Positively Leading

Send us Fan Mail Positively Leading is back with a new and exciting season! In this episode, we turn the tables and Jenny is interviewed by Jocelyn Seamer about her new book, Teach, Lead or Lead: What to do when you feel like you can't do it anymore .  This is a delightful conversation between Jenny and Jocelyn - exploring why Jenny set out to write the book, who it's for, and importantl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jenny explores why so many school leaders feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the end of the school year - and what they can do to ensure that 2026 feels more sustainable, intentional, and human. Drawing on decades of experience in education and years of coaching leaders, Jenny introduces Starting Strong , a framework designed to help leaders begin the year, a role,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the summer series, Jenny Cole encourages you to pause and ask: Am I leading and living with intention - or just reacting on autopilot? Designed for educators who feel stretched thin, this short but powerful reflection explores the cost of constantly running on default and offers practical ways to reset. Jenny shares how to recognise the signs of survival mode, r...

Send us Fan Mail In this reflective episode, Jenny Cole gently guides you through the ICE process - Intention, Clarity, and Ease - to help you step into 2026 feeling aligned and purposeful. With thoughtful prompts and practical exercises, this session invites you to consider how you want to show up in the year ahead, what matters most to you, and what habits or stories you’re ready to let go of. F...

Send us Fan Mail In this first episode of the summer series, Jenny Cole invites you to pause and reflect on the year that’s been. Whether you’re crawling or cartwheeling to the finish line of 2025, this gentle debrief is your chance to acknowledge what worked, what drained you, and what you want to leave behind. Through thoughtful questions and quiet prompts, Jenny guides you to consider your ener...

Send us Fan Mail After a short break, Positively Beaming is back! In this relaxed and reflective solo episode, Jenny Cole jumps behind the mic for an unscripted chat about the value of showing up—imperfectly, but authentically. Inspired by a recent catch-up with fellow women in business, Jenny shares why it’s okay to pause, reset, and return without all the bells and whistles. This new mini summer...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Positively Leading, we welcome Jade Aim, Principal of Kelmscott Primary School. Jade shares her inspiring path from teaching to leadership, shaped by early family experiences and the power of mentorship. She reflects on building a strong school culture through simple, consistent rituals and a shared school charter that fosters accountability and care. Ja...

Send us Fan Mail Walking into a leadership interview can feel overwhelming, especially in the high-pressure world of educational leadership. But what if the key to success isn’t about having perfect answers, but about telling authentic, memorable stories? After 15 years of coaching school leaders, I’ve seen how striving for perfection often backfires. Interview panels aren’t looking for textbook r...

Send us Fan Mail Job interviews for leadership roles in education often come down to more than just qualifications. Despite fair intentions, unconscious bias still plays a powerful role in who gets selected. Many capable candidates reach the interview stage but are overlooked – not because of poor performance, but due to hidden dynamics like affinity bias, where panels gravitate toward people who...

Send us Fan Mail  Ever wondered what's really going through the minds of parents raising children with special needs? This candid exploration pulls back the curtain on one of education's most complex relationships. Drawing from three decades of experience in special education, I share how dramatically classroom dynamics have shifted. Today's mainstream teachers regularly support 8-1...

Send us Fan Mail Ever reached that point where your work becomes so all-consuming that you start losing sight of yourself? That's exactly where I found myself recently – deeply passionate about my work supporting educational leaders, but recognizing the warning signs that preceded burnout in my earlier principalship career. My leadership journey began unexpectedly in rural schools, finding my...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Positively Leading we've reversed roles! We are excited to share an episode featuring Jenny and interviewed by Jocelyn Seamer for the Structured Literacy Podcast. ----- Leadership coach Jenny Cole takes us on a journey through the evolving landscape of educational leadership, offering practical wisdom gleaned from her transition from special needs teacher to prin...

Send us Fan Mail Productivity isn't about doing more—it's about doing what matters most with the limited time and energy we have. As school leadership becomes increasingly complex, with endless demands competing for our attention, finding ways to work smarter becomes essential to our effectiveness and wellbeing. Join me as I continue on from the previous episode with Part 2 in this speci...

Send us Fan Mail Productivity isn't about doing more—it's about doing what matters most with the limited time and energy we have. As school leadership becomes increasingly complex, with endless demands competing for our attention, finding ways to work smarter becomes essential to our effectiveness and wellbeing. In this solo episode, I share my journey as someone who is "naturally d...

Send us Fan Mail Step into the world of early childhood education with Linda Sweet, Deputy Head of Primary Early Learning at a K-12 school in Perth. With 35+ years of experience, Linda’s passion for nurturing young minds shines through as she shares her journey from enthusiastic educator to influential leader. We explore the power of play-based learning, how it builds resilience, emotional regulat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Cleo Jenkins, an experienced Deputy Principal with a wealth of leadership wisdom. Growing up in a family of educators, Cleo shares how her early influences and personal hardships shaped her perspective on leadership and wellbeing. We explore why self-care is essential for school leaders and how Cleo’s doctorate research is shedding light on the re...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for an inspiring chat with Jacquie Cooper , a passionate principal who went from a hesitant intern to a confident school leader. Jacquie’s story is all about empowering educators, building connections, and leading with authenticity. In this episode  we dive into the real challenges of school leadership—balancing community expectations, managing staff, and nurturing middle...

Send us Fan Mail What if embracing the unexpected could transform your approach to educational leadership? In this episode, Sara Campbell, Deputy Principal at a fully inclusive primary school in Perth, shares her inspiring journey from teaching computing and art in the UK to becoming a passionate advocate for students with disabilities in Australia. Sara’s leadership story highlights the balance b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Nicki Hill, principal of North Tom Price Primary School, shares her inspiring journey of balancing a demanding leadership role with family life. From her transition from the Goldfields to Perth, Nicki reflects on the challenges she faced, the strategic choices she made to prioritize her family, and how embracing vulnerability and self-trust shaped her leadership p...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Marg Tranquille, vice principal of a secondary college in Western Australia, reflects on her 30-year journey in Catholic education. From her early days as head of year to balancing motherhood and career, Marg shares how she overcame burnout, found renewed purpose through consulting, and rediscovered her passion upon returning to the classroom—paving the way to her...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to build a truly inclusive educational environment? In this episode, Associate Principal Brooke McFarlane shares her inspiring journey from drama and English teacher to passionate advocate for vulnerable students. Drawing from her experiences in challenging school settings, Brooke highlights the power of community cohesion in supporting special needs students wit...

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we chat with Robyn Hutchins, a primary school principal on the Gold Coast with an unconventional path into education. From high school teaching to leading in primary, Robyn’s story is all about adaptability, growth, and the power of great mentors and colleagues. We dive into her leadership style—grounded in steadiness and support—and how it shapes her approach to guidin...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Positively Leading , I chat with Melanie Moore, a level three program coordinator at a public secondary school. Mel shares her experiences leading professional learning communities, balancing academic growth with well-being, and the complexities of middle leadership. With a career spanning over 30 years in both the UK and Australia, Mel has navigated roles in student...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could revolutionize education while staying true to your core values? Join us as we chat with Cara Fugill, the inspirational Principal of Scotch Global, who has transformed from a young mathematics teacher into a pioneering leader in educational innovation. Cara's journey is a testament to the power of embracing leadership early and taking calculated risks to chal...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a down-to-earth chat with Hayley Taylor, Principal of Canning Vale Primary School, as she shares her journey from an early childhood teacher in a small Wheatbelt school to leading a thriving school community. Hayley opens up about how family priorities and unexpected challenges shaped her career, showing the power of courage, determination, and building strong relation...