#33 From TikTok to CEO: Student Entrepreneurship and Near Peer College Counseling with Sophie Smith

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer chats with Sophie Smith, a recent college graduate who turned a viral TikTok into a thriving ed-tech startup. Sophie shares her journey from scrambling to fill her summer with internships during the pandemic to accidentally attracting hundreds of high schoolers to a leadership program overnight. This surprising turn of events led her to recognize the desperate need for accessible college admissions guidance. Sophie's enterprise now bridges the gap between students and university admissions by linking them with near-peer mentors who are current undergraduates. They discuss the evolving role of AI in education and how her platform maintains a crucial human element in the college preparation process. Sophie emphasizes the importance of starting the college admissions process early and encourages a mindful approach to understanding and navigating the landscape of higher education.

Guest Links:
1. College Contact: https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/
2. Sophie Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-smith273/

Co-Host Links:
Seth Fleischauer
Founder and President of Banyan Global Learning
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fleischauer/
Website: https://banyangloballearning.com/

Lauren Pinto
Cofounder of Ambitious Ed, Educational Technology Specialist
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-s-pinto/
Website: https://www.ambitioused.com/

Creators & Guests

SF

Host

Seth Fleischauer

What is Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning?

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is the podcast for globally-minded educators seeking thoughtful conversations about how education can adapt to an ever-changing world. Your host is Seth Fleischauer, former classroom teacher turned founder of an international learning company specializing in the teaching of global learning. Each episode features educational changemakers whose insights lead to practical solutions as we explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems and how these relationships shape transformative ideas in education.