Hannah Smith, Founder

Hannah has over 15 years of experience challenging the barriers that prevent students from accessing and succeeding in postsecondary opportunities. She has worked with K-12 systems, higher education institutions, and other education organizations to turn their values into impactful practices, whether through strategic planning, facilitation, or program design. Her approach centers on collaboration, inclusion, and listening thoughtfully to the diverse needs and experiences of the communities she serves.

Hannah's consulting work has focused on education reform, expanding postsecondary access, strengthening connections between K-12 and higher education, and creating smoother transitions for students, particularly those who are marginalized in our education and workforce systems. Her previous work experience includes senior leadership roles at Moneythink, an ed-tech nonprofit helping students navigate financial aid, and at the California College Guidance Initiative, which manages California’s official college and career platform, CaliforniaColleges.edu. In these roles, she oversaw program and partnership strategies, led statewide policy and advocacy efforts, and built aligned advising systems connecting K-12 and higher education partners.

Hannah’s personal journey navigating the overly complex community college system—including earning an associate degree from City College of San Francisco—deeply inspires her commitment to this work and continues to ground her approach. She holds a Bachelor degree in Education and Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley and a Master’s degree in Prevention Science and Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two spirited children.