As an Education Coach, Margie utilizes her leadership coaching expertise to guide middle and high school students in effectively navigating the college application process and their lives. She will present insights and case studies from her students on leveraging social impact activities to gain admission to the Top 20 USA universities.

Margie’s students have gained admission to prestigious institutions, including Stanford, Brown, Duke, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Wellesley College, as well as other esteemed universities such as Georgetown, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Emory, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Southern California, New York University, among others.

Margie obtained her undergraduate degree in business with a minor in communications from the University of Southern California and her MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. She serves as the vice president of the Kellogg Alumni Club, the vice president of the USC Alumni Club, and is a board member of the Northwestern Alumni Club.

Phillip Lee holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. in TESOL from Wheaton College. With over a decade of experience at the YCYW Foundation, Phillip is now in his fifth year as a dedicated University and Career Guidance Counselor at YCIS Shanghai Puxi, where he continues to guide and inspire students toward their future goals.

Yang Li is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Blueprint, the largest American test prep and college counseling company in China. A graduate of Harvard College, Yang Li will share insight and advice from 10+ years of experience teaching SAT / ACT to students from SAS, Concordia, Dulwich, and other international schools in Shanghai.

Mr Reed is an enthusiastic, experienced school leader who has enjoyed educating children for nearly 30 years. His career has included working in a range of outstanding schools in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand, most recently as the Head of one of New Zealand’s top private schools, leading it to become one of the best academic schools in the country.

He took his first degree in English Literature at Cambridge University, has a National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) from the Institute of Education in London, and completed a Masters degree a few years ago on the work of the great Scottish novelist, Muriel Spark. He is passionate about literature, drama and music, and spends much of his free time enjoying cultural pursuits. He also likes to travel, to exercise and keep fit – he needs to do this regularly because he loves good food!

Mr Reed believes that a great education has academic excellence for all students at its core, supported by a broad programme of personal, cultural and social opportunities. A great school works with its parents and families to develop successful young people who are also good young people, and who will use their talents to make the world a better place for everyone.

Education Experience:
• BA & MA (Masters) in English (QS #2) from Cambridge University (QS #5)
• MLitt (Masters) from Auckland University (#1 in Newzeland)
• PGCE (teaching qualification) in English and Drama from Sheffield University
• NPQH (Headship qualification) from UCL (QS #9)

Dr. Amy Valerio is the Upper School Principal of Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) Hongqiao Campus. With over 30 years of experience in education, she has spent the last 15 years in leadership roles at schools in Asia. Amy focuses on building systems to ensure student success - academically, socially, and emotionally. She has served as a founding member on the #RaiseHERup Shanghai team, a networking event targeted at providing educators in Shanghai with an opportunity to expand their personal and professional support network, as an Advisory Board member of HundrED reviewing innovative programs worldwide related to well-being, and has been a speaker for Community Center Shanghai and the East Regional Association of Overseas Schools. Since early in her career, her passion has been researching and developing systems to ensure all students feel known in school. As principal, Amy has strived to build communities and relationships in the schools in which she works. She has seen students strive and succeed under the guidance of a strong community, adults who care, and a meaningful advisory program.