About Me

My name is Lavya Patel, and I’m incredibly honored to be part of the Southwest
Florida CEO Academy Class of 2027. I’m currently a senior at Gulf Coast High School, and
I’ve spent most of my high school career exploring how finance, economics, and
international relations connect with one another. On campus, I’ve focused on taking on
leadership roles across a few different areas, including DECA, Model United Nations,
Academic World Quest, Science Fair, and the Young Investors Society, while also staying
active with the tennis team. Outside of the classroom, I’ve had the opportunity to intern at
the Collier County Courthouse with a circuit judge, which has been an incredible way to
see our legal system up close. I also recently got to work alongside financial professionals
to write a research paper looking at algorithmic trading and how market instability affects
its volatility. I’m genuinely fascinated by how politics and global finance impact our world
today, but I’m also eager to learn about new industries that I don't know much about yet.
What excites me most about the Southwest Florida CEO program is simply getting to meet
new people and learning directly from leaders who have gone through the entire process of
building a business from the ground up.