Global Student Voices

Most students know they have questions about studying abroad. What they don’t know is that waiting to ask the right question is costing them the very opportunities they’re dreaming about. In this episode of the What’s Next series on Global Student Voices, Mitchell Barure from ALU talks with Coach Martin (25 years in international education, TCK raised in Tanzania and Kenya, author of six books on...

Can an international student-athlete earn an athletic scholarship at a US or Canadian university — even if they’re not nationally ranked? The answer may surprise you. In this episode, Coach Martin welcomes back Lara Peco Fazanes, founder of GPAthletes and a specialist in helping global student-athletes find athletic scholarships and opportunities to study and play in the US and Canada. Lara hersel...

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Coach Scott Martin and Dr. Josiah Marr go inside Adventure Year — the year-long journey Josiah, his wife, Tammy, and their two small children took across nine European countries and Asia, visiting more than 30 of the world's top international schools. The mission: see firsthand what the research had told him about school culture. Whether you're lead...

What is the difference between good and great school? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation for International school leaders, Coach Scott Martin sits down with Dr. Josiah Marr, school culture consultant, founder of Josiah Marr Consulting, and a fellow Global School Consulting Group affiliate. Fresh off completing his Doctor of Education at the University of Toronto, Josiah unpacks what his three...

Noa argues that today’s global students are over-prepared academically and dangerously under-prepared in the skills that carry them through transition: executive function, time management, stress management, and the social capacity to ask for help without shame. She makes the case for starting transition preparation in grade nine, breaking the elite-school comparison trap, replacing polished alumn...

What does good mental health support actually look like for globally mobile students and the international schools and universities that serve them? In Part 1 of this two-part Global Student Voices conversation, Coach Scott Martin sits down with Noa Kanter, M.A. — Head of Counseling Services, Safeguarding Officer, and Crisis Support Team Lead at Linden Global Learning in Berlin — for an honest, de...

In the second episode of our “What’s Next?” series on Global Student Voices, host Mitchell Barure sits down with Coach Scott R. Martin to answer a real student question submitted by Juliana in Kigali, Rwanda: “How can I secure a fully-funded scholarship and successfully adapt to studying in a new country?” It’s the most common question international mobile students ask, and Coach explains why it’s...

What happens when one small paperwork mistake ends four years of compliant study in the United States? On this episode of Global Student Voices, Coach Scott Martin sits down with Dr. Josh Schoonover — founder of Ask A DSO — to break down the rapidly shifting F-1 regulatory landscape and what international students and the schools that serve them must do right now. Josh brings a decade of hands-on...

What does independent research actually do for a high school student’s university application — and how does a globally mobile student access it? In this episode of Global Student Voices, Coach Scott R. Martin sits down with Yash Mundada, founder of RISE Global Education, to explore one of the most powerful and underused tools in the international admissions toolkit: published, PhD-mentored high s...

If you're a global student wondering how to navigate university abroad — where to start, how to fund it, and what it actually takes — this episode was made for you. In this debut episode of What's Next?, a new series within Global Student Voices, host Mitchell Barure takes student-submitted questions to Coach Scott R. Martin, Founder and CEO of Global Student Solutions and a globally mobil...

Coaching, the Six Pillars, and the Africa Trip: Building GSS with Coach Scott Martin (Part 2) What does it look like to truly coach a global student — not just advise them? In Part 2 of this candid two-part interview, GSS founder and CEO Coach Scott Martin sits down with intern Aiden Chin to go inside the coaching philosophy, curriculum framework, and organizational vision that have shaped Global...

Scott Martin reflects on his journey from growing up in Kenya to leading Global Student Solutions with intern Aiden Chin, highlighting the challenges international students face and the importance of cultural competency. He shares his coaching philosophy, his evolving writing, and his goal of building a supportive global community for students. #globaleducation #kenya #globalstudentvoices #student...

What does it actually look like when an international school puts students — not tests — at the center of everything? Rory Parkinson and Heather Adkins from Woodland Star International School in Nairobi, Kenya, join Coach Scott Martin to pull back the curtain on one of East Africa's most distinctive learning environments. In this episode, you'll hear about Woodland Star's two-teacher-p...

What happens when a Third Culture Kid arrives at a major American university and discovers there’s no place that reflects who they really are? Evan Stonestreet—born in Beirut, raised in Saudi Arabia, and studying computer engineering at Purdue University—faced exactly that question. His answer: build the community yourself. In this episode of Global Student Voices, Coach Martin talks with Evan abo...

What happens when an 8-year-old walks into a city council meeting and discovers he has a gift for public speaking? Meet William Miller—an 11-year-old speaker, author, and youth leader who is challenging kids everywhere to level up their character in real life. In this episode of Global Student Voices, host Coach Scott Martin sits down with William to talk about overcoming fear, building discipline...

What happens when an international school’s entire campushas to go offline just so ten students can take a test? In this episode, host Aiden Chin sits down with Anjie Martin, VP of Operations and EdTech Consulting at Global Student Solutions, to explore how small international schools canmove from survival mode to strategic digital confidence. Anjie shares her journey from database analyst at a US...

In this episode of Global Student Voices, Coach Martin interviews Chineme Ugbor, co-founder of Linden Global Learning Support Services, about Third Culture Kids (TCKs), international student mental health, and culturally responsive education. Chineme shares insights on global transitions, student well-being, identity, and how international schools and families can better support students navigatin...

Embracing the Journey: The Untold Story Behind Ben Between Africa What does it mean to grow up between cultures and how do family stories shape our sense of belonging? In this episode of Global Student Voices, Coach Scott R. Martin sits down with Ari Ali, creator of the powerful documentary Ben Between Africa. Together, they explore the deeply personal journey behind the film, uncovering themes of...

This week on Global Student Voices, Coach Martin sits down with someone you absolutely need to know: Paul Udah, the Student Representative President at African Leadership University (ALU) — and the first Nigerian ever elected to the role. In this conversational and motivating episode, Paul opens up about his journey from what he calls a “failed spot” to becoming a powerful young voice in internati...

Unlocking Your Potential: Joy, Purpose, and the Ikigai Journey with Cynthia UwimpuhweIn this inspiring episode of Global Student Voices, host Scott R. Martin sits down with Cynthia Uwimpuhwe, a first-year student at the African Leadership University (ALU) in Kigali, Rwanda. Known for her infectious joy, clarity of purpose, and deep self-awareness, Cynthia shares her powerful journey of self-discov...

In this episode, we speak with Mick Donahue, a long-time educator currently based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, about the launch of his new global platform, The Elite Mentor Program. Mick argues that while students today are academically brilliant, they often lack the "soft skills" and emotional intelligence (EQ) necessary to navigate life's challenges. The traditional school system, he believes, was n...

Global Student Voices, Season 2 Episode 14: Can One Week Abroad Change Your Life? Ethical Service with Globe Aware Founder Kimberly Haley-Coleman In this episode, host Scott "Coach" Martin sits down with Kimberly Haley-Coleman, Founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, to explore the world of short-term international service learning. Kimberly's organization, Globe Aware, offers...

Unlocking Potential: The Power of Structured Internships Join Scott R. Martin as he interviews Dhruva, co-founder of Lumiere and Ladder Internships , in this insightful episode, "Empowering Student Research and Internships with Lumiere". Dhruva shares his personal journey from India to Harvard and how the pandemic inspired him to create platforms that provide high-quality research and internship o...

In this illuminating episode of the "Global Student Voices Podcast," Coach Martin welcomes Marty Bennett, a veteran and "guru" in international education, to delve into the "Cycles and Future of International Education". Marty, whose own international journey began at age five as an L2 inter-company transfer from the UK to the US in 1974, shares his extensive professional career spanning decades,...

🎙️ What if actions spoke louder than grades? In this episode of Global Student Voices , Scott Martin interviews Matthew Hayes , founder of Citizens — the platform redefining student achievement by recognizing skills, character, and service alongside academics. Learn how Citizens is helping students, schools, and families showcase what truly matters. 🎧 Free for students. Trusted by top schools. Di...