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Kristen Borsetti - Founder, IEC

Kristen is the founder of College Alchemist, bringing over three decades of professional experience to guide students in their global education journey. As both an experienced educational consultant and a parent who has navigated the complex modern college admissions landscape through Singapore's international education system, she understands the context and offers unique insight into the challenges and opportunities facing today's students and their families.

Specializing in international college placements across the US, UK, Canada, and Europe, Kristen's approach is distinctly global. As a dual US-Italian citizen who has lived and worked in Singapore for over a decade, she brings deep cultural understanding to her practice. Her certification in Cultural Intelligence solutions further enhances her ability to support multi-national families through their educational journey.

Kristen's professional background spans 30 years in management consulting, with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies for both corporate and educational institutions. This combination of business acumen and educational consulting allows her to guide students not just in college admissions, but in developing the skills and perspectives needed for future success. She has worked extensively with educational institutions at all levels in both the United States and Singapore, providing strategic guidance on admissions, engagement, and DEI initiatives.

Kristen earned her Certificate in College Counseling with Distinction from UCLA. She is an active member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and an associate member of the  Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).  Kristen is a certified essay coach and educational partner with the Wow Writing Workshop, LLC, which is a nationally recognized program in the United States for their expertise and approach in writing compelling application essays. She also volunteers her time with College Essay Guy's Matchlighters Scholars, QuestBridge, and San Francisco SMART programs, assisting students through their college admissions journey. Kristen is a student of colleges. She regularly attends multiple conferences and visits 15-20 colleges a year and mentors new consultants entering into the field.

Kristen graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Business - Decision Sciences. She was also a merit scholar with IU's Jacob School of Music with a focus in clarinet and piano.