Carlynn Greene

Carlynn Greene is an educator, entrepreneur, and content creator recognized as the Scholarship Guru, a title earned through her achievement of securing 30 scholarships totaling $125,000 to fund her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of North Texas, where she studied broadcast journalism and public relations. Greene graduated debt-free for both degrees, which became the foundation for her business dedicated to helping students worldwide access scholarships and financial aid resources. She received scholarships for her work as a journalist and news producer from organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus and NBC Universal.

Greene began posting on YouTube after winning her scholarships, sharing strategies and tips to help other students navigate the scholarship process and avoid student debt. Her YouTube channel expanded into a comprehensive educational enterprise. Through her business, Scholarship Guru, Greene offers resources, free training sessions, and advice on navigating the scholarships landscape via social media. Her TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram accounts, where she uses the name ESP Daniella, have a combined following exceeding 1 million and have featured collaborations with Microsoft, Walmart, and Amazon.

Central to Greene's work is her framework, presented in both a book and an online course titled "The Scholarship Algorithm." The course and book cover topics such as identifying scholarships with higher chances of success, organizing the application process, writing effective essays, and completing applications. Greene develops digital products including the Financial Aid Toolkit, an HBCU toolkit for Black students, and a toolkit on using AI to secure scholarships. She has authored three books and is writing a fourth focused on scholarship applications for international students and those interested in studying abroad.

Greene has assisted tens of thousands of students in securing several million dollars in scholarships. Her work has been recognized by Forbes in the 30 Under 30 list in the Education category. She has also received the ADCOLOR Creator Award, presented by TikTok, for her social media advocacy, and received $65,000 in grants from TikTok and LinkedIn.

In addition to her digital presence, Greene's work is rooted in promoting equity and access to higher education. Her mission addresses the barriers to career fields that require a college degree and aims to diversify underrepresented professions. Greene has partnered with schools, the NAACP, Microsoft, Walmart, Dr. Pepper, and Amazon through social media and speaking engagements. She continues to advocate for increased student financial aid and access to higher education.