Mike Demilio

About

"Mr. Mike is a dad who helps us."

I didn't think much about it at the time when a student at Cristo Rey referred to me that way. But in the years since, I have realized that my entire worldview revolves around that simple idea.

A dad who helps. 

I didn't always see things that way. At Princeton University, I completed a 120-page thesis on eighteenth-century piracy and played varsity football. After graduation, I went in search of something better to write about, and found work as a welder and a bouncer at a Chicago bar. Then winter and ambition chased me indoors to a copywriting job.

In the years since, I have had many valuable professional experiences. In the 90's, I built one of the earliest intranet-based documentation systems which led to my founding Advent Inc., specializing in online documentation and website development.

After Advent morphed into a software company, I exited the venture to work on my first novel, then launched GoDeep, an analytics platform for the professional and college football market. 

GoDeep had some interesting moments with big-time football programs, but ultimately did not gain widespread adoption. I decided to follow my heart and began coaching students who were writing their college application essays, then later became a full-service independent educational consultant. 

The mentoring and life-visioning aspect of my work with students has been the most fulfilling experience of my career. Through college counseling, I am able to help young people to understand, define and pursue their ambitions. 

The perspective I have gained from many experiences both gritty and glamorous has enabled me to understand and relate to a wide range of young people. The empathy of fatherhood has helped me put my heart into every conversation I have with my students.

My business card says "independent educational consultant," but I'd rather be known as "a dad who helps."