For over a decade, Renee has guided countless students globally through college-level courses, test prep, and the college applications process. Today, she is ESM's Essay Coach Manager, responsible for training and guiding essay coaches to help students deliver their most authentic selves onto the page. Renee graduated magna cum laude from NYU’s Stern School of Business, majoring in Marketing with double minors in Film and Psychology. Her holistic experiences in business entrepreneurship, marketing, psychology, and art - all of which prioritize skills such as empathy, listening, strategy, and storytelling – deeply inform her mentorship-leadership approach.

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Renee’s philosophy hinges on empathy and empowerment. As a former high-achieving student who juggled 12 APs, tennis, club leaderships, volunteering, and multiple extracurriculars including advanced theater and placing Top 5 in California Speech & Debate, Renee understands inside and out exactly how overwhelming the stress of high school can be for students. For this reason, Renee strives to be the mentor she wished she had, acknowledging that mentorship is just as much about the assignments at hand as it is about teaching students life-long skills, awakening their love for learning, and building their self-efficacy so that they can learn to trust and depend upon themselves to formulate plans and solve problems. Renee seeks to provide emotional and practical support and build strong relationships with students and families, so that an individual plan can be tailored specifically for their needs. Nothing inspires Renee more than watching her students go from lost and despondent to engaged and resilient.

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When Renee isn’t mentoring students and brushing up on her own skills, she pursues a career in acting and writing, with her first pilot recently placing in a screenwriting competition! She enjoys long walks on the beach, absolutely obsesses over her two cats, and loves exploring national parks with her family.