Our Team

Jai Nagrani is an experienced chess enthusiast whose passion for the game began at a young age. He has competed in numerous chess tournaments, including at the state level, and was a middle school chess champion. Throughout his teenage years, Jai gained extensive teaching experience, working with young children and leading chess programs at various senior centers.

Jai is responsible for designing and implementing an age-appropriate, engaging chess curriculum for young learners in collaboration with Anish. He oversees the planning and execution of chess education programs, including weekly classes, tournaments, and workshops. In addition, Jai trains and prepares volunteers and instructors with the curriculum to equip them to teach the kids. He also works with Anaya to align programming with organizational goals and to secure funding through grants and fundraising initiatives.

Kalen learned to play chess at a young age, sitting across the board from his dad for countless games that sparked his love for strategy and friendly competition. Those moments taught him that chess isn’t just about winning; it’s about patience, focus, and learning from every move. Inspired by how much he gained from those early lessons, Kalen now shares that same experience with kids in his community. He loves seeing young players light up when they master a new tactic or surprise themselves with a clever move. With his calm, supportive approach, Kalen is all about unlocking potential one move at a time and helping kids build confidence both on the chessboard and in life.

Kalen serves as both Chief Financial Officer and Chief Technology Officer for our nonprofit, helping keep everything running behind the scenes. On the financial side, he manages our budgets, tracks all income and spending, and makes sure every dollar is used to grow our programs and reach more families. He also designs flyers and banners for events, making sure our community stays informed and excited about what’s happening. In his technology role, Kalen builds tools and automations that save time and keep everyone connected. He creates systems that automatically send emails, newsletters, and reminders to parents, helping us communicate clearly and consistently. His work makes it possible for our team to focus on what matters most: giving kids a chance to learn, grow, and build confidence through chess.

Anish Bandaru is a dedicated chess teacher with a passion for guiding young minds. He is currently a ninth grader at Stevenson High School. Anish has a history of playing chess and was introduced to the game at a young age. Additionally, he has gone through formal training at many chess academies. Overall, Anish is a great chess educator who is ready to help with your child's chess journey.

As the program strategy officer, Anish manages and improves the curriculum and works with Jai to ensure the teaching methods are optimal and in line with the organization's goals. Along with program development, Anish is the technology officer. Through website development, Anish develops leads and shows the purpose of the organization to parents. Additionally, Anish creates newsletters and articles with Kalen’s help to reach out to parents.

Kabir Gulati is a passionate chess instructor and creative mind who’s been in love with the game since he was a kid. He started teaching chess back in middle school, working with younger students and sharing the joy of the game. Over the years, he’s combined that hands-on experience with a talent for storytelling and digital content, helping bring chess to life for new audiences. Whether he’s teaching, creating, or brainstorming new ideas, Kabir brings both skill and heart to everything he does.

As Chief Marketing & PR Officer, Kabir leads the organization’s marketing, social media, and outreach efforts. Kabir creates fun and engaging content, manages all our platforms, and helps shape our online voice. Kabir also connects with chess Grandmasters and influencers for collabs, builds the brand, and grows our presence to reach and inspire more people through the game.

Anaya Gulati is a dedicated leader with a strong commitment to teaching chess to young learners. She has participated in chess since the age of 3 and played a role in her school chess club growing up. Anaya has a passion for working with young kids and teaching classes to students. Anaya combines her organizational skills and passion for teaching young children to help drive the mission of the nonprofit forward.

Her primary responsibilities include managing the day-to-day operations of the organization, coordinating logistics for classes, events, and volunteer teams, and ensuring smooth execution of all programs. As Public Relations Officer, Anaya also oversees external communications, communicates with parents and their children, builds partnerships with local schools and community centers, and works with Jai Nagrani to reach out to other businesses. She works closely with the rest of the team to support long-term planning and promote a welcoming, inclusive environment for all students.