We see the whole person, supporting that individual and their best interest, and always acting with integrity
We draw on human connection and imagination, and leverage open communication to build relationships and understanding
We are grounded in the science of learning and educational psychology, and strive to always be improving. We are outcome and data-driven
We enable growth in our students by building their self-belief, and in ourselves by remaining humble, open-minded, and flexible
We believe that every student matters and we want them to know it. We want them to recenter their educational journey around developing their own unique strengths, interests, and pathway to success. This is a pathway that transcends comparison and competition.
Whether it's one student at a time through mentorship or through large-scale events; our ethos is making a change in the unhealthy achievement culture that has come to overshadow much of the educational space
We support the development of skillful, fulfilled, and successful individuals who will share their gifts back with their communities.
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Our scale allows us to provide the Guidewell Education experience with students in a variety of settings, ranging from private 1-1 to group settings to services delivered across school districts positively impact the lives of more students
Billy Downing is the Founder of Guidewell Education, a leading educational services firm with offices throughout the United States and Europe. Having spent more than 20 years in the field, Billy’s college admissions expertise and reputation as a straight-talking, caring, and insightful educator have helped fuel the company’s growth. As Founder, Billy remains actively engaged in Guidewell’s work, partnering with our teams and continuing to advise students and families as they navigate important educational decisions.
With a focus on recruiting, developing, and retaining exceptional talent, Guidewell Education has grown to serve 20,000 students annually. Billy pioneered the student-specific “academic mentorship” model used by his team of coaches and mentors across tutoring, admissions consulting, and standardized test preparation. His ability to contextualize and explain changes in education and college admissions has also made him a frequent source for news outlets and a sought-after speaker.
Throughout his career, Billy has helped thousands of students and families navigate the college admissions process with greater clarity and purpose. His most recent book, Million Dollar Degree, explores the evolution of higher education and the ongoing conversation about the value of college, offering families information and strategies to make more informed decisions. His first book, College Greatness: A Family’s Guide to the Admissions Process, takes an insider’s look at college admissions and guides families through the process, from identifying the right schools to developing a compelling student narrative.
Billy earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He serves as a board member for College Track, an advisory board member at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, and a trustee at Sacramento Country Day School and Jesuit High School. He lives in Sacramento with his wife, Jessaca, and their two children.
Andrew Brown is CEO of Guidewell Education, bringing more than 25 years of experience building, scaling, and transforming organizations, with a particular passion for education and its impact on students’ lives.
Prior to Guidewell, Andrew was CEO of EduNav, an education technology company helping colleges and universities improve student outcomes and degree completion. He led a major transformation of the business and scaled the company through its sale to Ellucian, a global leader in higher-education technology.
Throughout his career, Andrew has built organizations that combine a clear mission with exceptional people, strong execution, and ambitious growth. He has served as a CEO, senior executive, board member, investor, and advisor across entrepreneurial companies and large global enterprises. Earlier, he spent seven years at Bain & Company and held senior leadership roles at EFI and Vutek, where he led a business through a period of exceptional growth, domestically and internationally. As an advisor and consultant, Andrew has worked with companies across a broad range of industries, bringing perspectives from across sectors to his work in education.
At Guidewell, Andrew works with the team to continue building a world-class education company that brings together exceptional educators, counselors, mentors, and educational brands to help students realize their potential. He believes the best education is deeply personal—combining expertise and high expectations with empathy and an understanding of each student as an individual. He is also passionate about using technology and innovation to enhance, not replace, the human relationships at the heart of great education.
Andrew earned a degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Bristol and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He lives in San Francisco with his family.
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