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About Us
An immersive simulation of the entire employment journey, from initial application to workplace integration, led by experienced HR professionals and academic experts.
about
About Virtuous Sea
Virtuous Sea is a U.S .- based 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institution dedicated to advancing global educational equity, cross-cultural understanding, and international talent development. Guided by the vision " Embracing All Virtuous Minds," Virtuous Sea works closely with universities, corporations, industry associations, philanthropic foundations, and policymakers world- wide to build a sustainable ecosystem for global talent mobility and educational innovation.
Through academic research, systemic services, capacity building, industry standard-setting, and public advocacy, Virtuous Sea promotes inclusive education governance and shared global prosperity.
Through academic research, systemic services, capacity building, industry standard-setting, and public advocacy, Virtuous Sea promotes inclusive education governance and shared global prosperity.
Lucas Zhao
Secretary-General & Chief Financial Officer
Chinese-American entrepreneur and financial strategist with experience spanning U.S. military service, finance, and international education. A former member of the U.S. Navy Special Forces, Mr. Zhao later held senior management roles in large-scale U.S. investment and real estate projects and became a certified high-net-worth wealth and inheritance planner with AXA France. He has managed over USD 50 million in cross-border assets and founded China's first Ten-Year Integrated International Education Program. At Virtuous Sea, he leads financial strategy, operations, and global partnerships.
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Ya Gao
Chair & Founder
Chinese-American philanthropist and international education advocate based in Bellevue, Washington. Born in Shanghai and educated across China and Canada, Ms. Gao brings a deeply global perspective shaped by multicultural experience. After achieving success as an early-stage investor, she devoted herself to philanthropy and founded Virtuous Sea with the mission of empowering mobility and advancing educational equity. She has led multiple cross-border inclusive education initiatives and remains committed to removing systemic barriers while building a global talent collaboration network.
Kimberly Beebe
Chair & Founder
Kimberly Beebe, MAIS, MAT, is a Professor of Communication Studies at Lower Columbia College in Washington. She holds a Master of Arts in Communication as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching. With over a decade of experience in education, Kim has taught courses in Communication and English Language Arts at high schools, community colleges, and universities. Kim is a passionate, enthusiastic educator whose mission is to empower and equip students with the skills necessary to be successful communicators in their chosen careers. Her expertise includes business communication, public speaking, interpersonal communication, and leadership development.
Outside of academia, Kim works as a communications coach, helping clients find and use their confident voice. She coaches clients in interview preparation, professional speaking, and career readiness. Through her coaching, clients strengthen their message, refine their delivery, overcome speech anxiety, and develop authentic, compelling communication strategies for a variety of professional settings.
When she’s not in the classroom, Kim enjoys spending time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their three young children.
Outside of academia, Kim works as a communications coach, helping clients find and use their confident voice. She coaches clients in interview preparation, professional speaking, and career readiness. Through her coaching, clients strengthen their message, refine their delivery, overcome speech anxiety, and develop authentic, compelling communication strategies for a variety of professional settings.
When she’s not in the classroom, Kim enjoys spending time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their three young children.
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Mike Papritz
Chief Operating Officer
Senior educator and industry leader with over 30 years of experience across secondary and higher education. A recipient of multiple national teaching honors in Washington State, he has served as an education advisor to both the City of Seattle and Washington State government. He has led major education innovation initiatives, established inter-university alliances, and developed milestone curriculum systems. His cross-disciplinary background also includes leadership in the wine industry, integrating education philosophy with life and culture.
Karen Perez
M.E.d
Executive Coaching & Leadership Development Consultant. With a Master’s in Educational Leadership and experience as a Senior Education Executive and HR leader, she specializes in professional presence, behavioral interview mastery, and leadership communication. She coaches emerging professionals to demonstrate confidence, executive maturity, and cultural fluency in U.S. workplaces, and helps translate their academic or international experience into leadership-ready narratives to impress hiring decision-makers and support long-term career growth.
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Aimee Sample
M.E.d
Founder of Shades of Grey HR | Strategic Career & Talent Advisor. With over 25 years of corporate HR and executive leadership experience, she has deep insight into how U.S. organizations evaluate, select, and promote talent. As a senior-level HR consulting firm founder, she has reviewed thousands of resumes and understands the assessment standards of applicant tracking systems, behavioral interviews, and leadership panels. She helps early-career and internationally educated professionals stand out in the U.S. job market through creative positioning, differentiated resume strategy, and compelling storytelling.
Brenda Koehn
SHRM-CP, PHR
Senior HR Compliance & Talent Strategy Consultant. With over 25 years of HR experience across recruitment, multi-state employment law, and full-cycle hiring, she holds SHRM-CP and PHR certifications. She has a deep understanding of credential verification, compliance review, and hiring decision standards. Her coaching is detail-oriented and grounded in real-world standards; she specializes in resume architecture and credential alignment, helping candidates ensure their qualifications can withstand employer scrutiny and present themselves confidently in the U.S. market
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Dr. Barbara Franks
Chief Education Officer
Expert in educational leadership and cross-cultural education. Holding a doctorate in Educational Leadership and dual certifica- tions in teaching and administration, Dr. Záfranks is the founder of D.R.E.A.M. Education Company. She has served as Chief Academic Officer for both U.S. and Chinese international schools, focusing on curriculum innovation and teacher professional development. Her work integrates aca- demic excellence, diversity, equity, and lifelong learning.
Emily DeArmas
With two decades of experience as a freelance recruiter and hiring manager, Emily has built a career on connecting exceptional talent with organizations that value growth, culture, and long‑term success. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida and maintains multiple HR certifications, reflecting her commitment to staying current in an ever‑evolving field. Known for her strategic approach, keen intuition, and people‑first mindset, Emily continues to support businesses and candidates with expertise shaped by 20 years of hands‑on leadership in talent acquisition and career planning.
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Jeffery Wang
Expert in educational leadership and cross-cultural education. Holding a doctorate in Educational Leadership and dual certifica- tions in teaching and administration, Dr. Záfranks is the founder of D.R.E.A.M. Education Company. She has served as Chief Academic Officer for both U.S. and Chinese international schools, focusing on curriculum innovation and teacher professional development. Her work integrates aca- demic excellence, diversity, equity, and lifelong learning.
Heather Evans
Do you want a LinkedIn profile that actually gets you noticed — and contacted — by recruiters? I specialize in LinkedIn optimization and recruiter visibility strategy, helping students turn their experience into profiles that generate real traction. With 15+ years in career coaching and workforce development — and as an active recruiter — I know exactly how hiring managers search, filter, and evaluate candidates. I’ve built and delivered multiple LinkedIn and career courses, including one taught to 20k students, and I translate that insight into practical, personalized guidance that works.
Before launching FindLev LLC, I served as Director of Operations for a workforce collaborative supporting high-demand career pathways, overseeing $3M+ in workforce investments and performance reporting. I also managed a career center serving ~5K individuals annually, connecting them to jobs and critical resources. Overall, my experience allows me to help you position yourself strategically in today’s competitive market.
Before launching FindLev LLC, I served as Director of Operations for a workforce collaborative supporting high-demand career pathways, overseeing $3M+ in workforce investments and performance reporting. I also managed a career center serving ~5K individuals annually, connecting them to jobs and critical resources. Overall, my experience allows me to help you position yourself strategically in today’s competitive market.
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