Cecilia Calvo-Lewis | Chief Operating Officer | EDGE Tutor International
Cecilia Calvo-Lewis is the Chief Operating Officer at EDGE Tutor International, a leading tutoring outsourcing provider in Asia. With over 20 years of experience in education technology, teacher training, and large-scale operations, she focuses on building sustainable systems that empower educators, enhance learning outcomes, and drive innovation in EdTech. EDGE Tutor is more than just a placement service; it transforms teaching careers by offering significantly higher earnings, flexible remote work, healthcare benefits, and structured career pathways. The company aims to elevate Filipino educators to the global stage while ensuring students worldwide have access to high-quality, engaging, and effective learning experiences. At EliteX, we are proud to have Cecilia Calvo-Lewis as part of the edition: Transformational Women in EdTech, 2025.
Her journey into the EdTech industry was deeply personal. Cecilia was inspired by her grandparents, who demonstrated resilience and a strong belief in education. Her grandfather worked as a janitor to put himself through college, while her grandmother dedicated her life to teaching. These experiences instilled in her a passion for education as a means of empowerment. Early in her career, she worked as a classroom teacher and saw firsthand how education could change lives. However, she also recognized the limitations imposed by geography, resources, and outdated systems. To make a greater impact, she transitioned from teaching in a single classroom to coaching thousands of educators globally through digital platforms.
“The key is to listen to market realities, adapt quickly, and find a way to still fulfill the mission.”
A pivotal moment in her career came in 2016 when she observed how China had already moved education online after the SARS outbreak. Realizing the potential of EdTech, she shifted from physical teacher training to large-scale digital coaching. Her experiences reinforced her belief that technology could break down barriers, increase access, and ensure that every child, regardless of location, receives quality education.
Cecilia’s expertise in EdTech was developed through hands-on leadership in global education companies. At EF (Education First), she worked as National Production Director, overseeing academic strategies across 55 cities to ensure curriculum alignment and teaching consistency. She then joined VIPKid as Head of Training and Development, where she designed teacher onboarding and curriculum adaptation strategies, witnessing the power of digital platforms in connecting students and educators worldwide. At 51Talk, as Director of Operations – Overseas, she managed 30,000 online educators and 800 full-time employees, refining remote learning models and teacher operations at scale. These roles strengthened her belief that high-quality education should not be confined to a classroom but can thrive through the right technology and support systems.
When she joined EDGE Tutor as COO, she saw an opportunity to build something bigger. Initially, EDGE Tutor was envisioned as a B2C tutoring platform for Filipino students, but local infrastructure and affordability challenges led to a strategic pivot toward B2B partnerships. By connecting Filipino educators with global EdTech companies, EDGE Tutor expanded internationally, providing scalable tutoring solutions that empower teachers, enhance student learning, and support education businesses worldwide. Today, EDGE Tutor isn’t just about matching teachers with students—it’s about transforming global education delivery. With AI-powered tutor tools to streamline workflows, adaptive lesson enhancements, and scalable training systems, we’ve built a future-proof model that benefits educators, students, and education providers alike.
One of the most challenging decisions in her career was shutting down EDGE Tutor’s B2C tutoring marketplace in the Philippines. The goal had been to make high-quality, affordable tutoring accessible to local students. However, three major obstacles arose: infrastructure limitations, lack of market readiness, and economic constraints. Instead of persisting with a failing model, Cecilia made the difficult but necessary decision to pivot. The company shifted its focus to B2B partnerships, connecting Filipino educators with international EdTech companies in countries such as the UK, Germany, Singapore, and the US. This transition allowed EDGE Tutor to scale globally and provide Filipino teachers with fair compensation and career growth opportunities. Through this experience, she learned that even the best ideas must adapt to market realities.
“Technology supports, but it’s the teacher’s expertise and connection with students that truly drive meaningful learning experiences.”
Technology is at the heart of modern education, and Cecilia believes it is essential for scalability, personalization, and accessibility. It enables global access to quality education and empowers educators with better opportunities. At EDGE Tutor, Filipino teachers now teach learners in over 30 countries, earning significantly more than traditional roles through remote work. Technology also enhances both student learning and teaching careers by integrating AI-driven teaching tools, structured training, and digital platforms. AI assists with lesson planning, student progress tracking, and administrative tasks, allowing educators to focus on impactful instruction. However, EDGE Tutor maintains a strong belief that while AI can support learning, human teachers remain irreplaceable for mentorship, emotional intelligence, and real-time adaptability.
Cecilia has witnessed major transformations in EdTech over the years. Online learning has shifted from being supplementary to becoming the mainstream mode of education. AI now plays a crucial role in personalizing learning experiences and automating administrative tasks. The industry has also started prioritizing teacher well-being and career growth, ensuring better compensation, flexibility, and long-term career opportunities. There has been a shift from rapid expansion to focusing on real learning outcomes, emphasizing high-dosage tutoring, skill development, and adaptive learning models. Her biggest inspiration comes from her grandfather’s resilience and determination to obtain an education despite financial hardships. His story reinforced her belief in the power of education to create better futures. She is also deeply inspired by the Filipino educators she works with—teachers who continuously adapt, innovate, and exceed expectations despite facing industry biases. Their dedication fuels her passion for ensuring they receive recognition, fair pay, and career growth opportunities.
One of her proudest achievements at EDGE Tutor has been creating a sustainable ecosystem that benefits teachers, students, and education companies alike. The company provides educators with competitive salaries, structured training, and international exposure while ensuring students worldwide receive high-quality instruction. Additionally, EDGE Tutor partners with local organizations and NGOs to upskill public school teachers in the Philippines, equipping them with modern teaching methodologies and digital literacy skills. This initiative has helped train over 6,000 teachers, positively impacting thousands of students in the country.
Cecilia sees great opportunities for women in EdTech. Women bring problem-solving skills, innovation, and empathy, making them essential in shaping the future of education technology. She encourages more women to step into leadership roles where they can influence how education is designed and delivered globally. Women can also drive change in research, product development, and instructional design, ensuring that digital learning platforms cater to diverse learners. Representation is crucial—when women lead, they inspire future generations of female educators and technologists.
Balancing work and personal life is a challenge, but Cecilia believes in setting clear priorities and maintaining a balance between urgency and long-term sustainability. Leadership requires intensity, but self-care and personal growth are equally important. Her advice to young women pursuing a career in EdTech is to own their expertise and not wait for permission to lead. Success comes from staying ahead of industry trends, continuously learning, and building strong professional networks. She encourages women to challenge biases by delivering results and leading with resilience and purpose. Leadership is not about having all the answers but about being willing to take risks, adapt, and inspire others.
“Education isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about determination, dignity, and the ability to carve out a better future.”
Looking ahead, Cecilia envisions a future where teachers are truly valued, not just as facilitators but as key drivers of global education. She believes students should receive personalized, high-quality learning experiences with technology enhancing—not replacing—human connection in education. She is committed to ensuring EdTech helps close educational gaps rather than widen them. Through EDGE Tutor, she plans to continue expanding global partnerships, creating high-quality opportunities for Filipino educators, and leveraging AI-driven tools to optimize instruction and streamline workflows. By continuously innovating and advocating for teacher empowerment, she is shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and technology-driven education ecosystem.