Leah Messing, Founder and Lead Essay Coach, earned a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University and graduated as an Athena Scholar from Barnard’s Athena Center for Women’s Leadership Studies.

She has worked with hundreds of students in South Florida, nationally, and internationally. She understands the high level of stress brought on by the process and actively worked to change that culture during her time as a student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

The Challenge Success founders invited Leah to be a student speaker at the Challenge Success Fall 2009 National Conference in Palo Alto, CA, where she addressed over two thousand people about the stress brought on by the college admissions process.

She has also given presentations on college essays, writing, and organizational skills at high schools, community events, and nonprofits in Miami-Dade County.

Leah's students have been accepted to Babson College, Boston University, Cornell University, Davidson College, Florida State University, Northeastern University, University of Michigan, University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Villanova University, Wake Forest University, Williams College, Yale University, and more. 

Mindy Zane Rosenthal earned a B.A. in History from Cornell University and a M.S. Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania. She has taught middle and high school English and history, edited curricula, and worked as a freelance writer and editor. In her most recent role as a College Admission Application Coordinator for a high school in Miami, she guided seniors through the application process and edited their essays and supplemental materials. She has two young adult children who have been through the college application process and has lived to tell the tales.

Mindy lives in Miami, Florida and also spends time in Asheville, North Carolina. She enjoys connecting with her students in person and virtually.

Mindy’s students have been accepted to Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Duke University, Emory University, Georgetown University, Northeastern University, University of California Berkeley, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, Syracuse University, and more.

Lynne Z. Petkovic holds a diverse educational background, graduating with a B.A. from Dartmouth College, a J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School, and an M.Ed. from John Carroll University. With over 30 years of teaching experience spanning from pre-school to graduate level, she has honed her expertise in guiding students through various stages of their academic journey. For more than 15 years, Lynne has specialized in offering invaluable guidance on college essays, leveraging her extensive background in education and law to provide students with insightful feedback and strategies for crafting compelling applications. Her dedication and expertise have resulted in countless success stories, with her students earning acceptances to prestigious institutions such as University of Alabama, Baylor University, Dartmouth College, Florida State University, High Point University, Middlebury College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, University of Florida Honors College, University of Texas Austin, WashU in St. Louis, Yale University, and many more. and many more. Lynne's passion for education extends beyond the classroom, as she remains committed to empowering students to reach their full potential and achieve their academic aspirations. Her multifaceted approach combines her legal acumen, educational insights, and personalized guidance to ensure each student receives the support they need to succeed in their college admissions journey. Lynne lives in Ohio and works with students virtually.

Sarah Zilberstein graduated summa cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University with a BA in English. At Barnard, she won the W. Cabell Greet Prize for Excellence in English. Sarah and Leah met in Columbia's chapter of Sigma Delta Tau and were sorority sisters for two years.

After college, Sarah taught middle school English in St. Louis as a Teach For America corps member and then went on to earn her PhD in English from UW-Madison. At UW, she taught various writing-based courses, and she won the Outstanding English 100 Instructor Award for her ability to connect with and inspire students.

For the last six years, Sarah has helped students craft compelling essays for the college admissions process. She has helped students gain admission to many top schools, including Emory University, Georgetown University, University of Chicago, University of Florida, University of Miami, and more. She is currently a teacher at SAR High School in Riverdale, New York, where she teaches 11th and 12th grade English.