Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Marsha Oshima

Can you describe your feelings as you collected your award and explain what this accolade means to you?

Humbled and surprised! Jenny and Kam (fellow nominees for this award) are among the finest counsellors I have met in terms of knowledge and generosity in the CAP community. 

I have the greatest satisfaction in helping others connect: students connecting with universities, counsellors connecting with each other, everyone connecting to resources to help them grow. I am honoured that this award shows that those connections have been impactful.

Looking back on your counselling journey, what has been one of your most meaningful student success stories, and what did it teach you about the impact of effective university guidance?

I find joy in every student’s success, regardless of the size of my role in it. But the ones I remember the most are the students others might have underestimated. By this I mean those who have struggled academically and find their footing later. 

The best gift is when those students send a message or stop by at the end of the year or after graduation to say thank you, which they often do. Many of these students hear a lot of negative feedback throughout high school. 

Even though my role as a counsellor sometimes feels as though I am minimising dreams when balancing the realities of aspiration versus the student record, I have worked to maximise encouragement and present non-judgemental data and feedback. 

The university admissions journey is fraught with disappointment and uncertainty and I have learned that effective counselling does not mean always proving you are right. I feel I have done my job when students come back with more questions, seek more advice and feel like they have pursued their priorities.

If you could give one piece of advice to new or aspiring university counsellors who want to make a lasting difference in students’ lives, what would it be and why?

Remember to step back and consider the root motivation behind the message. Most students, parents and colleagues at school want the same as you – for the student to be successful and happy. 

Many counsellors play an important role beyond their own schools. How do you give back to and participate in the wider counselling community, and why is this important to you?

I love to volunteer. When I first became a school university counsellor, I joined groups to learn as I shifted from another sector. I was amazed by the generosity and collegiality of the community. 

I started to volunteer gradually, then found that my former professional skills in programme management were a great fit for volunteer roles with increasing responsibility. I sought roles that played into my professional strengths and interests – professional development, diversity and inclusion, access and person-to-person exchanges. 

In addition to being on the Times Higher Education/BMI International Schools Advisory Board, I am on the Board of International ACAC and volunteer with Second Chance for Higher Education, an NGO working with high-achieving, low-income students. At every event and practically every meeting, I learn something new that informs my work as a counsellor.

Can you tell us about the theme of the BMI Global Forum 2026 CAP sessions and its relevance in counselling today?

The theme of human touch was the overwhelming choice of the organising committee. The combination of technology, time pressure and seemingly higher and higher stakes are adding pressure on everyone. 

We sought to provide counsellors with strategies and tangible actions that de-escalate admissions anxiety and continue to focus on holistic counselling. Counsellors can help students feel confident and develop and recognise their skills that prepare them for life beyond the applications process. 

The focus of “by counsellors, for counsellors” makes the CAP sessions a productive setting for open conversations about our daily work, focusing on what has worked and what is challenging.