Meet Our Team
Lauren McMillen
Founder and CEO
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Lauren graduated from New York University Abu Dhabi with a degree in Computer Science and Arabic and is currently pursuing a Masters in Middle Eastern Studies at University of Edinburgh. Her rich background in both technology and over 12 nonprofits equips her with the skills to make her deepest passion a reality - helping others realize the ability they have to truly impact the lives of others.
Lexi Jones
Head of Programs and Marketing
"The world is a crazy place right now. I love that Amaxa empowers students and young professionals to face it head on, and to come up with creative, innovative and energetic solutions to the problems we are facing. Getting to be a part of the Amaxa team is a chance for me to tell students, young adults and dreamers what I wish I'd been told: 'Your ideas matter and you can make a difference; now let's get started.'"
I was born and raised in central Illinois: think corn fields as far as you can see and Friday night lights... I'm currently pursuing a degree in International Studies and a minor in Political Science at the University of Tampa. I've interned at CHANGE Illinois and United Way Suncoast, volunteered on the Polish-Ukrainian border, and am part of the leadership team at North America for Ukraine. I am passionate about creativity and art (in all its forms), and how we can use those things to make an impact in our world. My roles as Director of Marketing and Head of Programs at Amaxa allow me to explore just that, whether it be creating new programs, designing pitch decks and content, or building brand identity. In my spare time you'll catch me out for a walk or run (with music or a podcast on, of course), reading, or in the midst of shenanigans with my nearest and dearest.
Aniketh Chenjeri
CTO
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Ani leads the development of the ámaxa platform, identifying key challenges faced by our cohort members and creating innovative software solutions. He is a junior in high school who has already invested thousands of hours in programming and problem-solving. His skills are nationally recognized, with multiple state and national titles in programming and cybersecurity.
Pari Singh
Director of Operations
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Pari served as a Scrum Master and Project Manager, where she coordinated teams and delivered successful outcomes. She was the Senior Advisor for the bhangra team and raised over $1000 for cancer research through her Greek life organization. Pari's background has equipped her with the management skills, leadership abilities, and determination needed to lead ámaxa to success.
Heather Miller
Director of Digital Marketing
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Heather manages our $10,000 Google Ads grant, designs landing pages, and writes blog posts. She obtained a Marketing degree with a digital marketing certificate from BYU-Idaho. She also works full-time as a Google Ads Specialist at Hangar Marketing, managing ads for various clients. With years of experience, her expertise in Google Ads and blog writing ensures effective ad management and engaging content creation, backed by extensive keyword research.
Phoebe Cox
Head of Research and Strategy
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Phoebe uses her psychology background to conduct market and user research. With previous roles in refugee aid, fundraising, research, copy editing and copywriting, Phoebe brings crucial insights across our organization. Co-founder of Bike4Bast, she raised £12,000 for recovery programs and is committed to Amaxa's mission, inspired by early charity work in China and a passion for helping others.