The People Behind Your Child’s Story

Allen Koh is the CEO and founder of Cardinal Education, a premier educational consulting firm serving ultra-high-net-worth families worldwide. With over two decades of experience, he is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities and most trusted strategists in private school and college admissions. His clientele includes members of the Forbes list, Silicon Valley executives, Wall Street leaders, and influencers who seek elite-level service for their children applying to highly selective schools such as Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT. His expertise has been sought after for commentary by major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, ABC, CNBC, and Bloomberg. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Economic Sociology from Stanford University.

Youngha Koh is the Director of Tutoring and Test Prep at Cardinal Education, where he leads academic strategy, client success, and educational operations. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and has over 20 years of experience helping students achieve exceptional academic results. Youngha specializes in personalized coaching, standardized test preparation, and long-term academic planning, partnering closely with families to build the knowledge, confidence, and habits that lead to lasting success.

With over a decade of experience in education, Wendy has mentored students globally, guiding them to acceptances at Ivy League and top-30 universities. A University of Chicago graduate with a degree in Economics, her expertise includes personal statement ideation, reading and writing curriculum development, and SAT preparation. Wendy specializes in helping students craft compelling narratives that highlight their unique strengths and make them competitive college applicants.

Owen is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Classical Civilizations and English. Owen Sheard manages the Private School Admissions Division at Cardinal Education. To keep his educator background sharp and maintain a close connection with his love of teaching, he also coaches students ranging from 3rd grade to graduate school in the Humanities and STEM subjects as well as executive functioning skills.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Vanessa attended Middlebury College, graduating with degrees in Biology and Chinese. She has also interned at KIPP Foundation and Education Pioneers, helping her understand how to support students as they navigate an increasingly competitive educational process. She earns universally rave reviews whether she is coaching test prep, advanced math, Program in Writing and Reading, or English.

With 15+ years of experience, Daniel specializes in academic coaching and standardized test preparation, supporting students from ISEE and SSAT through ACT, SAT, and AP exams. Over a decade at Cardinal Education, he leverages his deep understanding of Bay Area schools to guide families through the admissions process. Daniel crafts highly personalized curricula that build on individual strengths, fostering academic confidence and success through thoughtful collaboration, consistent communication, and authentic mentorship.

Fredy is a senior consultant with extensive experience tutoring and coaching students in study skills, note-taking skills, and English enrichment. He graduated with a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in US Government & Foreign Policy from the University of California, Irvine. He is known for his strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Fredy is also fluent in both English and Spanish.