Behind Serena’s powerhouse career is a partner with a very different—but equally fascinating—journey. Alexis Ohanian, born in 1983 in Brooklyn, New York, is best known as the co-founder of Reddit, one of the world’s biggest online platforms. His background is deeply shaped by his family’s immigrant story: his mother was German, and his father’s parents fled the Armenian genocide.
In an interview, Alexis shared how this history shaped his sense of gratitude and perspective. He once joked that he has “a bit of a crush on the Statue of Liberty,” explaining that seeing it reminds him daily of everything his family endured so he could have the opportunities he’s had. That mix of humour, humility, and awareness has become a quiet part of who he is—far from the loud stereotype of a tech bro.
As a teenager, Alexis’ family moved to the suburbs of Washington, D.C., where he attended Howard High School in Maryland, graduating in 2001. While school was happening in the background, his real passion was unfolding online.
He later studied at the University of Virginia, earning degrees in history and commerce. It was there that he met Steve Huffman, with whom he bonded over video games. That friendship turned into something much bigger: together, they built the first version of Reddit in just three weeks. Only sixteen months later, they reportedly sold the company to Condé Nast for somewhere between 10 and 20 million dollars—but Alexis stayed on the board and later returned as executive chair for a period before stepping back again to focus on investing and other ventures.
