By Riley Spencer
Sanju Senthilkumar of Garner Road Community Center is running for Speaker of the
House for the 2026–2027 term. Throughout her journey, Senthilkumar has proven that leadership begins with action. She helped build an AI-driven recruitment platform and developed an organic menstrual pad designed to better serve women’s needs and reduce environmental harm.
These experiences reflect her belief that knowledge and innovation are only powerful when applied to create opportunity and improve lives. As Senthilkumar says, “To make an impact a permanent reality, you need passion and understanding. To do that, you must initiate.” Senthilkumar’s perseverance is deeply rooted in her upbringing. As the daughter of first-generation immigrants, she watched her parents navigate complex governmental procedures with determination rather than discouragement.
Their ability to replace embarrassment with motivated perseverance shaped her own approach to challenges. As Speaker, she hopes to ensure legislative opportunities provide every member with knowledge, experience and confidence — free from judgment. She leaves us with a powerful reminder: “Together, we can replace humility with motivation and foster a future that initiates leadership.”
