A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and sunglasses on her head, smiling and laughing while sitting outdoors on stairs.

Ready to tackle your future with Liza?

Ready to tackle your future with Liza?

Seal with green border reading 'Professional Certificate,' with a ribbon featuring multiple colors and the text 'NACAC', and the center text reads 'International University Advocate'.

Liza is the founder of Skola. Born and raised in Connecticut, the inspiration for her decision to become an international student stemmed from hearing a brief story on NPR about Americans attending college in Germany to avoid student debt.

By the following year, Liza was graduating from high school and packing her bags for Prague, Czech Republic. Liza spent four years there, completing her bachelor’s degree from Anglo-American University, before packing up once again to move to Brussels, Belgium, to pursue her graduate degree at Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Liza still lives in Brussels and works full-time on building Skola, while also attending the Start.Lab incubator, and volunteers with Global Shapers.

Three European Union flags flying outside a modern office building against a cloudy blue sky.

Vrije Universiteit Brussels

Brussels, Belgium

A vintage tram traveling on cobblestone tracks through a city street with historic buildings and overhead electrical wires.

Anglo American University

Prague, Czech Republic

Get to know Liza

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

If I could tell myself one thing, it would be to listen to my gut more. Especially when it came to choosing what to major in and what types of jobs to apply for after graduation, I let too many people influence my decision by telling me I shouldn’t go down certain job paths that I truly held a passion for. I now firmly believe that you are only going to be successful and happy doing something you are passionate about, and that is something only you can decide.

What was your first job?

I grew up next door to my Grandpa’s Christmas tree farm, so every winter between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I was out at the farm helping my parents and my Grandpa and working for tips.

What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on?

My boyfriend and I recently visited the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, and it was incredible! We stayed in Merida and Valladolid, which were beautiful and vibrant cities, and we got to visit Chichen Itza— one of the 7 wonders of the world! It was amazing to be so immersed in history, and learning about the Mayan empire and modern Mayan culture was fascinating. And, of course, the food was heavenly!

Who would your 12-year-old self say is their biggest idol?

Definitely Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. I watched Passport to Paris and Our Lips are Sealed on repeat.

What does Skola mean to you?

Skola means so much to me in so many different ways. On a personal level, Skola feels like the manifestation of years of making mistakes and learning lessons about visas, studying, and starting my life abroad. But for me, the ultimate goal of Skola is just to help other students. I always tell people that I became a “TikToker” because when I posted my first video that went viral, I received so many questions, I just started answering them and never stopped. And that’s why I created Skola. After years of questions and DM (and struggling to keep on top of it), I created Skola for all of you who have ever reached out with a question. And that’s why the community aspect of Skola is so important to me, because this community is what started this mission, and it’s the reason Skola came to be.

A woman sitting on a ledge at the beach during twilight, wearing a white blouse and black shorts, looking to the side with a smirk, with the ocean and two other people in the background.
Group of graduates in blue caps and gowns at a graduation ceremony, clapping and celebrating.
A young woman sitting barefoot on a black folding chair on a balcony, reading a book titled 'Sally Rooney'. She is dressed in a black strapless top and white pants, with a white hair clip and jewelry. On the balcony ledge, there are two apples, a coo
A woman wearing a black hat and casual clothing standing on a decorated outdoor seating area with colorful cushions, overlooking a cityscape with hot air balloons floating in the sky at sunrise or sunset.
A woman sitting on a large rock by a lake with sailboats anchored in the background, mountains under a partly cloudy sky, with an orange bag on the ground nearby.
A woman sits at an outdoor patio desk under a large beige umbrella, working on a laptop with a scenic, plant-filled background.
A young woman in a black graduation gown and cap with a blue hood giving a speech at a university graduation ceremony with balloons in the background.
Woman standing in front of ancient Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza under a clear blue sky.
Young woman in denim jacket and shorts walking through a rock formation, smiling at the camera.
A woman standing on a cobblestone square in front of a large Gothic-style church with tall spires, surrounded by historic buildings and a statue on a column.
A woman in a white dress standing on a staircase overlooking a city with red rooftops, historic buildings, and church steeples under a blue sky with some clouds.
A young woman in a white dress with sunglasses hanging from her dress stands in front of a rocky coastline with sailboats and a dock on clear blue water.
Three young women are happily swimming in the ocean near a scenic coastline with hills and mountains in the background.