Our mission
Melli is building a better life experience for women that gives them the tools to take charge of their wellness.
Women
deserve more.
Melli is the app we all wish we had growing up.We’re on a mission to break down the barriers that keep young women from getting the health, wellness, and support they deserve.
That’s why we’ve brought together leading experts in women’s health, and adolescent psychology to create an app that assist parents and caregivers have open, honest conversations about puberty, sex, and hygiene.
We provide factual, accessible, and relatable content—so you can help the young women in your life feel confident in their bodies. With engaging discussion starters, research-backed facts, and real-life topics, Melli makes “the talk” easier.
You bring the time and space. Melli brings the conversation.
Meet the team.
CEO & Founder
Rose founded the company driven by her personal experiences and her background as a teacher. Having faced women's health issues herself that took years to understand and diagnose, Rose saw firsthand the gap in health education for young girls. As a former teacher, she realized the power of education and how early knowledge can empower young women. This inspired her to create Melli, a platform designed to help young girls learn about their health from an early age, giving them the tools to advocate for themselves and close the knowledge gap that impacts so many women.
Rose Colianni
M.D. Gynecologist, Northwestern
For more than a decade, Mike has designed for brands across a wide range of industries and verticals. Throughout his career the one theme that was always present was the lack of impact his work had on the world…until Melli. Mike met Rose in 2019. Soon after, they realized they shared a passion for their craft and doing something meaningful that can affect positive change in the world. With Melli, Mike hopes to use design to help women everywhere to be more empowered and knowledgable when it comes to their bodies.
Dr. Sameena Rahman
VP of Brand
For more than a decade, Mike has designed for brands across a wide range of industries and verticals. Throughout his career the one theme that was always present was the lack of impact his work had on the world…until Melli. Mike met Rose in 2019. Soon after, they realized they shared a passion for their craft and doing something meaningful that can affect positive change in the world. With Melli, Mike hopes to use design to help women everywhere to be more empowered and knowledgable when it comes to their bodies.
Mike Cox
Director of Content Design
Kelcea Barnes, VP of Content Design, is a seasoned strategist with nearly a decade of experience crafting content for Fortune 200 companies. With a background spanning tech, fashion, government, and healthcare, her expertise has earned her industry recognition, including a Bronze Anthem Award and a Young Lions Media Competition finalist spot. Joining Melli was a natural fit for Kelcea. Growing up in the era of inadequate sex education, serving as president of her church’s abstinence club, and later unlearning societal misconceptions about women’s bodies, she understands firsthand the importance of accessible, honest, and empowering education. She’s excited to bring Melli’s mission to life through strategic copy, experience design, and research.
Kelcea Barns
Head of Engineering
Firshta joined Melli because she is passionate about addressing the significant gaps in our healthcare system, particularly when it comes to women’s health. After struggling for years with Endometriosis' and hormonal imbalances, and not receiving the answers she needed from doctors, she became determined to make a change. She believes in Melli’s mission to educate young women about their health and bodies, ensuring that no one else faces the same uncertainty she did. She believes every woman deserves to understand the complexity of her body and have access to the information she needs to thrive.
Firshta Shefa
Design Systems Designer
Over the past 15 years, Millie has designed beautiful Digital experiences from simple applications to complex products used by people around the world. When Rose approached her to join Melli, she couldn’t say no to helping make a positive impact for young girls on topics that most find taboo. With her and her sister being the first women on her mothers side to pursue higher education, phrases like ‘dirty blood’ and ‘virgins can’t use tampons’ are only a few of the misconceptions she grew up with, and would like to help others navigate through these misconceptions as well.
Millie Bley