She Leads Because She Can

Send us Fan Mail Aging Well — Redefining Careers Beyond 50 In this episode, Caz and Sue explore what it means to build a fulfilling career path into your 50s and beyond, especially for leaders who aren't ready to slow down. They challenge the assumption that later-career professionals should be scaling back, arguing instead that this stage of life often brings greater capacity, creativity, an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Leisa Grace Wilson to explore the leaps of faith that have shaped her life and career. From her bold decision to relocate to the UAE, to stepping away from school leadership to pursue her passion for journalism, Leisa has consistently chosen courage over comfort — and she's refreshingly candid about how she does it. Leisa opens up about her a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Rachael Wilding, an experienced international school leader who has made the bold transition from working within school communities to forging her own path as an entrepreneur. In her most recent role as Director of Edsidera — a global extra-curricular awards company — Rachael is channelling her passion for education into something with worldwide r...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Mary Rose Connolly, founder and consultant at POSA Consulting, to explore her unique approach to school leadership and pastoral care. Mary describes her work as a “travelling pastoral system” — bringing tailored support, belief, and structure directly into schools. Her philosophy centres on one core conviction: that the right support for students...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Joanna Povall, author of the newly published book Kind Leadership , to explore what it truly means to lead with empathy, honesty, and impact. Far from being a sign of weakness, Joanna makes a compelling case that kind leadership is in fact the most human — and most effective — way to lead within any organisation. Joanna opens by sharing the core q...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we hear from Kay Yang , a Chinese national whose journey from the north to the south of China, and ultimately into school leadership in Shanghai, has shaped a deeply reflective and culturally-informed approach to leading in international education. Kay shares her personal educational story and how it ignited a passion for fostering mutual understanding within cult...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Overview In this episode, we hear from endurance sportswoman Paula Ralph, who completed a remarkable solo, unsupported cycle ride of 12,290 km from Cape Town, South Africa to Nordkapp, Norway — crossing 17 countries in just 126 days. Growing Up: Hardship and Survival Paula speaks candidly about a difficult childhood in South Africa, growing up in a family heavily affected...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Fiona Cottam , Principal of Hartland's International School in Dubai. Recorded before the situation in the Middle East unfolded, Fiona shares how strong, values-driven leadership enables a community to face uncertainty with resilience and unity. Fiona takes us through her leadership journey — from teaching in the UK to heading one of Dubai&ap...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Nicola Nelson , Head of Primary at Garden International School, Kuala Lumpur, for an honest and inspiring conversation about what it means to lead authentically. Nicola opens up about identifying as an introverted leader — someone who listens carefully, processes deeply, and is intentional about the space she occupies in meetings and conversations...

Send us Fan Mail Guest: Vivienne Porritt OBE Co-founder & President, WomenEd   About the Guest Vivienne Porritt OBE is a global pioneer in women's empowerment and a leading advocate for equity in the workplace. Her career in educational leadership spans roles as a Secondary Headteacher, Vice-President of the Chartered College of Teaching, and Director of School Partnerships at the Institu...

Send us Fan Mail This episode features Dr Reham El Shamy, Head of the Senior School at Beech Hall School Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Reham shares her personal journey as a female leader, drawing on the influence of her mother and a lifelong commitment to learning and development. Her story explores how leadership can evolve across generations, cultures, and contexts. About Beech Hall Sc...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for an inspiring conversation with Liz Smith and Hajra Abbasi, an exceptional teacher and teaching assistant partnership from The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi. Working together in a Reception Class, they share the secrets behind their successful collaboration and what makes their professional relationship thrive. In this episode, Liz and Hajra discuss: • How th...

Send us Fan Mail Collaborative Recruitment Practices This episode features a remarkable conversation with Jessica Delgado, Maki Nishihara, and Julie Villers, who transformed a competitive senior leadership interview process into a collaborative and supportive experience. The Story Three candidates found themselves competing for the same senior leadership position at a school. Rather than viewing e...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary The way we communicate shapes everything—our relationships, our culture, and our collective growth. In this episode, we explore these ideas with Kai Vacher, Principal of the British Schools of Muscat and Salalah. As a long-serving school leader, Kai recognised that traditional performance management approaches weren't creating meaningful professional developme...

Send us Fan Mail Flexible Working in International Schools In this episode, we explore what flexible working really means for staff in international schools. We unpack the concept of flexible and contracted work, looking closely at how job-share arrangements can strengthen staff retention, support professional growth, and enhance recruitment. We speak candidly about the challenges that come with m...

Send us Fan Mail Guest : Julia Knight International School Leader & School Improvement Partner, Bahrain The Journey to International Education Julia Knight shares her transition into the international school sector, revealing the personal and professional opportunities this path has created for both her career and her family. Her story offers insight into what draws educators across borders an...

Send us Fan Mail Guest : Juliëtte van Eerdewijk - Educational Consultant and School Leader Overview In this episode, we sit down with Juliëtte to explore how language development can transform international school leadership and student success. Key Discussion Points Personal Journey and Perspective Juliëtte brings a unique perspective as a native Dutch speaker who mastered English for her profess...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary In this episode, we unpack our conversation with Pat Clark, exploring four key leadership insights that challenged our thinking: "It takes a very strong leader to give the power away" We discuss how school leaders can consistently develop their team leaders' skills and motivation, and why empowering others requires confidence, not weakness. "Hea...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Pat, a distinguished educator whose remarkable six-decade career spans classroom teaching, school leadership, and international leadership training. Her energy and passion for the profession remain as vibrant as ever, offering a masterclass in sustained professional commitment. Key Insights Throughout the conversation, Pat shares profoun...

Send us Fan Mail Guest Profile Name: Oleksandra (Sasha) Kondratenko Current Role: Student of International Relations University: University of Rotterdam Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Background: Ukrainian refugee Episode Overview In this inspiring episode, Sasha shares her journey from Ukraine to the Netherlands and how she transformed the challenges of displacement into opportunities for p...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore the concept of servant leadership and its application in educational settings, particularly for headteachers. Key Discussion Points: What is Servant Leadership? The hosts share their personal understanding and interpretation of servant leadership principles Discussion of how this leadership style differs from traditional hierarchical approaches Servant...

Send us Fan Mail Guest : Sahreen Siddiqui Position: Educator, Headteacher, Executive Leader and Consultant Location: London, UK Key Themes Discussed: Service-Centred Leadership Sahreen explores how service forms the foundation of her leadership philosophy, driving her commitment to student achievement, staff empowerment, and effective school leadership. This value system shapes every aspect of her...

Send us Fan Mail The Art of Graceful Leadership Transition Episode Description: In this compelling guest episode, we witness leadership transition at its finest as Nicola Holloway and Lisa Thorpe share their story of the Primary Headship handover at Ascot International School, Bangkok. This is a masterclass in what happens when two exceptional leaders prioritise community wellbeing over personal a...

Send us Fan Mail This special wrap-up episode of the "She Leads Because She Can" podcast brings together the most valuable insights and advice from all 10 episodes of Season 1, creating a comprehensive guide for professional and personal growth. Key Topics Covered International Career Transitions This episode explores strategies for taking the bold leap to work internationally, covering...

Send us Fan Mail This episode of "She Leads Because She Can" delves into the transformative power of co-leadership, exploring how two leaders can unite to create outcomes that exceed what either could achieve individually. Key Themes The Foundation of True Partnership The episode examines how genuine co-leadership emerges when two leaders share a common intention and work together as equ...