Billy Downing is the CEO of Guidewell Education, a leading educational services firm with offices throughout the United States and Europe. Having spent over 20 years in the industry, Downing’s college admissions expertise and reputation as a straight-talking, caring, and insightful thought leader has fueled the company’s growth.

With a focus on actively recruiting, developing, and retaining top-tier talent worldwide, Guidewell Education has grown into the industry leader, working with nearly 10,000 students annually. Downing pioneered the student-specific “academic mentorship” model that is used by his team of coaches and mentors for tutoring, admissions consulting, and standardized test preparation. His unique ability to contextualize and explain industry changes has also made him a frequent source for news outlets and an in-demand expert speaker.

By monitoring the latest trends, incorporating best practices, and utilizing data, Downing has empowered thousands of students and families across the globe with strategies, resolve, and peace of mind as they successfully navigate the complex college admissions process.

Downing’s most recent book, Million Dollar Degree, focuses on the evolution of higher education and the current public discourse around the true value of college. He examines what this means for families navigating the process and offers practical, actionable information for readers to make informed decisions on the strategies that will work best for them. His first book, College Greatness: A Family’s Guide to the Admissions Process, takes an insider’s look at college admissions and guides families through the process, step-by-step, from discovering the right school to crafting a unique student narrative that results in an acceptance letter.

Downing earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He serves as a board member for College Track, an advisory board member at Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business, and a trustee at Sacramento Country Day School. He lives in Sacramento with his wife and two children.