young people navigate the digital world safely and ethically while preparing them for careers in technology.

Young Leaders in Cybersecurity & AI
Our Vision
Our vision is a world where every young person—regardless of country, background, or access—has the knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills to navigate the digital age safely and ethically. YLCA strives to build a generation of global youth who understand cybersecurity, respect the responsible use of AI, and lead their communities toward a safer, more equitable digital future.
Education First
Comprehensive cybersecurity and AI literacy for all teens.
Future Leaders
Empowering the next generation of digital safety advocates.
OUR MISSION

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower teens around the world with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to navigate the digital age safely, responsibly, and ethically. YLCA equips young people with hands-on cybersecurity training, AI literacy, and real-world tools to recognize threats, protect themselves and others, and make informed decisions about technology. Through interactive workshops, engaging content, and leadership development opportunities, we help students build the foundation to become strong digital citizens who understand both the risks and opportunities of an interconnected world.

Beyond education, our mission is to cultivate a global network of youth leaders who take action in their schools and communities. Through our Ambassador Program, mentorship from industry professionals, and support from partners such as Elevance Systems' CSR initiative, YLCA provides teens with meaningful opportunities to teach, lead, and create positive change. We are committed to making cybersecurity and AI education accessible to all youth—regardless of background or location—and to empowering students to become advocates for digital safety, champions of responsible AI, and innovators shaping a safer and more inclusive digital future.

MEET THE FOUNDER

Founder

Arth Bhardwaj

Arth Bhardwaj

Founder & High School Innovator

Arth.Bhardwaj@elevancesystems.com

Arth Bhardwaj is a high-school junior at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California, and the founder of Young Leaders in Cybersecurity & AI (YLCA). He leads his school's Cybersecurity & AI Club and works as a student researcher with the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign (UIUC).

Arth is the author of "CYBERSECURITY FOR TEENS: Protecting Yourself in the Digital World" (India) and has delivered hands-on workshops across the United States, India, and beyond on phishing, passwords, digital footprints, and AI ethics.

Beyond YLCA, he drives youth-led social impact projects under the Nova Foundation and collaborates with industry mentors from Elevance Systems and Microsoft. Through research, programs, and outreach, Arth's goal is to help teens become more cyber-aware, confident with AI, and prepared to lead in a rapidly changing digital world.

ADVISORS & MENTORS

Advisors and Mentors

Vaijayanti Korde
Vaijayanti Korde
Head of Cybersecurity, Crypto Agility & Cloud Security, Visa
LinkedIn
Michael Ingram
Michael Ingram
Director - Network Security & Architecture, Elevance Systems, Inc.
Prativa Bawri
Prativa Bawri
Staff Software Engineer, VMWare Carbon Black
LinkedIn
Michael Zeberlein
Michael Zeberlein
Principal Security Researcher, Microsoft
LinkedIn
Ralph Johnson
Ralph Johnson
Vice President, IT Managed Services, Elevance Systems
Lalit Jain, PhD
Lalit Jain, PhD
Co-Founder, CTO, & AI Innovator, Microsoft
LinkedIn
Anjali Mangal
Anjali Mangal
Senior Director Azure Security @ Microsoft | Leading AI and Research in Cybersecurity
LinkedIn
OUR PARTNERS

Partners & Sponsors

Elevance Systems Logo

Elevance Systems

Elevance Systems is a healthcare-focused IT managed services consulting firm in Cupertino, CA, with service offices across North America and in India. We specialize in providing best-in-class, transformative business process management services. Our goal is to maximize client profits while lowering costs and increasing staff productivity and satisfaction.

Learn more about Elevance Systems