Meet Our Team
Vipin Thekk
Senior director, ashoka’s youth venture
Change Leader at Ashoka
Vipin works primarily with individuals and institutions to co-create ideas on ways to adapt and thrive in times of rapid change. He does this by designing and facilitating transformational journeys towards creating a culture of innovation, agency and empathy.
He is an experienced facilitator having led transformation-based work for groups and institutions in Asia, Europe ,and the United States. As an inspiring speaker, his recent speaking engagements include “Guiding the 21st Century Child – Artists, Changemakers and the App Generation,” organized by the Montessori Schools of Connecticut; Parliament of World Religions; National & State Teachers of the Year gathering organized by Council of Chief State School Officers, and many others.
Vipin has a master’s degree in Social Work and is an Integral Life Coach and a Kundalini yoga and meditation teacher. He lives in Washington DC with his wife Angie Thurston.
Lauren Mountain
Change team Leader – Changemaker Communities in North Central MassACHUSETTS
Director, United Way Youth Venture (UWYV) at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC)
Lauren is a graduate of Northeastern University and has a degree in Political Science with a minor in Business and International Relations. She also earned her MBA from Suffolk University with a concentration in Health Care Administration. Lauren’s varied work experience includes nine years of nonprofit and board management, including running the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management, a professional development program for chamber of commerce and association executives; managing global membership for an international association of corporate real estate executives; and volunteering for the PKD Foundation’s Walk for the Cure.
Robert M. Jokela
Change team leader - Changemaker Communities in North Central MassACHUSETTS
Superintendent, fitchburg public high schools
Bob returned to his hometown school district of Fitchburg eleven years ago and was appointed Superintendent in 2019. As the son of immigrants, Bob is focused on providing access, equity, and opportunities to the students of Fitchburg. Bob holds a Master's in Public Administration from Clark University, a Master's in Business Administration from Bentley University, and a Bachelor's degree from University of Massachusetts at Amherst.