Show Notes

Ciara Newby's path from teaching to edtech wasn't a direct leap. After 14 years as a high school languages teacher, she felt "burnt out" and was relocating, which gave her the push to explore what was next. This led her first into the world of higher education, working in international student recruitment. It was there she discovered Cialfo as a *client*. She loved their mission-driven culture and fast-paced environment so much that she eventually "moved across to the dark side" (as she jokes). In this episode, Ciara discusses her multi-step transition, the "community" culture that makes remote work successful, and the many transferable skills (like public speaking and time management) that teachers possess but often overlook.

• What is Cialfo?: Ciara describes the platform as a "one-stop shop" for international high school students and counselors to manage the complex process of researching and applying to universities worldwide.
• A Multi-Step Transition: Ciara's journey wasn't a single jump. She moved from High School Teacher -> University International Recruitment -> and finally to her edtech role at Cialfo.
• From Client to Colleague: She first encountered Cialfo as a client while working at the University of Bath. She was "instantly sold" on their mission and the solution they provided for counselors and students.
• Public vs. Private Sector: Ciara discusses the cultural shift from a "bureaucratic, slow-moving" university environment to a "fast-paced" edtech startup that values "moving fast in the right direction."
• Your Transferable Skills: She highlights the powerful skills teachers underestimate: making people feel comfortable, public speaking ("getting people excited"), and high-level organization (which teachers just call "lesson planning").

Episode Article

Ciara Newby's career path is a perfect example of a non-linear journey from the classroom to the corporate world. Her transition wasn't a single leap but a series of deliberate steps, each one building on the last. After 14 years as a high school languages teacher, she was relocating back to the UK and felt "burnt out." That move gave her the "push to think, 'well, hang on a second, what else can I do?'"

Instead of jumping directly into edtech, she first followed her passion for international education—a passion born from teaching languages—and took a job in international student recruitment at the University of Birmingham. This "hop" into the public sector of higher education proved to be the critical bridge to her future role. It was here, while working in university admissions, that she was first introduced to Cialfo as a *client*.

She was "instantly sold" on Cialfo's mission. The platform, a "one-stop shop" for managing international university applications, solved a problem she had seen firsthand. When a role opened up, she made the move. She found the culture at Cialfo to be a "fast-paced but fun environment," a refreshing change from the "bureaucratic, slow-moving process" of a university. Even working remotely, she says she "never feels lonely" because of the company's strong emphasis on "creating successful communities."

When I asked for her advice, Ciara emphasized that teachers have an incredible, and often overlooked, set of transferable skills. "You often just don't even realize" you have them, she says. Skills like making students and parents feel comfortable, public speaking, and high-level time management are "massive wins" in the private sector. Her advice to teachers is to "spend some time reflecting" on the parts of their job they are most passionate about, and use that as the starting point for their exploration.