When Nava Khojasteh was in school during COVID-19, she watched many of her friends struggle academically while her own school, Baldwin, successfully adapted to remote learning. That disparity sparked something in the Philadelphia native—a determination to ensure all students could access quality education regardless of their zip code or family income. Today, as a rising junior and tennis team captain at Baldwin, Nava leads Perisco, the nonprofit tutoring organization she founded to bridge the opportunity gap in math education for underserved students.

Nava Khojasteh is the first Main Line Parent Young Woman of Influence Award Winner

Main Line Parent’s Women of Influence Awards celebrate exceptional women making significant impacts in our community. The Young Women of Influence Awards were created to recognize the next generation of female leaders who are making their mark on the world. Nava was nominated by Ann Marie Casey, the Program Director for Young Entrepreneurs Academy Philadelphia and selected by the Family Focus Media team based on their achievements and dedication to creating positive change.

Beyond the awards, our Women of Influence Luncheons and Speed Networking Night attendees come together as our Women of Influence Network, a community fostering connections, collaboration, and mutual support. 

From Classroom Observation to Community Action

The statistics that motivated Nava to action remain staggering: in Chester County alone, only 13% of students achieve grade-level proficiency in math. “I felt that was a really big problem and I felt that I could certainly help with that because I was pretty good at math,” she explains. What began as a Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) project has evolved into a comprehensive tutoring program that has raised over $5,000 and provided more than 150 hours of free, personalized math instruction.

Perisco—Latin for “to master”—reflects Nava’s vision for what students can achieve with proper support. The name choice wasn’t accidental; Nava studied Latin and wanted a name that embodied the empowerment she hopes to provide every student who connects with her organization.

Building Systems for Sustainable Impact

Operating a nonprofit while maintaining academic excellence and serving as tennis team captain requires exceptional organizational skills. Nava has developed systems that would impress seasoned executives: she dedicates at least one hour daily to Perisco work, creates weekly task lists, and has built a junior board of four high school students from different schools to bring diverse perspectives to the organization.

“I think it’s really important to delegate your work,” Nava notes, explaining how she’s recruited a team of over 20 tutors and established partnerships with organizations like the Ronald McDonald House in Camden and ESF camps. Her approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity—qualities that serve her well both as Perisco’s CEO and as her tennis team’s captain.

Real Students, Real Results

The impact of Perisco extends far beyond tutoring hours logged. Nava lights up when discussing a Philadelphia high school senior pursuing nursing, who was also taking community college courses to graduate early and save money. Struggling with C’s and D’s in math, they connected with Perisco with a goal of scoring 90 on their final exam to pass the class.

“We met with them every single day – either me or another tutor – for three weeks. They just texted me and they got a 94 on her final,” Nava shares with obvious pride. “So they’re one step closer to becoming a nurse practitioner.” Stories like Alyssa’s fuel Nava’s commitment to expanding Perisco’s reach.

The Power of Partnership

Nava’s success stems partly from her ability to build meaningful partnerships. Her connection with Ronald McDonald House began with cold calls to facilities across the East Coast—a bold move for a freshman. When Camden’s location responded positively, Nava and her father drove to meet families facing some of life’s most challenging circumstances.

“It really put things in perspective to be there because you’re with people who are some of the most vulnerable people and they have so much hope,” she remembers. “For a lot of the kids, they don’t have access to any education while they’re staying at the house because they’re in the hospital and they can’t go to traditional school.”

More recently, a family connection led to a partnership with ESF, where Perisco will provide virtual tutoring three times weekly to students at five elementary schools serving underprivileged children. These partnerships demonstrate Nava’s understanding that sustainable change requires collaboration with established organizations.

Balancing Excellence Across Multiple Arenas

Tennis has been part of Nava’s life since age two, and she credits the sport with developing crucial leadership skills. “You’re on your own on the court and you can’t get advice from your coach or your friends,” she explains. “That’s helped me because in the beginning when I was starting Perisco I was all alone.” The independence tennis requires has prepared her for entrepreneurial challenges, while team leadership as captain has taught her when to rely on others.

Managing academic rigor, athletic commitments, and nonprofit leadership requires exceptional time management. As she enters for junior year—traditionally the most demanding of high school—Nava plans to delegate more responsibilities to younger students who have more available time, demonstrating wisdom beyond her years.

Vision for Systemic Change

Nava’s perspective on education equity reflects both her privileged position and her genuine commitment to change. “I feel like I’ve been really blessed in my upbringing and in my education. And I feel like everyone should have access to the same opportunities that I had, especially if they’re willing to work really hard,” she says.

She hopes to see Perisco expand nationally within five years, potentially partnering with Khan Academy to reach hundreds of students. But her vision extends beyond organizational growth. “I feel like people paint the students who have unequal education too much as victims,” she observes. “I feel like it’s really important to see them as people. Not people that you just want to help, but people who actually have their own goals and they want to do better for themselves.”

Looking Ahead

While Nava once planned to pursue law, her entrepreneurial experience has opened her eyes to possibilities she hadn’t previously considered, including venture capital and public policy. Whatever path she chooses, her early success with Perisco suggests she’ll continue finding ways to create positive change.

Her advice to other young women interested in social entrepreneurship is characteristically direct: “Just go do it. Just try it and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work and then you can move on to the next thing. You should just try as many things as you can do.”

At 16, Nava Khojasteh has already learned that creating meaningful change requires vision, persistence, and the courage to ask for help when needed. Through Perisco, she’s not just helping students master math—she’s demonstrating that young people can be powerful agents of social change when they combine passion with practical action.

Follow @periscolearning on Instagram.  |  Connect with Nava Khojasteh on LinkedIn.

Help us honor Nava by sharing what her contributions mean to you in the comments below.