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 Student Solutions for 27 years.

Coach Scott shares his Six Pillars of University Readiness — the research-backed framework that predicts whether a student will thrive or struggle at university — and explains why academics, despite dominating most school conversations, is only one of six equally important pillars. He also covers GSS's 2025 Africa trip: a week consulting with their partner school in Kenya, the AISA annual conference in Rwanda, and a pivotal visit to African Leadership University.

The episode closes with Coach Scott's vision for GSS: a lifelong community for globally minded students — a home for people who have built their identity between cultures and deserve to find each other.

KEYWORDS:

TCK, third culture kid, global students, university readiness, Six Pillars, international school, college counseling, AISA, Africa international schools, African Leadership University, globally mobile families, cross-cultural students, international school consultingThis video is brought to you by Global Student Solutions and My College Coach, and more information is available on the website at www.theGlobalStudentSolutions.com

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 #studentlife #culturalheritage #culturalidentity #africa #interview #collegeexperience #coaching Coach Martin is an individual coaching service from GSS founder Scott Martin. You can schedule an appointment with him right now at https://www.cloudhq.net/meeting/srmar...This video is brought to you by Global Student Solutions and My College Coach, and more information is available on the website at www.theGlobalStudentSolutions.com

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 about co-founding the Cross-Cultural Association (CCA) at Purdue, the struggles of launching a TCK organization when your target audience doesn’t know they’re your target audience, and the breakthrough that came from weekly community nights built on a simple principle: ask people their stories and actually listen.

Evan shares practical advice for students transitioning from international schools to college, for school leaders preparing graduates for life beyond campus, and for anyone who has ever struggled to answer the question “where are you from?”

Topics Covered

Growing up as a Third Culture Kid in Saudi Arabia’s Aramco compound. The domestic vs. international student classification gap at universities.

Launching a student organization from scratch with lessons learned.

The shift from TCK to CCK (Cross-Cultural Kid) terminology. Ruth Van Reken’s influence on building authentic community.

Advice for TCK students, international school leaders, and globally mobile parents.

About the Guest

Evan Stonestreet is a senior studying computer engineering at Purdue University and co-founder of the Cross-Cultural Association (CCA). Born in Beirut and raised in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Evan brings firsthand TCK experience to his work building inclusive cross-cultural communities on campus.

Connect with EvanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanstonestreet/Cross-Cultural Association: https://linktr.ee/cross_cultural_association

Connect with Global Student SolutionsInternational School Consulting: www.globalstudentsolutions.comMyCareer and College Coach: www.globalstudentsolutions.com

GSS Membership Network: www.globalstudentsolutions.com#crosscultural #internationalstudents #Studentorganizations, #communitybuilding #Purdueuniversity, #TCK, #CCK, #culturalheritage #Studentleadership, #globalstudentvoices

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 through daily practice, the inspiration behind his book Level Up Your Character in Real Life, and what adults are getting wrong about young people’s talent.

William shares how his grandmother’s near-miss with a street racer sparked his speaking career, why he does twenty pushups before every stage appearance, and his 2026 mission to bring his message directly to students in school assemblies.

Key Topics: youth public speaking, student leadership, character development, overcoming stage fright, book for young people, video games vs. real-life growth, parental responsibility in nurturing talent, school assembly speaker

Guest: William Miller | Speaker, Author, Youth Leader Website: www.ItsWilliamMiller.comInstagram: @WilliamMillerSpeakerBook: Level Up Your Character in Real Life

Connect with Global Student Solutions:• International School Consulting:• My Career and College Coach:• GSS Membership Network: www.theGlobalStudentSolutions.com• Full Article: [Article Link]

If you’re an international school leader, parent of a globally mobile student, or educator looking for resources to support student development, join the GSS Membership Network for exclusive access to tools, community, and expert guidance.

Keywords: global student voices, international education podcast, youth speaker, student motivation, character development for kids, school assembly speaker, third culture kids, level up in real life

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 USuniversity to IT director at an international K–12 school in Indonesia, where she transformed a campus with one computer lab and no Wi-Fi into a fully connected, one-to-one learning environment. She discusses how that experience, combined with five years in corporate cybersecurity, shapes GSS’s mission to serve under-resourced international schools.

Topics covered include why small schools are soft targetsfor cyberattacks, how data privacy regulations like GDPR follow internationally mobile students, what a real-world cyber incident looks like at a multinational corporation, the GSS “matchmaking” approach to EdTech selection, and practical steps any school can take today to strengthen their security posture.

About the Guest

Anjie Martin is VP of Operations and EdTech Consulting atGlobal Student Solutions. A former international school IT director and corporate cybersecurity professional, she brings 15+ years of experience bridging education and technology. Anjie specializes in fractional IT leadership, student information system evaluation, and cybersecurity strategyfor small international schools.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anjie-k-martin

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction & Anjie’s background

[02:30] From university IT to international schooltransformation

[05:00] The Indonesia campus turnaround

[06:47] GSS’s trip to Kenya and Rwanda

[09:42] What success looks like for GSS

[12:13] The entrepreneurial struggle and stayingmission-aligned

[16:06] Anjie’s first blog and finding her public voice

[18:01] Cybersecurity and why schools should care

[20:06] Why private schools are cyber targets

[25:51] Surviving a real-world cyber incident

[29:56] AI and the future of cybersecurity

Resources & Links

• International School Consulting:www.theglobalstudentsolutions.com/services

• My Career and College Coach:www.theglobalstudentsolutions.com

• Full article: https://www.getalma.com/guest-blog-from-paper-to-possibility-how-global-student-solutions-helps-international-schools-choose-edtech-that-actually-fits/

Keywords: international school cybersecurity, EdTech forinternational schools, fractional IT director, student information systems,GDPR international schools, Third Culture Kids, global students, small schooltechnology, cybersecurity for schools, data privacy education

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 navigating life across cultures.This episode is essential viewing for international students, parents, educators, counselors, and school leaders working in global education.Guest BioChineme Chi'Nnaya Ugbor is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Linden Global Learning Support Services, an international agency founded in Berlin in 2015 that provides comprehensive educational support to globally mobile families. With a background in organizational development, international relations, coaching, and counseling, Chineme has spent 24 years in the education sector with a passion for helping young people thrive. As a Nigerian-Austrian Third Culture Kid who lived across multiple countries, she brings authentic understanding to the unique challenges facing internationally mobile students and families.Connect with Chineme:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinemeugbor/Linden Global Learning Support Services: https://www.linden-education.comContact: Available via website contact form or direct inquiry#GlobalStudentVoices #ThirdCultureKids #TCK #InternationalStudents #InternationalEducation#StudentMentalHealth #GlobalEducation #InternationalSchools #StudentWellbeing #EducationLeadershipThis video is brought to you by Global Student Solutions and My Career and College Coach and more information is available on the website at www.theGlobalStudentSolutions.com

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 Third Culture Kid (TCK) identity, family silence, loss, cultural displacement, and healing through storytelling.Ari shares how making this film helped her recognize her own TCK identity for the first time, while retracing the life of her uncle Ben, a missionary in Ethiopia whose story was left largely unspoken. Through letters, memory, and reflection, Ari confronts questions many global families carry: Why are some stories never told? What happens when we lose our cultural home?In this conversation, we explore:What it means to grow up as a Third Culture Kid (TCK)The emotional impact of cultural displacement and return migrationFamily legacy, loss, and the silence around difficult storiesThe “superpowers” TCKs develop through adaptability and cross-cultural empathyHow film and storytelling can be powerful tools for healing and connectionAri also reflects on audience reactions to Ben Between Africa—including how small, familiar images from the film awaken deep memories for viewers around the world. These shared experiences reveal just how universal the search for belonging truly is.🎬 Learn more about the film and get tickets:https://www.benbetweenafrica.com/About Global Student VoicesGlobal Student Voices is a podcast sharing stories from globally minded students, educators, creators, and leaders navigating education, identity, and life across cultures.If this episode resonates with you, like, subscribe, and share to support global storytelling.Leave a comment and tell us: Where do you feel most at home?#ThirdCultureKid #TCK #GlobalStudentVoices #BenBetweenAfrica #CrossCulturalIdentity #GlobalEducation #DocumentaryFilm #Storytelling #CulturalBelonging #InternationalLife #DiasporaStoriesCoach Martin is providing individual coaching services from the founder of GSS, Scott Martin. more information is available on the website at www.theGlobalStudentSolutions.com