We translate complicated information into simple, actionable points
All families who work with us will be matched with a Valdo Academics educational consultant, on top of the tutors or writing coaches they request.
This is because the educational consultant will be always available to explain the challenges that lie ahead, acting as a bridge between tutors, families, and often schools, putting students and parents in control of the academic journey.
Roberto Valdo Cortese
Founding Director
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Roberto is an Italian entrepreneur in London, an education consultant and an award-winning theater director and producer.
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He received his education as an economist at University College London (UCL), where he graduated with First Class Honors, earning a scholarship as the best student of the faculty of Arts and Humanities (which counts over 6,000 students).
Before studying at UCL, he obtained his IB Diploma with 44/45 as the best student of his school, the United World College of the Adriatic, which he attended with a full € 44,000 scholarship, which he received after a regional and national selection. The score obtained placed him in the best 0.3% of IB graduates in the world during his graduation year.
He started working as a tutor and mentor in 2013, accumulating over 7,000 hours of certified teaching experience.
Emma Russo
Educational Consultant
Emma is a professional tutor, operational consultant, dancer and writer. Her role is to put into action Valdo Academics' strategic and pedagogical plan.
Emma holds a BA Honors in Sociology from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver (Canada) through the prestigious scholarship "International Leader of Tomorrow Award" ($ 44.000 a year).
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Prior to studying at UBC, Emma scored 42/45 points in her IB Diploma at the United World College of the Adriatic, attending through a full scholarship that was awarded following a national selection.
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Emma has an extensive teaching experience, which she developed both as a professional tutor and as a Teaching Assistant for introductory and advanced sociology courses at UBC. In 2018, the Sociology Department at UBC awarded Emma the Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Award for her teaching philosophy and her students' outstanding academic performance.
Olivia Munk
SAT Course Leader
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Olivia grew up in Queens, New York, and attended Harvard University in 2012. She graduated Cum Laude in 2016 with a degree in English and a minor in Mind/ Brain Behaviour. After graduating, she went on to pursue a Master of Studies in English at St. Catherine's College, Oxford.
At Harvard, she was an active theatre director and wrote for The Crimson's magazine, Fifteen Minutes, for which she served as Editor-at-Large.
She was awarded a prestigious UK VISA for entrepreneurs in order to found her theatre company, Part of the Main, which focuses on improving the representation of women creatives and women's stories in the professional theatre industry.
Olivia specializes in assisting students with both the Maths and English sides of the SAT and ACT, as well as the SAT subject tests.
Olivia excels at making the content approachable, particularly for students who may feel intimidated by the harder Maths concepts such as algebra or complex American grammar concepts.
Mathias Esmann
Bocconi Test Course Leader
Mathias teaches economics, history and introductory French and coaches students applying to American universities and applying for management consulting.
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Mathias is a graduate of Red Cross Nordic United World College (IB score 43/45), Princeton University (Bachelor's degree in Public and International Affairs, graduated Cum Laude) and of the University of Copenhagen / Copenhagen Business School (Joint M.Sc. in International Law, Economics and Management, top-3 GPA). He has completed an exchange semester at Sciences-Po in Paris and worked in French in Tunis, Tunisia.
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He has worked as management consultant for Bain & Company and Voluntas Advisory, advising large companies, private equity investors, United Nations organizations and NGOs. In addition, he is the co-founder of the NGO Global Minimum that seeks to catalyze a culture of innovation through hands-on learning experiences, creative problem-solving, and leadership skills among youth through its innovation competitions and innovation labs in Sierra Leone and Kenya.
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His teaching style is structured, breaking down concepts into easily understandable components, and impact-oriented by connecting academic concepts to their real-world implications.
Clara Schade-Poulsen
Recruiter
Clara is a private IB tutor who teaches Global Politics, Philosophy, Biology and French. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Politics and Social Anthropology at SOAS University of London, and is on track to attain a First Class.
As a tutor, Clara has taught several hundreds of hours with Valdo Academics, helping students in Global Politics, ToK and English. She also helped design the Time Management coaching programme, which aims to help students gain more agency over their time management skills.
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Before her university studies, Clara earned a scholarship of € 35.000 to finish high school at MUWCI in India. There, she earned the International Baccalaureate with a final score of 42/45.
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When she is not teaching or studying, Clara is often engaged in deepening her understanding of politics; for instance, she recently interned in the Legal Research and Advocacy Department of the oldest Human Right organization in Palestine, Al-Haq. She also loves performing in theatre plays, having acted in various professional plays at the Royal Theater of Copenhagen. She is fluent in Danish, Italian, English and French.
Neila Zannier
Time Manegement Coach
Neila is a tutor for the Time Management program both in English and in Italian.
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At the moment, Neila is a writer at the research centre Geopolitica.info. She is on the editorial board pursuing her research interests in migration and gender issues specifically in the Sub-Saharan region. To prepare for her Research Masters, she is currently taking courses of Arabic and Sociology at SOAS University of London. Her passion for human rights earned her attendance to the Harvard National Model of United Nations (USA) and a course on international human rights held by an independent Palestinian NGO.
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She graduated with a first-honors class degree Cum Laude in Philosophy, International and Economics Studies at Ca’ Foscari University. Before completing her bachelor, she obtained the IB Diploma at the Mahindra United World College of India.
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Her academic and research experience allow her to be an optimal fit as a Time Management tutor. Indeed during her bachelor she attended three universities, two of them at the same time, allowing her to complete her studies in two academic years.
The average age of our tutors is 24 years old.
Friends, teachers, and mentors, all at once.
Scroll through the slideshow to meet a sample of our tutors
Michele
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Michele teaches Biology and Chemistry, and prepares students for admission to the best Faculties of Medicine
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Michele graduated from UCL with honors in Medical Sciences and Neuroscience with a research project supervised by the 2014 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology, Dr. J. O'Keefe.
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He has just completed his final year at UCL Medical School, obtaining a Distinction in both clinical years. He is now working as a junior doctor in Italy.​
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Before studying at UCL, he graduated with 44/45 IB points from the United World College of the Adriatic (placing himself in the top 0.3% worldwide); he studied at UWCAD with a full scholarship worth € 40,000 after a national selection.
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He has extensive tutoring experience, having participated in teaching activities for university students and IB over the course of six years.
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Besides being a doctor and a tutor, he is a multi-instrumentalist specialized in piano, with an education in the Italian conservatory.
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His scientific and clinical background, together with his passion for music, allows him to draw on different skills to offer a unique and engaging teaching style.
