When Aria Mustary (HGSE ’24) was growing up in New York City, she narrowly escaped being married off at the age of 12. The experience would shape not only her future, but the future of thousands of girls she would later work to support.
Today, as the founder of the Mai Soli Foundation, Mustary is helping young girls access education, develop leadership skills, and build economic independence. In this film that aired at the 2026 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge awards ceremony, she reflects on the experiences that inspired her work and the conviction that every girl deserves the opportunity to determine her own path.
Catch up with Mustary and how Mai Soli has expanded its impact since being a Student i-lab member and finalist in the 2024 President’s Innovation Challenge.
