About Pagoda

Pagoda is a London-based career consultancy with a unique, global approach, supporting young people to excel from academics to careers, and beyond.

Our mission is to help students unlock their potential and achieve career success, from offer to workplace.

We leverage our international background and awareness of the global education and employment landscapes to provide valuable insights for our clients.

Our Key Offerings:

  • University Admissions
    Strategies to land offers at leading undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programmes worldwide — from the Russell Group to the Ivy League.

  • Break into Careers
    Bespoke guidance, intensive coaching, and access to exclusive industry networks to help you secure offers in Finance, Consulting, Technology, and Law.

  • Lifelong Community
    Joining Pagoda means becoming part of our Alumni network — a global community supporting each other through careers, business, and life, wherever you are.

We believe every student is unique. Our service is genuinely bespoke, crafting strategies and programmes to align with the individual needs, learning preferences, and objectives of every student. We are meticulous in our approach and committed to supporting our students at every stage.

Our ‘Consultor’ Approach

Our approach integrates consulting, mentoring, and coaching to provide comprehensive support to our clients.

Our Core Team

Catherine Marris

US University Expert &
Personal Development Advisor

Catherine brings over a decade of experience in university admissions consulting, with a strong track record of helping students secure offers at top US universities, including Ivy League institutions. She guides students and families through long-term profile building and personal development, ensuring they are ready to compete for places at leading programmes in both the US and UK.

Educated in both geographies, Catherine graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University and later from the University of Oxford. This dual academic background enables her to mentor students across the US, UK, and beyond, as well as advise on early career pathways in public and third-sector fields.

Alongside her admissions expertise, Catherine has over 10 years of professional experience across the UK, USA, and European public and not-for-profit sectors, specialising in innovation and strategy. This unique blend of admissions insight and professional leadership experience equips her to help students connect their academic ambitions with broader career and life goals.

Jarrod Chan 陈伟杰

Founder &
Career Strategist

Jarrod has over 8 years of experience mentoring students and a strong track record of helping hundreds secure offers at Russell Group universities and top graduate roles in consulting, finance, and professional services. A former international student himself, he blends industry insight with empathy, focusing not just on immediate results but on long-term personal and professional growth.

Born and raised in Singapore in a bi-cultural environment, Jarrod began his career as an Air Force Officer before moving to the UK for his higher education. He graduated from University College London with a Bachelor’s in History and went on to earn a Master’s in Management from Imperial College Business School.

His professional journey includes roles at EY, Morgan Stanley, and Optiver in London, where he gained first-hand experience in Management Consulting and Financial Services. This background allows him to guide students with practical insight into the skills, mindset, and networks needed to thrive in competitive industries.

Jarrod is passionate about supporting international students in overcoming the challenges of studying and working abroad. He believes that the experiences acquired overseas are invaluable in building a fulfilling life and career enriched by diverse perspectives and work practices.

Eileen Wu 吴鑫媛

UK University Expert &
Head of China Relations

Eileen is passionate about supporting international students in their education and career journeys. As a former international student herself, she understands the unique challenges they face and is dedicated to helping them succeed.

At Pagoda, she connects clients with the right services while strategically growing the brand in the global education marketplace. With a strong background in sales, marketing, and education consulting, she excels at shaping impactful student experiences and driving admissions success.

Eileen is also a UK university admissions expert, having helped international students secure offers at leading institutions. She draws on her experience across top education consultancies and prestigious UK schools to blend admissions know-how with hands-on teaching.

With a multicultural background spanning China and the UK, she guides students in profile building, personal development, and admissions strategy. Beyond education, Eileen is a lifelong Go player turned competitor and influencer, with tournament experience, tutorials, and media features to her name.

She holds a Master's in Media Studies from the University of Sheffield and has years of teaching experience at private schools in Oxford, United Kingdom.