Tea Bun’s Story

As an international student attending Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Vidit easily adapted to the coursework and rigor of a top MBA program. But he — and many of his international classmates — still felt something was missing. At the end of his first year, Vidit reflected on how much time he had spent honing soft skills that were intuitive for Americans, such as networking, interacting with professors, mastering assessment formats, asking for help, and thinking holistically about his career.

He was pleased with his first year but wondered how it might have been different if he hadn’t needed such a long acclimation period to “catch up” with cultural norms. Vidit envisioned an organization that could accelerate the adjustment process for international students, speeding up assimilation and ensuring that high-performing students get the most out of their US education.

After graduating from Yale with honors, Philip briefly ventured into the corporate world before realizing his true passion for teaching. Over the past six years, he has cultivated a diverse and talented group of students worldwide.

Yet, while working with his many international students, Philip noticed a common problem: although his foreign students were just as smart as his American ones, they often lacked the soft skills needed to navigate the American educational culture. Sessions ostensibly related to coursework quickly turned into mentorship and coaching on higher education norms, including questions like: How do I ask my professor for help? How can I make small talk during an interview for a club or job? and Is my GPA that important?

Philip realized the urgent need for an organization that could combine expertise in U.S. higher education’s complexities with a special focus on developing the skills international students need to succeed.

Hence, Tea Bun was formed! Today, our community educates and mentors top international students. Whether a boot camp, workshop, 1:1 instruction, or community meet-ups, Tea Bun is here to make sure you get the most out of your U.S. Education.

Meet The Team

Philip Hinkes

Co—Founder

Philip graduated from Yale with honors in 2021. While on campus, he worked as a tutor and mentor and founded a national civic education and advocacy non-profit, which he successfully scaled.

Philip has run his own private tutoring business for high-performing students for the past six years. He has helped students worldwide achieve their goals, from Chicago to Beijing, Doha, and Riyadh.

Philip brings a unique blend of experience that sets him apart from other tutors. In addition to a proven track record of elite academic tutoring and nationwide curriculum design, he has experience in corporate strategy for a Fortune 10 company and in communications for a major U.S. presidential campaign.

In his free time, Philip enjoys golfing, cooking, or talking about the Chicago Bears.