With over 12 years of experience at , including leadership roles at the payment processor and peer-to-peer payment app , Kasia brings a wealth of expertise in scaling marketing operations for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) high-growth technology companies. In her most recent position as Vice President of Global Consumer Marketing at PayPal, she led breakthrough integrated marketing campaigns that accelerated brand loyalty and customer engagement with PayPal鈥檚 more than 400 million customers in 200 markets around the globe.

Kasia Leyden, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer (CMO)

Unlocking Potential for Millions of Customers

At ApplyBoard, Kasia will oversee all aspects of marketing, including brand, creative, integrated marketing, product marketing, communications, public relations, and growth marketing. Her mandate includes elevating the 星空影视brand on the global stage to unlock potential for millions of customers and position marketing as a strategic growth lever for the company.

鈥淜asia鈥檚 extensive experience in building and scaling marketing operations for global tech brands with a two-sided marketplace makes her the ideal leader to take ApplyBoard鈥檚 marketing and strategy to the next level,鈥� said Meti Basiri, Co-Founder & CEO, ApplyBoard. 鈥淪he has a deep understanding of the nuances around market entry and growth strategies for different cultures in emerging markets, which is paramount in driving brand awareness and market share growth as we continue to expand our global presence.鈥�

Creativity, Empowerment, and Data-Driven Decision-Making

Kasia鈥檚 approach to marketing centres on fostering a culture of creativity, empowerment, and data-driven decision-making. She has built multiple high-performing global marketing teams that don鈥檛 follow a traditional funnel but rather build an ecosystem centred around business objectives, customer insight, and insightful content.

鈥淎s an immigrant and an expat who has lived, learned, and worked in over six countries, I鈥檓 deeply moved by ApplyBoard鈥檚 mission to unlock the potential of millions of aspiring minds around the world,鈥� said Kasia. 鈥淭he opportunity to shape our growth and strategy, while solidifying ApplyBoard鈥檚 leadership position in an industry that鈥檚 already doubled over the last decade, is truly exciting.”

Kasia holds a master鈥檚 degree in Marketing from Australia鈥檚 and brings a truly global perspective to her work, having worked across the United States, Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Her appointment further strengthens ApplyBoard鈥檚 senior leadership team as we continue our global expansion following the addition of alum David Borecky as Chief Financial Officer last year.

We can鈥檛 wait to see all the incredible things Kasia and her team will accomplish together to help advance ApplyBoard鈥檚 mission.

Join the 星空影视team and empower people around the world to access the best education.

The post 星空影视Welcomes Kasia Leyden as Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer appeared first on ApplyBoard.

鈥淔rom 星空影视Co-Founder & CEO Meti Basiri鈥檚 speaking panel to showcasing Abbie at our booth, as well as engaging with partners, investors, students, and industry members, we were able to showcase ApplyBoard鈥檚 mission and how we鈥檙e using innovative tech to bring it to life,鈥� explains Brooke Kelly, ApplyBoard鈥檚 Manager, Public Relations.

Keep reading for some highlights from this year鈥檚 conference!

Sidd Sengupta, Product Manager 6, and Haitham Amar, Head of Data Strategy and Analytics, demonstrate how Abbie is truly like having your very own guidance counselor at your fingertips, 24/7!

Showcasing Abbie, the First-Ever AI Study Abroad Advisor

Abbie was unveiled to the world on Tuesday and we couldn鈥檛 think of a place we鈥檇 rather be to mark this milestone than Collision! Members of ApplyBoard鈥檚 Product and Marketing divisions were excited to be on hand at booth E123 (in a prime spot near Centre Stage!) to showcase the first-ever AI advisor designed exclusively for studying abroad.

Learn more about how Abbie is the fastest and easiest way to navigate the student journey!

Over our three days at booth E123, we had the opportunity to connect with friends old and new, including both recruitment and institutional partners, some of our initial seed investors, and friends from TD and Communitech. But most meaningful of all was meeting students who have used the 星空影视platform to help make their study abroad dreams come true. It鈥檚 a gratifying reminder of how the work ApplyBoardians do every day is helping to unlock students鈥� potential around the globe.

Meti Basiri joins Iryna Volnytska, Michael Ellison, Tom Simon, and moderator Emily Ragobeer for a conversation on the role AI will play in the future of learning.

The Role of AI in the Future of Education

星空影视Co-Founder & CEO Meti Basiri hit the Future Societies stage on day two of Collision for a conversation exploring the role AI will play in the future of learning and how it can empower students and educators in a way that doesn鈥檛 compromise critical thinking. He joined an incredible panel of industry experts, who, like ApplyBoard, are all working to help break down barriers to education. The panel included:

• Iryna Volnytska, President at
• Tom Simon, President of Higher Education & Virtual Learning at
• Michael Ellison, Co-Founder & CEO at

The wide-ranging conversation touched on the importance of responsible Generative AI in education, how AI can personalize education and critical thinking, the importance of data security, and more.

星空影视has been using AI to simplify the study abroad journey since we began our mission to educate the world in 2015. It has allowed us to support students from over 150 countries,听 expanding their access to education and encouraging global student mobility.听

鈥淲hen I was applying to study abroad, the process was labour intensive, time-consuming, and very confusing,鈥� recalled Meti. 鈥淚 had to physically mail large documents, visit multiple study abroad agents, and even go to a different country in order to kick-off my study abroad journey. 13 years later, tools like our 星空影视platform make this process easier, removing barriers to studying outside your home country.鈥�

ApplyBoard鈥檚 proprietary AI helps match students with the best schools and programs for their education goals, providing targeted recommendations with our program matcher tool. Students can easily find, apply, and get accepted to schools around the world and be guided throughout the entire journey. From accessing information about their chosen program, country, and institutions, to taking advantage of , loans, and more, 星空影视has them covered.

The conversation, occurring the same day as our release of Abbie, couldn鈥檛 have been more timely. Meti explained that AI tools, such as Abbie, help level the playing field and can be used to enable a deeper understanding for students. Meti compared Abbie to a traditional high school guidance counselor, but said that with Abbie 鈥測ou have that in any language and at your fingertips 24/7. We鈥檙e very excited that we can utilize years of data that we have gathered and bring that opportunity to every student around the world, accelerating student mobility and accessibility鈥�.

鈥淎I is just the starting point and a pivotal point in accessibility for education,鈥� explained Meti.

We can鈥檛 wait to see where it takes us next.

The post Abbie and ApplyBoard鈥檚 Innovative Tech Takes Centre Stage at Collision Conference appeared first on ApplyBoard.

星空影视is thrilled to announce an innovative partnership with renowned actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood. In a move to empower Indian students, Sonu Sood is now the official first brand ambassador for ApplyBoard, kicking off a multi-year collaboration designed to dismantle barriers and unlock potential for students around the world.

Sood is a renowned Bollywood actor who has starred in over 50 films across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada languages. Beyond his successful film career, Sood is widely respected for his extensive philanthropic work, particularly through his role as Founder and Executive Director of the , where his and his team鈥檚 humanitarian efforts focus on enabling access to health, education, and employment for underserved people.

Unlocking Potential for Indian Students

“Sonu Sood’s vast experience and enduring commitment to education make him the perfect brand ambassador for ApplyBoard,” says Meti Basiri, Co-Founder and CEO, ApplyBoard. “Together, we share a deep commitment to democratizing access to education. This partnership marks a significant step forward in empowering students from all backgrounds to pursue their academic aspirations on a global scale.”

Established in 2021, the Sood Charity Foundation embodies the legacy of Sood’s late mother, Professor Saroj Sood, a dedicated educator who believed in providing free, quality education to everyone, regardless of their background or resources. The foundation carries on her mission by empowering underprivileged individuals in India with access to education, fostering career opportunities, and promoting self-reliance.

“Raised by an educator, education has always been paramount to me,” says Sonu Sood. “Accessibility, however, remains a significant hurdle for many deserving students. My late mother selflessly dedicated her life to teaching and instilled in me the importance of breaking down these barriers. I’m honored to join forces with 星空影视because together, we can unlock the potential for students around the world to achieve their study abroad dreams and pursue a brighter future.”

Sonu Sood in conversation with 星空影视Co-Founder & CEO Meti Basiri at Top Recruiters Workshop (TRW) Global.

Learn how this year’s TRW Global sparked meaningful conversations and made an impact that will go on to help unlock the potential of the next million students and beyond!

An Impactful Collaboration

This impactful collaboration leverages Sood’s immense influence and ApplyBoard’s industry-leading expertise to create a transformative collaboration for educational advancement globally. The partnership will encompass a multitude of initiatives including:

• Raising Awareness: Wide-scale campaigns spearheaded by Sonu Sood will shine a light on the vast array of international education opportunities available to potential students.
• Empowering Resources: ApplyBoard’s comprehensive platform is readily accessible to students, offering valuable resources and expert guidance to navigate the application process for international studies seamlessly.
• Scholarship Opportunities (details to be announced): 星空影视and Sonu Sood are dedicated to creating pathways for deserving students by offering scholarships to bridge the financial gap and make international education a reality.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new partnership!

The post Sonu Sood Joins 星空影视as Brand Ambassador to Empower Students appeared first on ApplyBoard.

Keep reading and watch the video below to learn about Aarushi鈥檚 journey!

Empowering Students to Make an Informed Choice

The 星空影视platform is a prospective international student鈥檚 gateway to incredible study abroad opportunities at more than 1,500 leading educational institutions across Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

An important aspect of Aarushi鈥檚 role is 鈥渄eveloping and managing dedicated pages for our partner schools鈥� on the 星空影视platform. These pages 鈥渃ontain crucial information about the schools, the programs they offer, and all the available intakes for their different programs.鈥� Aarushi explains that 鈥減roviding students with easily accessible and detailed information through our dedicated pages facilitates a smoother decision-making process, as it empowers them to choose institutions and programs that align with their goals and preferences.鈥�

鈥淭he most rewarding aspect of my role is contributing to the process that motivates students to pursue education abroad and accomplish their academic goals,鈥� says Aarushi. It gives her a 鈥渄eep sense of fulfillment knowing that my small efforts help expand education opportunities for students.鈥�

Ensuring Content Accuracy on the 星空影视Platform

Aarushi and her team always go the extra mile to ensure that students have the most accurate and up-to-date information about ApplyBoard鈥檚 partner institutions at their fingertips.

鈥淭o maintain accurate information on the 星空影视platform, we鈥檝e implemented a thorough review process,鈥� explains Aarushi. 鈥淩egular audits help us verify details鈥� and 鈥渙ur collaboration with partner schools is facilitated by [ApplyBoard鈥檚] dedicated Partner Relations and Partner Client Manager teams. This cooperative approach ensures that the information on our platform aligns seamlessly with the school鈥檚 official data, promptly addressing any disparities or updates. To reduce the risk of errors, we directly source information from reliable channels and use automated tools for real-time cross-verification and updates. This way, we make sure everything you see on our platform is correct and up-to-date.鈥�

A More Seamless Decision-Making Process

Aarushi and the team always strive to Deliver an A+ Customer Experience to their customers.

A partner institution recently approached them about 鈥渆nhancing how their information is presented on the 星空影视platform.鈥� The project would mean 鈥渞evising and updating鈥� thousands of program pages, including 鈥渕eticulously reviewing and aligning the information with the resources provided by our partner.鈥� However, they quickly jumped at the opportunity, recognizing the profound impact it could make on students, who are at the heart of everything we do at ApplyBoard. For Aarushi and the team, this initiative 鈥済oes beyond accuracy. It aims to provide students with greater clarity about the courses offered by the partner institution, ensuring a more seamless decision-making process.鈥�

The success of this cross-functional project and its potential to make the study abroad journey easier for students has got Aarushi and the team thinking about how they can roll it out to more of our partner schools in the future.

Meet two more ApplyBoardians who go above and beyond to Deliver an A+ Customer Experience: Kara and Ian.

A Profound Learning Journey

As a company on a mission to break down barriers to education, 星空影视believes wholeheartedly in making learning and growth a priority for our team members scattered across more than 30 countries around the globe. Aarushi shares that, as an employer, 鈥溞强沼笆觭tands out in its commitment to fostering continuous learning and growth.鈥�

For Aarushi, 星空影视gives her the chance to immerse herself in a 鈥渄iverse range of opportunities, where I not only expand my knowledge but also engage in networking and collaboration with individuals from different teams and experiences. This exposure serves as a profound learning journey for me, personally.鈥�

Another of ApplyBoard鈥檚 six core values is Innovating and Improving, and each day we push ourselves to challenge the status quo. 鈥淥ur leadership is exceptionally supportive, consistently motivating us to strive for excellence and innovate solutions that align with the company鈥檚 vision and mission,鈥� says Aarushi. 鈥淭his culture encourages me to think creatively and push boundaries of conventional thinking.鈥�

Thank you, Aarushi, for constantly going above and beyond in Helping Students Achieve Success in the work that you do at 星空影视every day, and for making countless study abroad dreams come true!

Are you passionate about Helping Students Achieve Success? Explore open roles on the !

The post ApplyBoardian Q&A: Meet Aarushi Grover, Content and Intakes Professional appeared first on ApplyBoard.

Introducing one of ApplyBoard鈥檚 fantastic Learning & Development Program Managers, Anneke Pries-Junca. Anneke has been helping 星空影视Educate the World as a Learning & Development (L&D) Program Manager since July 2021. In this role, she helps ApplyBoardians integrate learning and professional development into their day-to-day lives. This helps all of us build our skills, so we can better support our global students in achieving their study abroad dreams. She recently sat down for an ApplyBoardian Q&A session to share a little about her Life at ApplyBoard.

Keep reading and watch the video below to learn about her journey!

Why Learning and Development?

Anneke gravitated towards working in learning and development because she鈥檚 passionate about bringing learners and colleagues together to explore new ideas and ways of thought. She shares a quote that guides her work: 鈥淭eachers have three loves: the love of learning, the love of students, and the love of bringing the first two together.鈥�

Anneke鈥檚 passion for L&D is rooted in the belief that learning and development 鈥渋s about creating opportunities for people to learn and grow.鈥� This fuels her commitment to curating meaningful opportunities for ApplyBoardians to learn and thrive in the workplace and beyond.

Making Learning an Intentional Part of Our Lives

When asked how team members can integrate learning into their daily lives, Anneke shares that it鈥檚 important to think about the world through a lens of curiosity. When facing a challenging situation, we should pause to ask ourselves these three questions:

1. Why does this matter?
2. What鈥檚 the opportunity?
3. What do I need to do?

She goes on to share that 鈥渨hen we shift into that mindset, we realize that there鈥檚 so much learning to be had around us. Through curiosity, that鈥檚 really how we become learners in our day-to-day lives.鈥澨�

In 2023, we shone a spotlight on our company’s core values through our Core Values in Action video series!听

Turning Curiosity into Personal Development

You may be asking yourself 鈥淲hat do I do with that curiosity?鈥� You can turn curiosity into personal development by recognizing those moments of interest and leveraging them to foster your personal or professional growth.听

鈥淧ersonal development is different for all of us,鈥� Anneke explains. 鈥淲hen we have an experience that sparks curiosity, we should ask ourselves ‘What is going on in that situation, and how can I tap into that to keep growing?鈥� Use that thinking to define your growth areas and what skills you want to build on.鈥�

Ultimately, curiosity should be a catalyst for personal growth, because it can prompt you to reflect on your experiences and identify areas for development.听

Calling all current and future international students! Don鈥檛 miss our ApplyBoardian Q&A with Senior Counsel and former international student Dan Cira for his advice on studying abroad.

Learning and Development in Action

For Anneke, learning and development comes to life through various programs at ApplyBoard. Each program offers unique value. During her interview, she focused on the Change Management Program, a recent addition to ApplyBoard鈥檚 professional development offerings, and one which she鈥檚 helped to curate. This eight-week intensive program guides learners through understanding change situations and building strategies to:

• Effectively implement and manage organizational change
• Gain insights into the emotional and psychological aspects of change
• Create impactful messaging to increase change adoption
• Foster an environment that embraces change by building resilient teams

Through curating and facilitating this program, Anneke is empowering ApplyBoardians to navigate transitions at work and thrive in a dynamic environment. It ultimately equips them with the tools to answer the program鈥檚 core question: How do we lead people through change?

星空影视has been recognized on the 2024 edition of the Global Silicon Valley’s GSV 150 list! Learn more about this achievement.

Delivering an A+ Customer Experience to ApplyBoardians

When asked which of ApplyBoard鈥檚 core values resonates most with her, Anneke promptly responded that it was Delivering an A+ Customer Experience. She says that 鈥渋t really helps govern how I show up at work.鈥�

At ApplyBoard, Delivering an A+ Customer Experience is more than just a buzzword鈥攊t鈥檚 a commitment to excellence. It鈥檚 about going beyond the expected to provide that 鈥渨ow鈥� moment for our internal and external customers, leaving a lasting impression that exceeds their expectations. Whether it鈥檚 resolving an issue or answering a question, we always strive to deliver the best possible resolution.听

Ultimately, we’re not just customer-focused; we’re customer-obsessed in everything we do. And Anneke truly lives up to that approach. Each day she does all she can to ensure her customer, all ApplyBoardians across the globe, are getting the best possible learning experience, so they can show up for our customers, international students.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Anneke for her commitment to ApplyBoardians鈥� ongoing learning and development. 星空影视wouldn鈥檛 be where we are today without team members like Anneke. Her leadership, thoughtfulness, and positivity continue to inspire us all.

Want to join our innovative team?

The post ApplyBoardian Q&A: Meet Anneke Pries-Junca, Learning & Development Program Manager appeared first on ApplyBoard.

We couldn鈥檛 be more thrilled to share that 星空影视has been recognized on the 2024 edition of the ! We are honoured to join other cutting-edge companies on this annual list of the most transformational growth companies in digital learning and workforce skills shaping the future of education.

At the Forefront of Innovation

鈥淭hese VC- and PE-backed companies are at the forefront of innovation and constantly evolving to drive return on education (RoE) for individuals, businesses, and society,鈥� explains Global Silicon Valley. 鈥淪elected from 2,000+ companies around the world based on revenue scale, revenue growth, user reach, geographic diversification, and margin profile, this impressive group is reaching an estimated 3 billion people and generating an estimated $23 billion in revenue.鈥�

Innovating and Improving

This recognition is a true testament to the spirit of Innovating and Improving that each and every ApplyBoardian embodies every day to break down barriers to education. At ApplyBoard, we live and breathe Innovating and Improving, one of our six core values. ApplyBoardians come to work each day ready to empower each other to challenge the status quo, show up curious and dig deeper, and take risks and learn from our mistakes.

Congratulations, ApplyBoardians! This wouldn鈥檛 be possible without your passion and dedication.

Core Values in Action: Meet a handful of ApplyBoardians who are going above and beyond to uphold our six core values.

2024 ASU+GSV Summit

We also want to extend our congratulations to other transformational growth companies that are leading the way featured in the GSV 150, including , , and , and fellow Canadian companies and . 星空影视Co-Founder and CEO Meti Basiri looks forward to joining many of them this spring at the 2024 GSV 150 at the 2024 ASU+GSV Summit in April in sunny San Diego, California!

Ready to challenge the status quo? Check out the 星空影视Careers page to explore our open roles.

The post 星空影视Recognized on the 2024 GSV 150 as a Transformational Growth Company appeared first on ApplyBoard.

In 2023, 星空影视helped more students than ever before fulfill their study abroad dreams鈥攁nd a remarkable 750,000 students to date since 2015. Our commitment to assisting students in achieving their aspirations, coupled with creating innovative solutions for our partner schools across our five destination countries and global network of recruitment partners, has marked a transformative year in ApplyBoard鈥檚 books. Let’s reflect on some of the highlights that made this year special!

Jimmy Battaglia, Founder and Head of TrainHub, attends ICEF Berlin.

Full Integration with TrainHub

In 2023, a year after ApplyBoard鈥檚 acquisition of TrainHub, the two fully integrated their platforms, resulting in a game-changer for the international education sector. 星空影视now offers unprecedented, free access to TrainHub鈥檚 library of training materials to the more than 6,500 recruitment partners in our global network, helping to improve outcomes for the students our recruitment partners support.

TrainHub is flexible and can be used as a Learning Management System. The TrainHub x 星空影视integration also offers the academic institutions we work with precise tracking of partner training, control over access to materials, and significant time savings.听

ApplyBoard鈥檚 Chief Executive Officer, Meti Basiri, shared that 鈥渢he 星空影视Platform is building an ecosystem of solutions designed to improve the study abroad journey. TrainHub bridges a very important gap in the industry: the facilitation and training of recruitment partners.鈥澨�

This collaboration brings unparalleled scale to training access for recruitment professionals, helping to ensure accurate student counselling. This is only the start, as TrainHub has a number of exciting developments already in the works for 2024.

New Collaboration with British Council IELTS

星空影视teamed up with the this year to revolutionize the journey from testing to studying abroad. Students taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) through the British Council now get a personalized program of study and study abroad destination match via ApplyBoard鈥檚 Program Matcher tool. This new process opens doors to tailored opportunities that align with students鈥� goals, such as their dream study location and preferred academic program.听

ApplyBoard鈥檚 user-friendly platform offers a choice of over 1,750 partner institutions and a whopping 140,000 academic programs, which are now at the fingertips of IELTS test takers. Andrew Mackenzie, Head of IELTS at British Council, noted that 鈥渁s a fast-growing organization at the forefront of educational innovation, we are confident ApplyBoard鈥檚 services will further enhance the experience of British Council IELTS test-takers, equipping them with an advanced tool to choose the next steps of their journey.鈥澨�

Program Matcher: After answering a series of questions, students get four specialized program recommendations that suit their unique requirements.

Innovative Products Like Program Matcher

With all the international students we鈥檝e helped along their study abroad journeys, we know that finding the ideal program or institution can sometimes be a challenge! To make this process a little easier, we launched the Program Matcher tool, which is designed to streamline the search for the perfect study abroad program.

How does it work? Users answer questions about academic background, goals, and preferences. The artificial intelligence-powered Program Matcher then offers four personalized program recommendations, considering factors such as budget, qualifications, and preferences. With over 140,000 programs across five countries to choose from, Program Matcher ensures tailored results. While it can be used without an account, registering for a free 星空影视account enhances precision.

Celebrating Our Core Values All Year Long

ApplyBoard鈥檚 core values are our compass鈥攁ka our guiding principles鈥攊n our mission to educate the world. They align with our strategy, mission, and goals, and unite us in a shared sense of purpose as we work together as one team to break down barriers to education all around the world.

We shone a spotlight on our core values throughout 2023, including celebrating ApplyBoardians who go above and beyond to embody them through our Core Values in Action video series.

Meet these incredible individuals featured in Core Values in Action!

For the second year running, we also handed out the Annual 星空影视Core Values Awards to ApplyBoardians in the Americas & Europe and APAC who go the extra mile to model our values in the incredible work they do every day.

Our Annual Core Values Award winners in the Americas and Europe take the stage.

Americas & Europe Winners

• Caring About Each Other Award: Darryl Jam, Senior Director of Finance
• Making Work Fun Award: Paul Mason, Director, Security Analysis
• Helping Students Achieve Success Award: Rachel Lund, Associate Manager, CX
• Delivering an A+ Customer Experience Award: Greg Errey, Senior Manager, IT, and Abuzar Arshi, Project Manager
• Taking Ownership Award: Gaurav Sharma, Senior Manager, International Recruitment, and Mohammad Hamrah, Software Engineer
• Innovating and Improving Award: Siddhartha Sengupta, Product Manager 5
• Ambassador Award: Keaton Katic, Marketing Communications Specialist
• Founders Award: Megan Fallows, Knowledge Management Specialist II

Our APAC winners show off their well-deserved awards.

APAC Winners

• Caring About Each Other Award: Smriti Srivastava, Human Resources Business Partner
• Making Work Fun Award: Kripali Kulkarni, Project Manager II听
• Helping Students Achieve Success Award: Neil Sarte, Senior International Recruitment Manager
• Delivering an A+ Customer Experience Award: Yash Kumar, Application Specialist
• Taking Ownership Award: Gurpreet Sallan, Associate Manager, International Recruitment
• Innovating and Improving Award: Akshita Arora, Education Credential Team Lead
• Ambassador Award: Anuj Mittal, Director of Customer Experience
• Founders Award: Rashi Mathur, Senior Manager, International Recruitment

International Alumni of Impact celebrates the stories of former international students who studied in Canada and have gone on to make a positive impact in their community.

Launched Our International Alumni of Impact Program (IAOI)

We were thrilled to launch our International Alumni of Impact (IAOI) program earlier this year! IOAI celebrates the stories of former international students who studied in Canada and who have gone on to make a positive impact in their community.

From teachers to entrepreneurs and government officials, these inspiring individuals came to Canada to pursue their study abroad dreams from countries like Bangladesh, Guatemala, Nigeria, and the Philippines. Now, they鈥檙e actively building their communities and shaping the future for the next generation of leaders.听

This year鈥檚 incredible IAOI winners were:

• Anjo Colago, the Philippines 鈥� 2021 graduate from Coast Mountain College
• Asif Hossain, Bangladesh 鈥� 2018 graduate from the Justice Institute of British Columbia
• Chetanya Sharma, India 鈥� 2021 graduate from the University of Ottawa
• Christine Qin Yang, China 鈥� 2014 graduate from Mount Saint Vincent University
• Gurpreet (GP) Singh Broca, India 鈥� 2018 graduate from Cambrian College
• Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Nigeria 鈥� 2012 graduate from the University of Waterloo
• Kajol Bhatia, United Arab Emirates 鈥撎� 2020 graduate from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
• Ramneet Brar, India 鈥� 2017 graduate from George Brown College
• Walter Alvarez-Bardales, Guatemala 鈥� 2020 graduate from Cape Breton University
• Woohyung (Roy) Cho, South Korea 鈥� 2020 graduate from Vancouver Community College

Explore their incredible journeys鈥攜ou might find inspiration for your own study abroad adventure!

Scholarships were awarded in each of their names to deserving incoming international students who secured their acceptance to their respective institutions through 星空影视for Summer and Fall 2023. These scholarships aim to support the next generation of international leaders, giving them a helping hand as they pursue their dreams and positively impact their communities.

Named One of Canada鈥檚 Enterprise鈥擨ndustry Leaders in Deloitte鈥檚 Technology Fast 50

We were thrilled to share that 星空影视was recognized as an Enterprise鈥擨ndustry leaders award winner in the prestigious .听

This is the fifth consecutive year that 星空影视has ranked as one of Canada鈥檚 fastest-growing companies, but it is the first year we鈥檝e been named to the distinguished Enterprise鈥擨ndustry leaders category. This leadership category recognizes the enterprise-level fastest-growing companies by revenue-growth percentage over their last four years of operation.

As the 10th fastest-growing company on this list, our move up to the Enterprise鈥擨ndustry leaders category reflects our continued growth as a mature tech company. Additionally, 星空影视has ranked 282 on the 2023 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, which celebrates North America鈥檚 fastest-growing technology, media, and telecommunications companies.

As we reflect on an amazing year at ApplyBoard, we extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team members, recruitment partners, and partner schools for their collective work in making education more accessible for all. Cheers to an extraordinary year and an exceptional 2024!

Want to join our innovative team?

The post 星空影视Year in Review 2023 appeared first on ApplyBoard.

Throughout 2023, we鈥檝e been shining a spotlight on our core values, including celebrating ApplyBoardians who go above and beyond to embody them through our ongoing video series, Core Values in Action. Before this year and Core Values in Action comes to a close, let’s take one more look at the remarkable team members we’ve featured. Keep reading and watch the 2023 highlights video below to learn what our core values truly mean to them and how they go above and beyond to model these values every day!

Caring About Each Other: Elias Srouji, Sales Training Specialist (Former ApplyBoardian)

In his tenure with ApplyBoard, Elias, a committed member of the Sales Enablement Team, also led planning for the company’s annual Pride Month celebrations, focusing on inclusivity and education. To Elias, 鈥�Caring About Each Other is ensuring we celebrate our differences and recognize our own unique attributes and skills.鈥� This stems from his belief that 鈥渆veryone should be able to feel like they belong and are included, which also, ultimately, makes us a better team to work with as a whole, as an entire company, to achieve success.鈥澨�

Making Work Fun: Ankit Agarwal, Senior Manager, Application Journey

Ankit ensures smooth application processing at 星空影视while maintaining cross-functional relationships that help to ensure customer satisfaction. He excels at organizing company events and fostering a close-knit work environment, committing to Making Work Fun.听

Despite a dispersed team, Ankit has built a collaborative atmosphere, encouraging outings and team lunches for motivation. Ankit reflects on his approach, stating, 鈥渂eyond organizing events myself, I encourage my teams to plan outings and team lunches just to ensure that they鈥檙e motivated and able to keep the workspace fun.鈥�

Delivering an A+ Customer Experience: Kara Zhang, Senior International Recruitment Manager, and Ian McRae, Partner Relations Manager

This year, we’ve celebrated two team members who personify Delivering an A+ Customer Experience: Kara and Ian.听

Kara鈥檚 days typically include following up with her applications to ensure there鈥檚 no missing information, and that her recruitment partners are aware of any changes in their students鈥� applications. To Kara, 鈥淒elivering an A+ Customer Experience means building a strong relationship with my customers 鈥� It means valuing my customers鈥� feedback, listening to their inquiries, taking pride in my work, and ensuring that every aspect of the application process is handled with professionalism and attention to detail.鈥澨�

Ian manages ApplyBoard鈥檚 partnerships with Ontario colleges. When asked what this value means to him, Ian shared that 鈥渋t鈥檚 all about going above and beyond expectations.鈥� He added that 鈥渋t鈥檚 about delivering a solution that actually works, in a way that鈥檚 comprehensive and professional.鈥� Ultimately, to Ian, 鈥渋n the context of working with our school partners, Delivering A+ Customer Experience means solving problems, but also adding a strategic perspective in order to be better positioned for success in the future.鈥�

Explore our Q&A with Karunn Kandoi, ApplyBoard鈥檚 Chief Experience Officer and a former international student, as he shares insights on conquering his major study abroad challenge.

Taking Ownership: Caitlin Quigley, Account Receivable Analyst

As an Accounts Receivable Analyst, Caitlin manages the financial transactions in the recruitment partner e-Wallet. To her, Taking Ownership means 鈥渢aking initiative and not waiting for others. It means not being afraid to fail. Maybe you don鈥檛 have the ability to make big changes yourself, but present your ideas, big or small, to those who can. And seize all of the learning opportunities that are presented to you!鈥澨�

Caitlin is proactive, and makes a conscious effort to anticipate roadblocks so that she鈥檚 in a suitable position to respond if need be.

Innovating and Improving: Haroon Rashid, Team Lead, IT Service Desk India

Haroon started with 星空影视as an IT Analyst, and more recently became the Team Lead of our IT ServiceDesk in India. Haroon truly sees the value in showing up curious and digging deeper. He has taken ownership of Innovating and Improving the IT ServiceDesk鈥檚 policies and procedures, and often investigates areas where the team sees an increased amount of support requests.听

鈥淯ltimately,鈥� Haroon says, 鈥渢hese efforts lead to increased efficiency, improved issue resolution, and enhanced collaboration within the team.鈥�

Check out our ApplyBoardian Q&A featuring Senior Counsel and former international student Dan Cira.

Helping Students Achieve Success: Nadine Murray, Associate Manager 鈥� Application Journey

As an associate manager on the Application Journey Team, Nadine helps the students 星空影视works with to optimize their chances of a successful enrollment. For Nadine, Helping Students Achieve Success means 鈥渒eeping the student front of mind with everything that you鈥檙e doing 鈥� remembering that for every application and all the work we鈥檙e doing in a day, it鈥檚 always leading to help a student.鈥澨�

Her guiding principle of student-centric decision-making helps to ensure each choice Nadine or her team members make is the right one for that student. This commitment also directs her team鈥檚 continuous improvement. Whether processing more applications than the day before, cultivating strong relationships with academic institutions, or promptly responding to queries, their every action is purposeful.

Thank you to each and every ApplyBoardian featured in this series! Your commitment to breaking down barriers to education is commendable, and we鈥檙e privileged to have you working toward shaping a brighter future with us. Here鈥檚 to continued success in our mission to Educate the World in 2024!听

Thinking about becoming an ApplyBoardian? Take a peek at our open roles on the 星空影视Careers page.

The post Core Values in Action: 2023 Highlights appeared first on ApplyBoard.

Throughout 2023, we placed a special emphasis on our six core values and some of the ApplyBoardians who truly embody them. Today, we鈥檙e wrapping up our Core Values in Action series with Nadine Murray, Associate Manager 鈥� Application Journey. Nadine has been Helping Students Achieve Success at 星空影视since 2019. Steve McCalla, Head of Customer Experience, shares that 鈥淣adine鈥檚 curiosity allows her to challenge the status quo. She鈥檚 not willing to accept something unless she truly believes that it鈥檚 going to lead to the desired outcome of Helping Students Achieve Success.鈥澨�

Keep reading and watch the video below to learn what Helping Students Achieve Success means at 星空影视and how Nadine exemplifies it.

Read our Q&A with Karunn Kandoi, ApplyBoard鈥檚 Chief Experience Officer鈥攁nd a former international student鈥攖o learn how he overcame his biggest study abroad challenge.

What Helping Students Achieve Success Means to Us

As ApplyBoardians, Helping Students Achieve Success is at the heart of everything we do and is foundational to our other company core values. So, what does this value mean to us? We always strive to make students鈥� dreams come true, impact their lives in a positive way, and connect students with the best schools and programs for them.

Nadine鈥檚 Day-to-Day Impact

Nadine is an associate manager on the Application Journey Team. This team helps the students 星空影视works with secure the best chance of a successful enrollment, including:

• Ensuring students are eligible and qualified for their program
• Reviewing and submitting their applications
• Following up with our partner institutions about their decisions
• Sharing the institution鈥檚 decision听
• Informing students about their next steps (if they’ve received an offer) and how to fulfill their conditions, which involves paying their tuition deposit, accepting their offer, and filing for their visa

As an associate manager, Nadine鈥檚 responsibilities can look different from day to day. Ultimately, she ensures her team knows what their goals are for the day, that they feel confident in their work, and have the necessary resources to be successful.听

Nadine shares that her days 鈥渙ften include organizing my team in terms of high-priority tasks. This could be prioritizing a submission deadline, coordinating urgent applications, connecting with schools, or ensuring that we鈥檙e responding to our students and recruitment partners鈥� questions in a timely manner.鈥� At the heart of these responsibilities is Nadine鈥檚 desire to help international students reach their dreams.

Deloitte has ranked 星空影视as one of Canada鈥檚 fastest-growing companies for five years in a row, but this is the first year we鈥檝e been named to their distinguished Enterprise鈥擨ndustry leaders category!

What Helping Students Achieve Success Means to Nadine

For Nadine, Helping Students Achieve Success means 鈥渒eeping the student front of mind with everything that you鈥檙e doing鈥� remembering that for every application and all the work we鈥檙e doing in a day, it鈥檚 always leading to help a student.鈥�

The guiding principle of student-centric decision-making helps to ensure that each choice Nadine or her team members make is the right one for that student. This commitment also directs her team鈥檚 continuous improvement. Whether processing more applications than the day before, cultivating strong relationships with academic institutions, or promptly responding to students and recruitment partners, every action is purposeful. As Nadine affirms, 鈥淗elping Students Achieve Success guides the work that myself and my team does, because we focus on what we can do each day to improve.鈥澨�

Steve explains that 鈥淣adine is able to look at her and her team鈥檚 performance and determine: is there a better way that we can do something tomorrow compared to yesterday?鈥� He went on to say that 鈥渂ecause of that, she鈥檚 able to push herself and her team to find if there鈥檚 another way or opportunity that we can help our students achieve success.鈥澨�

One of countless examples is when Nadine collaborated with our Partner Relations and Sales Teams, as well as one of our partner institutions, to alleviate a bottleneck and streamline the application process for an in-demand program. Nadine and her team took it a step further to also consolidate and send the partner institution a list of qualified students to further expedite their review process. Nadine explains that this improved process led to students receiving a decision on their application in approximately seven days, instead of several weeks or even months.

Nadine鈥檚 focus on improvement serves as a testament to her dedication to the student behind each application, and demonstrates her commitment to making education more accessible for all.

Thank you, Nadine, for your tremendous efforts in ensuring students have the best possible chance of successfully enrolling in their program of choice. Your dedication and efforts play a vital role in helping 星空影视on our mission to Educate the World!听

Motivated by Helping Students Achieve Success? Check out our open roles on the 星空影视Careers page.

The post Core Values in Action: Nadine Murray is Helping Students Achieve Success appeared first on ApplyBoard.

Meet Karunn Kandoi, ApplyBoard鈥檚 incredible Chief Experience Officer. Karunn works in our Gurugram, India office and has been helping 星空影视Educate the World as a Chief Experience Officer since August 2020. In this role, he ensures that 星空影视provides the best possible customer experience for our stakeholders. This includes making sure all student applications submitted through 星空影视are checked, validated, and submitted to our partner schools as quickly and efficiently as possible. He recently sat down with us for an ApplyBoardian Q&A to talk about his Life at ApplyBoard.

Keep reading and watch the video below to learn about his journey!

How Karunn Supports ApplyBoard鈥檚 Mission

Ensuring 星空影视upholds our core value of Delivering an A+ Customer Experience is central to Karunn’s work. Ultimately, he believes that 鈥渇or 星空影视to be successful, it is paramount that we provide a seamless, frictionless experience to all of our customers at all points in time.鈥� He shares that delivering this level of customer experience doesn鈥檛 stop within the customer experience umbrella; it鈥檚 the responsibility of everyone at ApplyBoard. Central to Karunn鈥檚 role is ensuring that ApplyBoardians have what they need to make sure every student, recruitment partner, and academic institution we work with are wowed with their 星空影视experience.

Read our Q&A with Dan Cira, ApplyBoard鈥檚 Senior Counsel and a former international student, to learn his top study abroad tips and Life at ApplyBoard.

Challenges Faced and Overcome

Like many ApplyBoardians, Karunn himself is a former international student, which gives him an invaluable perspective he can leverage in his role. He pursued postgraduate studies in the United States, and like anyone studying abroad, he experienced challenges along the way. The biggest was the culture shock of moving to another country. He shares that, coming from a conservative society, he referred to his teachers as sir and ma鈥檃m, or by the title of professor, rather than informally by their first name, which is common in America. Karunn says that 鈥渋t took me a while to come around鈥� and start calling my professors by their first names. And that was an effort.鈥�

The second challenge was the language itself. Although Karunn is an English speaker, he was unfamiliar with the idioms used by his fellow students and professors in day-to-day conversation.听

Note: Idioms are phrases or expressions with a unique, non-literal meaning, often rooted in cultural or historical context. Idioms exist across all languages; with many considering . Common English idioms include being “under the weather” when you feel sick, or saying “break a leg” to wish someone good luck.听

Karunn, however, was determined to overcome this roadblock. 鈥淭he way I overcame that was whenever I heard something I didn鈥檛 understand, I would write it down and I would go back and look up its meaning.鈥�听

Learn how Ankit Agarwal is Making Work Fun for his fellow ApplyBoardians.

The Importance of Regular Customer Touchpoints

Karunn emphasizes the importance of 星空影视team members meeting regularly with our recruitment partners and partner institutions to ensure we鈥檙e delivering an unforgettable customer experience. He says that 鈥渢here鈥檚 always a challenge in perception versus reality. Unless you sit down with the customers, in our case, our partner institutions and recruitment partners, you wouldn鈥檛 really know what challenges they鈥檙e facing and how to solve [those] for them.鈥澨�

Karunn goes on to say that some of the products that 星空影视is now offering to further ease our students’ journeys, such as loans, Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs), and , were inspired by conversations with our partners. He shares that 鈥渋t鈥檚 critical that all of us at all time[s] are in touch with our partners, learning from them and improving.鈥�

In an era where email and messaging tools like Slack or Google Chat are often the predominant style of communication, Karunn’s insights on the impact of face-to-face meetings are important. So, remember, scheduling in-person meetings with your stakeholders will not only help you to build trust, but you may also uncover valuable insights.

In the three years since joining ApplyBoard, Karunn has dedicated himself to ensuring the best possible experience for all our stakeholders. His commitment to providing seamless customer experiences resonates throughout ApplyBoard. Thank you, Karunn, for everything you do to help 星空影视grow, and your unwavering dedication to our work to Educate the World. We鈥檙e so lucky to have you!

Interested in joining ApplyBoard? Take a peek at our open roles on the 星空影视Careers page!

The post ApplyBoardian Q&A: Meet Karunn Kandoi, ApplyBoard鈥檚 Chief Experience Officer appeared first on ApplyBoard.