Empowering People
to Pursue Their College & Career Goals
The shortage of school counselors, combined with their excessive caseloads, significantly limits the school's ability to effectively address the wide range social and emotional needs of each student - before even accounting for a school counselor's many other responsibilities. Some high schools separate the role and have both a school counselor/psychologist and a college/career counselor, but most high schools do not do this. As a result, school counselors are often required to prioritize mental health concerns, crisis intervention, and emotional support above all else, leaving little time to guide students toward appropriate college or career pathways.
Students are then left to figure it out on their own. Some students are lucky to have someone in their life who has gone to college, but most students go months - even years - with unanswered questions and a misguided thought process. They are unsure how to proceed and can miss out on opportunities because they lack professional support and guidance.
That is where an independent educational consultant comes into play.
Ignite Your Future Consulting is able to dedicate time with full attention on the client's college and career needs. The company is client-driven and can go in any direction the client wishes. Ignite Your Future guides clients toward their future and supports them in their journey while remaining optimistically realistic. Using counseling skills, knowledge, and experience, Ignite Your Future empowers clients as they grow and learn. Ignite Your Future can help them develop and achieve post-secondary college and career goals and also become confident, independent critical thinkers who are able to make informed decisions about their future.
Meet the Founder
Lauren Barbadoro
Independent Educational Consultant
Founder and CEO
Lauren is extremely passionate about helping young people find their path to a successful career. Since 2017 she has worked as a College and Career Counselor in Northeast Philadelphia directly with students in 9th to 12th grade to help them explore career and/or college opportunities, develop goals, and make decisions that will allow them to reach their highest potential. She coaches them through the entire decision-making process and ensures that they know what steps they need to take over time to achieve their goals and that they are best prepared for life after high school graduation. Her favorite parts of her job are getting to know her students on a more personal level and witnessing joy and success at the end of the process.
Lauren earned her B.A. in Psychology in 2011 and her M.A. in Counseling in Educational Settings in 2014, both from Rowan University. She has been a Certified School Counselor in New Jersey and Pennsylvania since graduating in 2014 and began working as a School Counselor immediately. She will also complete the College Admissions Counseling Certificate through Villanova University in Spring of 2026. She is a member of IECA, NACAC, NBCC, NJACAC and PACAC.
Lauren was born and raised in southern New Jersey where she currently resides with her husband, three children, and yellow lab. She enjoys exercising, cooking, anything outdoors, getting coffee with friends, and spending time with her family. Her favorite color is purple and her favorite season is anything but winter.
Go Birds!