RUBY ARUN
SERVANT LEADER.
ENTREPRENEUR.
RESEARCHER.
A social entrepreneur, leader, and internationally recognized singer, with a track record founding the award-winning global non-profit Mission: MathMinds, achieving top honors in American classical and musical theatre with multiple performances at Carnegie Hall, and ranking academically in the top 1%.
BIOGRAPHY
Ruby Arun is an award-winning social entrepreneur, STEM advocate, and classical vocalist. At just 12, she founded Mission:MathMinds, a nonprofit focused on eradicating math anxiety and closing the gender gap by encouraging young girls to pursue STEM careers. Ruby is committed to ensuring that young girls excel in math and thrive in fields where they have been historically underrepresented.
Her leadership has earned her the Congressional Gold and STEM Star Award, George H.W. Bush Point of Light Award, Illinois Governor’s Youth Volunteer Award, and multiple Congressional commendations. Alongside her advocacy, Ruby is an accomplished classical opera vocalist, performing at venues like Carnegie Hall. A student at William Fremd High School, Ruby balances her academic commitments with her mission to inspire others through action, voice, and leadership.
MISSION: MATHMINDS
Mission:MathMinds is a global 501(c)(3) non-profit I founded in 2020 to empower girls to overcome math anxiety through a math-first approach. With an economic impact of $1.2 million and a reach of 18,278 girls worldwide, Mission:MathMinds is the largest youth-led mathematics initiative inspiring girls globally.
MATH-FIRST APPROACH
Math is the foundation of the world around us, from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to countless other marvels. A math-first approach emphasizes using foundational skills to foster early problem-solving and critical thinking, making math a powerful lens for understanding diverse concepts and fields. By establishing a foundation in core mathematical reasoning for students, we build their confidence and competence, equipping them to tackle challenges in STEM and beyond with a structured, logical mindset.
MY FIRST BOOK
This book is about overcoming math anxiety and building confidence, told through my journey of founding Mission:MathMinds. Shaped by experiences such as pioneering a COVID-era mentoring program and working with Ukrainian refugee children, it explores how education and leadership can open transformative doors to new networks and career opportunities.
SERVING UKRAINE
On behalf of Mission:MathMinds, I traveled to Warsaw, Poland, in the summer of 2022 and 2023 to connect with and inspire Ukrainian refugee children. I led math programs, delivered heartfelt cards from Chicago communities, and engaged in meaningful conversations. Through interviews, I captured the journeys and emotions of these resilient children as they shared their experiences.
PUBLICATIONS
As a natural researcher, curious to discover more, I have had the privilege of working with exceptional scholars to further my knowledge in the spaces of math anxiety, economic theory and policy, and AI-driven sustainability.
SHARING MY STORY
I understand what it’s like to hear “no” as a young leader. I work to change that culture for future young changemakers by sharing my founding journey and insights at my keynotes.
VOICE
Over the past seven years, I have trained as an American classical, opera, and musical theatre singer. From community concerts to performing at Carnegie Hall and singing the Ukrainian National Anthem at the 2024 World's Best School for Ukrainian refugee children in Poland, my journey in the vocal arts has been transformative.
