Norwood leveraged her Elon network into a series of nationally recognized college counseling businesses.
Lee Norwood’s success as a college consultant and business owner has led to a spotlight in USA Today.
Norwood began her career path at Elon as a marketing and English double major. Her time at the university was rich with quintessential Elon experiences like study abroad, residence life, athletics and career services. With the help of the Student Professional Development Center, Norwood launched what would become a 23-year career in pharmaceuticals.
But when she met a college counselor at a networking event, she knew it was time for a change. Helping students find the right college sounded like the perfect new venture.
“I love learning, I love college campuses, I love high schoolers and I wanted to own my own business,” Norwood said. “I mentored under the owner for a year and bought Annapolis College Counseling.”
“The learning curve is tough,” she added. “Things are constantly changing and keeping up with everything from FAFSA to new programs at different colleges can be daunting, but I love it.” She visits about 40 colleges each year to stay on top of all things college.
Once she adapted to the new industry, Norwood began expanding, adding four additional consultants and opening two other businesses: CarolinaCollegeConsultants and CollegeSharks.com.
College Sharks enables Norwood to make college counseling accessible through a more affordable, online counseling option.
“We want more people to be able to ‘take a bite out of college admissions’ and our platform offers bite-sized monthly content that tells them what to do, when to do it and why it matters,” she said.
Meanwhile, CarolinaCollegeConsultants brings Norwood’s successful 1:1 counseling model to the South. Norwood’s ability to grow is thanks in part to her Elon network, many members of which have entrusted their children’s college application process to her.
“Elon provides education, confidence and connections,” she said. “We find our voice when we are at Elon. And we all know each other and stay connected.”
Even as her various ventures expand, Norwood continues to find joy in her work.
“I am super psyched that I am really good at this,” she said. “I am able to make a good living doing what I love every day.”