Originally from Râmnicu Vâlcea, Anca graduated in 2020 from Dartmouth College, an Ivy League university, with a degree in Cognitive Science and Human-Centered Design – a fundamentally interdisciplinary mix where she explored Psychology, Product Design, Anthropology, and Innovation. Upon graduation, she was hired as a Teaching Assistant at Dartmouth, supporting the Design Thinking courses between 2020–2021. Between 2021 and 2024, Anca lived in San Francisco, where she worked as a designer for tech companies and a Design Thinking facilitator. She’s fascinated by how the human mind works and how design can solve the needs of our everyday lives. In 2024, she returned to Romania to help students achieve their dream of studying abroad, joining Upgrade Education as a mentor and Education Coordinator.

Elena is a third-year PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) student at the University of Oxford. She is a competitive debater who has attended both the Worlds and European Debating Championships. Additionally, she was part of the Senior Editorial Team of an artsy magazine and has conducted research in Philosophy at Oxford. Elena is passionate about entrepreneurial and innovative endeavors. In her free time, she enjoys climbing, reading memoirs, and eating cheese.

Tudor a început să studieze medicina la Christ’s College din Cambridge în 2021, urmând un program MB BChir de 6 ani, cu un BA intercalat în anul 3. La primirea ofertei de a studia medicina la Cambridge, el a primit și o bursă de la Cambridge Trust, devenind astfel un bursier Cambridge Trust și a primit International Award for Medicine de la Christ’s College. În primul său mandat la Cambridge, a fost ales ofițer al studenților internaționali în cadrul JCR de la Christ’s College. În al doilea mandat a fost ales și vicepreședinte al Cambridge Romanian Society.

Cristina Nistor este mentor în cadrul Upgrade Education, unde îi ghidează pe elevi în descoperirea direcției profesionale și alegerea unei cariere și specializări potrivite. Cu peste 25 de ani de experiență în educație superioară, antreprenoriat și consiliere în carieră, Cristina oferă o perspectivă valoroasă în orientarea profesională a tinerilor. În calitate de asociat universitar și fondator al Smart Training, ea și-a consolidat expertiza, având o pregătire academică la Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai și Universitatea Buckinghamshire. Dedicată dezvoltării personale și profesionale a elevilor, Cristina îi ajută să își contureze un traseu profesional împlinit și adaptat aspirațiilor lor.

Raluca is a second-year Politics, Philosophy, and Economics student at University College London (UCL), where she studies on a full scholarship worth £93,000. She has gained professional experience through internships at KPMG, the Romanian Embassy in the UK, and will soon begin an internship at Barclays London. Raluca is an accomplished debater, representing UCL and ranking as the 9th best Romanian debater in 2023. Additionally, she holds the position of Finance Executive within the UCL Economics & Finance Society. As an Upgrade alumna and current team member, Raluca applies her extensive experience to guide and support students navigating their own academic journeys.

Ioana is a fourth-year Social Sciences student in the Dual Degree program between Sciences Po Paris and Freie Universität Berlin. She is a research assistant in digital economics and will soon intern with Lufthansa Group, focusing on business strategy and data transformation. A graduate of a top high school in Bucharest, she has demonstrated leadership as a delegate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg and as a student representative at Sciences Po’s Nancy campus. She has interned in journalism for multiple NGOs and is a volunteer teacher. Speaking six languages, Ioana’s diverse experience in research, strategy, and international engagement makes her an exceptional guide for students pursuing social sciences and business pathways.