MEET THE TEAM
Jessica Azout, Founder and Head Counselor
Hi, I am Jessica and I live in Miami, Florida. I graduated from Tufts University in 1999 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Art History. Immediately after, I completed a Master's in Social Organizational Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University in August 2000. Upon finishing my degree I moved to Bogota, Colombia, and became an active volunteer at Fundación Oportunidad and Hogar Nueva Granada where I had the opportunity to work with children with learning differences and ensure they received the proper therapy and emotional support.
After receiving a certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from UC Irvine in 2014,
I founded my own company, JumpStart Your Future, with the mission of guiding students and their families through a stress-free college application process. I am committed to empowering students to be the best version of themselves in high school, college, and beyond.
Through my involvement with students, I apply my skills as an Associate Academic Life Coach to help them develop positive life skills, increase self-awareness, and cultivate emotional intelligence to become proactive and self-motivated students.
I prioritize visiting colleges, meeting with admission reps, and attending annual conferences, and I am also a member of four well-known national organizations - IECA, HECA, SACAC, and IACAC.
In the one-on-one meetings with students and families, I strive to understand and relate with proven methods and experience as a college advisor, bringing families the best in individualized college counseling services, by answering all their questions while providing ongoing guidance, tools, and support.
Rachelle Krygier, Counselor
Hi, I’m Rachelle and I live in Miami, Florida. I graduated from New York University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science. I obtained my College Counseling Certificate from UC San Diego in March 2022 and I am currently an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).
My journalistic background, which includes years working at the BBC and The Washington Post, has equipped me with strong research, interviewing, and writing skills that inform and strengthen my college counseling style and have proven incredibly useful.
My primary mission as an educational consultant is to offer personalized and expert guidance specifically designed to make your process smooth. I will help your family sort through the noise to navigate it in the smartest possible way, leading to informed decision-making adjusted to your specific needs and reality.
I’m Venezuelan. My native language is Spanish, though my professional experience and my studies have both been in English. At Jumpstart Your Future, I am working closely with experienced consultant Jessica Azout, who has advised hundreds of students in the span of 10 years and gotten them into dozens of competitive schools. Our proposal is a holistic approach to your college application process and our central goal is to make it nurturing and stress-free for both parents and students.
