It seems appropriate to rebroadcast our Consultant Profile of Leticia G. de La Rasilla since she is hosting another smart webinar on the 17th of April: Relocation to New York with School-Aged Children.
Leticia, what is your specific area of expertise as an education consultant (type of school, geographic area)?
I started as a consultant covering Mexico and eventually expanded to other Latin American countries as well as Spain. Ten years ago, I moved back to Europe and took over consulting in Germany and Portugal as well. I have also covered most of the European and African countries remotely. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the interest of expatriates in local schools as opposed to international schools, which has enhanced my expertise in the different types of schools and alternatives available for any family moving abroad.
How long have you been an education consultant?
I have been working as an education consultant for over 15 years.
What did you do before you came to the world of consulting?
I was working in international commerce and foreign investment attraction, but since I finished university, I have always been very interested in the importance of education and have taught various subjects at different grade levels.
Do you have a relocation story that informs your work as a consultant?
Looking back at all these years and the many families I have supported, a few come to mind and make me smile. I remember one whose two children had special learning needs, and they were moving to a location with a language that no one in the family spoke, which added complexity and made the search incredibly challenging. While looking for the appropriate school for them, I also met incredible and committed people whose only goal was to ensure the best for these boys. I have supported families with very young children and others with kids going into key grade levels. I am sure their choice has impacted their future studies. I do think from time to time about all of them and wonder how they are doing in life.
How does being a parent impact your work with families?
Being a mother of four does help a lot! I have had to relocate several times to different continents with my own family. That experience helps me immediately walk in their shoes and understand their concerns and needs, their fears and their hopes.
What's one piece of advice you’d like to give families who are moving and faced with making school decisions for their children?
I always tell the families I work with that one way or another, the pieces of the move will fall into place. I encourage them to keep a positive attitude, which will impact the whole family and make the adventure and challenge more successful.
What's your favorite part about helping families find the optimal school setting for their children?
When the children are enrolled in a school that I feel will meet their needs and strengths.
If you had a year's sabbatical, where would you go live?
I would love to live near the sea and in close contact with nature.
Thank you so much, Leticia. It's always a pleasure to talk with you.
Thank you, Erin, it's always good talking with you.
By Erin Brady
Erin Brady serves a dual role as Co-Director of Private Client Services and one of Bennett’s Global Team Leads, supporting Bennett’s consultants in Canada and parts of the U.S. In the latter, she oversees consultants working with families relocating to Greater New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Phoenix, and Toronto. She also serves as the Bennett International liaison for a leading global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm in New York. Erin joined Bennett in 2006 and has worn many hats over the years, consulting with families relocating to areas throughout the U.S and to non-U.S. locations; she eventually focused on U.S. boarding school and New York city placements, PreK through grade 12, though she was frequently called on for other tasks such as co-managing special projects and serving as the Senior Account Representative for a large Global Relocation client.
If you need to reach Bennett Client Services before our US team is on line, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Leticia at +44 (20) 4515260 or leticia.gdelarasilla@bennettinternational.com.
To read more about our top-flight team of consultants, please see here.
Bennett International Education Consultancy works directly with hundreds of families each year across the globe. We support families by helping them make informed decisions about the best-fit schools for their children; with our guidance, they secure placement in preschools, private day schools, public/state schools, boarding schools, colleges & universities, including schools with particular programs, such as special needs support.