Adam Nguyen, CEO of Ivy Link

In high school, Adam Nguyen never toured an Ivy League campus. In fact, he never toured any college campus. Students in his Texas town were not actively recruited by top schools, and Adam applied only to the few schools who sent him catalogs in the mail. A friend with an extra college application urged Adam to apply to at least one more school. Now the CEO of New York-based Ivy Link, an education company which serves as a “link” to the Ivy League, Adam took his friend’s advice and mailed in that application. Not that he had ever heard of a school called “Columbia”.

What started as a chance encounter with the Ivy League become a life-long passion for Adam, not only for quality higher education, but for universal access to it. After graduating from Columbia, he worked at the Department of Justice for a year before entering Harvard Law School. A high-paying corporate law job in Mergers and Acquisitions followed, but a sense of personal satisfaction was missing, which led to the founding of Ivy Link. Operating under the principle of “profit with a purpose” Ivy Link offers high-end tutoring and admissions counseling to those students and parents who can afford it, and the same services free or at low-cost to motivated, academically-gifted students who can’t. Still practicing law on the side (with a fondness for counseling startups), Adam has shifted his career focus to the social impact possible when access to higher education is open.

In his spare time, you might find Adam painting, playing the piano, surfing, scuba diving, or taking his annual international birthday adventure trip with friends. I’m guessing they’re probably more fun than those college tours anyway.

1. Have you ever lost a promising student because of differences with their parents?

Luckily, that has never happened to us.  We take great care to understand the interests and objectives of both students and parents, and in instances where they diverged, we have managed to bridge the gap and accommodate both students and parents without sacrificing the quality of our services.  Parents have been uniformly pleased by our focus on each student’s success.

2. What would you change about the current American educational system?

From my experience working with students, many coming back to school after the summer break (or even a long winter or spring break) tend to experience a “summer slide” – meaning that like athletes out of training, they suffer a loss of knowledge from a lack of mental stimulation.  Broadly speaking, I think that our students would benefit from more time in the classroom, which would require a combination of extending the school day or academic year, a dramatic increase in investment and funding, and an enormous amount of political will and public support.  Alternatively, students should engage in some sort of academic or mentally stimulating pursuits during their break in order to prevent an atrophy of the mind.

3. Through all the years competing in Ivy League schools, and then working in a large practice, you seem to have remained unusually well-rounded. How did you do it?

I think it’s a combination of three things that has helped with remaining well-rounded: a natural curiosity of the world around me, a desire for active pursuits and an appreciation for balance in my life.  I enjoy meeting new people and seeking out novel ideas and opportunities, all of which expose me to valuable perspectives and allow me to develop new interests.  I am also a very active person who needs to be engaged in a variety of endeavors.  At the same time, I strive to maintain a healthy balance among work, civic responsibilities, hobbies, and friends and family.

4. Do you ever miss the prestige (and paycheck) associated with working in corporate law?

Prestige and a hefty paycheck are undoubtedly nice perks of the corporate world, but at this stage in my life, I derive tremendous satisfaction from the independence and creative process that come from running my own business.  Being able to chart my own path has been a great experience.

5. What role does the creation of art play in your life?

I am naturally a left-brain, logical type, so I pursue art not only to relax but also to develop my creative side.  I have found that the process of creating art and starting a business to be remarkably similar.  Both are creative endeavors that allow you to see different perspectives and appreciate different approaches and ideas.  Filling a blank canvas, like building a business from the bottom up, is one of the most challenging and creative processes that I have ever undertaken.

6. Where are you going next year for your birthday?

I generally prefer a historically significant destination that is also conducive to active pursuits.  I would love to assemble a motley crew of close friends and family members to join me on a tour of Jerusalem and Petra, followed by an excursion to the Red Sea for scuba diving.

7. Describe the person who would best complement both your life and your business.

That person would be someone who is intelligent and loyal, has a big heart and a bigger sense of humor, and shares my passion for pursuing a purposeful life and my interests in entrepreneurship and making a social impact through innovative means.  We would help each other keep things in perspective and laugh through the inevitable ups and downs in life and business.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully, in 10 years (or perhaps much earlier than that) my company will have a global presence so that we can make a meaningful social impact in education throughout the world.  I see education as a means of bringing together people from different backgrounds, seeing complex issues and problems from fresh perspectives, and ultimately, achieving meaningful progress.  I plan on being actively involved in education, while pursuing other social entrepreneurial opportunities.

Adam’s Bio
Adam is the President & CEO of Ivy Link, an education company staffed by a select team of Ivy League-educated instructors and advisors who provide one-on-one admissions advising and standardized test preparation to candidates seeking acceptance to colleges, business schools and law schools, as well as academic coaching to students in grades K-12.  Ivy Link is known for its innovative approach, including its “smart-pricing” model, the Ivy Link Method and the Ivy Link Network.  As a social entrepreneur, Adam operates the company under a “profit-for-purpose” principle with the aim of making a social impact in education through need-based scholarships and community outreach.
Prior to founding Ivy Link, Adam held business and legal positions in investment management companies and corporate law firms.  His experience also includes work at government agencies and non-profit entities.  Adam graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Economics and Political Science, and he received his law degree from Harvard Law School.  He enjoys skiing, scuba diving, painting and living in New York City.

Want to connect with Adam? Follow him on Facebook and Twitter!

Amanda Medders, Founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring

On Independence Day, I thought it was fitting to highlight the type of business success story we find only in the United States.  Amanda Medders, the 26 year-old Founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring, a DC area home tutoring business, epitomizes what is possible with the right combination of dedication, hard work, and in Amanda’s case, brains.

Originally a pre-med major, Amanda quickly realized her love for math, science and all things academic made her better suited for a career in education.  At age 23, and just out of a Masters program, Amanda founded Tri-Ed Tutoring using the experience as a private tutor she gained during her college years.  After six months of tutoring all the Tri-Ed students on her own, she had enough business to warrant hiring outside contractors and began turning a profit soon after.  The following year her older sister joined Amanda as the only other full-time employee, handling the marketing and networking aspects of the business, a partnership that has proved to be invaluable.

Founded just three years ago with only $3000 in startup capital, Tri-Ed Tutoring now boasts over $100K in yearly revenues after reaching profitability within one year.  At 26, Amanda is her own boss and works eight hours a day in a profession she is passionate about.  I call that Independence at its best.  Happy 4th.

1.  You say that education is your passion.  How does that translate into the success you have had so far, and so quickly, with Tri-ed?

Starting a business requires a huge time commitment at the onset. If I wasn’t passionate about what I do, I think I would have burnt out within the first year. It is really a privilege to be trusted enough by parents to be a part of their children’s education. I believe that our passion for education is apparent and the reason why parents put their trust in us.

2.  Competition is everywhere in the world of education.  What sets your tutoring services apart from other big names like Kaplan?

What people tend to like about us is that all of our services are customized to fit each student. We really believe that getting to know each family and their unique goals is the best way to help them work towards accomplishing those goals. Because each person has a different learning style, we do not have a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum. By developing a personal relationship, we are able to alter our instruction and study plans to fit each student more effectively.

3.  If you had to put a label on yourself, would you consider yourself more an educator or an entrepreneur?

My background is in education so I would typically consider myself more of an educator. I have never taken a business class in my life so starting a business has been a huge learning experience. However, I love the variety and challenge that comes with being an entrepreneur.
4.  You are a self-proclaimed foodie.  What is your favorite place to eat in DC?

Hmmmm…that is a really tough question! I really like trying all the fusion restaurants in DC. Mie n Yu in Georgetown is one of my favorites. It has great, unique food and makes you feel like you’re in Morocco. However, if I am in a classic steak and potatoes kind of mood, I would say Ruth’s Chris (sizzling butter…yum)!

5.  Your older sister is both your business partner and your roommate.  Does your close relationship ever get in the way of business?

If anything, our close relationship makes living and working together an ideal situation. There is no one that I would rather have as a partner or a roommate. We are able to say what we are really thinking without any worry of offending the other person. If she thinks an idea I have is ridiculous, she’ll let me know, we’ll laugh at ourselves, and move on to the next (hopefully better) idea!

6. Since you started your business so young, is it hard finding others your age with whom you can relate?

Not really. I feel like one of my strengths is the ability to relate to a wide variety of people.

7. Describe the ideal person who would complement both your life and your business.

It would have to be someone who is both supportive of and believes in me and the business. The ideal person would be positive and inspire me to continue to be better both personally and professionally. Most importantly, he has to be able to make me laugh and be able to laugh at himself.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

If you had asked me 5 years ago or even last year, I would have had my whole life planned out and been determined to stick to that plan. Now, I realize that I am not really sure and, although that idea used to terrify me, I now find that I am excited about the prospect of the unknown. I’ve learned that life rarely sticks to my plan but almost always ends up better than I could have dreamed up on my own.

Amanda’s Bio:

Amanda Medders is the founder of Tri-Ed Tutoring. Together with her sister and partner, Jamie Medders, she provides in-home tutoring services for students of all ages in the DC metropolitan area. She holds a Master’s in Teaching and is licensed to teach in the state of Virginia. With 7+ years of teaching and tutoring experience, Amanda has a passion for education.

Want to connect with Amanda?  Follow her on Twitter!