About The Founder and executive director
Kiko - Founder and Executive Director
Kiko Funaki was born and raised in California and has a lifelong passion for languages, education, and cross-cultural connection. She participated in a Two-Way Bilingual Immersion (TWBI) program for nine years, where she became fluent in Spanish, and later studied Japanese formally for five years.
In 2026, Kiko graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Throughout her academic journey, she developed a strong interest in international affairs, human rights, and global education while balancing leadership roles, professional work, and nonprofit management.
Prior to attending UCLA, Kiko attended Stanford University Online High School, where she served as a Teaching Assistant for the Constitutional Law and Spanish departments. Beyond the classroom, she spearheaded numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the school community, helping foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment for students from diverse backgrounds.
As the founder and Executive Director of Hello Languages, Kiko leads a global nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free educational opportunities to students around the world. Since its founding, Hello Languages has served over 500 students, taught more than 600 classes, and worked with over 30 volunteers from around the world. Through courses in English, STEM, the arts, and more, her goal is to create an inclusive learning community where students from all backgrounds feel empowered to grow through education and cultural exchange.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Kiko has extensive experience in education, communications, and marketing. She has taught and mentored students ranging from preschool through high school in English language arts, conversational English and Spanish, and academic writing. Professionally, she has worked in digital marketing, communications, partnership development, and operations, helping organizations expand their outreach and connect with broader audiences.
Outside of academics and nonprofit leadership, Kiko trained as a pre-professional classical ballet dancer for over a decade. She has earned more than 30 awards and medals throughout her competitive ballet career, including Gold Medals and Best Female Technique, and received scholarships to internationally recognized institutions such as the San Francisco Ballet School and the Paris Opera Ballet School. She joined Los Angeles Ballet and danced professionally for one season before transitioning her professional focus toward teaching, nonprofit leadership, and marketing. Over the years, Kiko has taught ballet at five ballet schools across California, sharing her passion for dance with students of all ages while also serving in arts administration and educational leadership roles.
In her free time, Kiko enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She hopes to continue building bridges through education and pursue a career in international human rights and nonprofit leadership.
About the Assistant Director and chief of instructors
Suhavi (Ms. Vi) - Assistant Director + Chief of Instructors
Suhavi was born and raised in the Bay Area, California. She attended Stanford University Online High School and is now currently studying Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in Management and Business Economics at the University of California, Merced, where she serves as President of her sorority, a lead member of the Society of Women Engineers, and a member of the Pilipinx American Alliance (PAA).
Outside of school, Suhavi works in web development, having built multiple websites centered around activism and awareness. She also dedicates her time to community service through her sorority's philanthropy, Service for Sight, which supports the visually impaired community and promotes sight preservation. In her free time, Suhavi loves traveling to new places and immersing herself in different cultures, cuisines, and communities. She also enjoys keeping up with new film releases, diving into new books, and spending time at the beach.
As Assistant Director and Chief of Instructors at Hello Languages, Suhavi is committed to upholding the organization's mission, bringing the same passion for learning and community that defines her life into every interaction with the instructor team and the students of HL.
about the head of recruitment and instructional coach
Mila - Head of Recruitment and Instructional Coaching
Mila was born in California and is based in Spain. She attended Sciences Po Paris in France, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Humanities with a minor in International Relations. As part of her studies, she completed a semester of study exchange in Switzerland and a semester of internship in the Netherlands. She speaks English, Spanish, and French. She is now growing her career at the intersection of communications, education, culture, media, and the creative industry.
As a lifelong learner and unconventional student herself, Mila believes firmly in the power of hands-on and high-quality teaching. She is passionate about creating classrooms optimised for both development and positivity. At HL, she is focused on recruiting enthusiastic instructors and teaching them how to create the best student experience possible.