Leadership

by Lawrence Potter The Power of Walkarounds: Seeing, Listening, and Leading with Presence There are moments in leadership when you catch yourself mid-step – quite literally. For me, one of those moments happens during walkarounds.  I sometimes chuckle to myself as I move through classrooms or linger near a corridor – thinking, Do I look strange […]

by Dr Justin Zhang A heartfelt thank you to Amy and the LYIS team for inviting me into this vibrant community of leaders. There’s nothing more energising than sharing a space with people dedicated to the art and science of education. Have you ever watched a single pebble drop into a calm pond? The real

by Michael Iannini One of the most frequent and quietly corrosive challenges international school middle leaders face is the “That’s not my job” response from colleagues. It’s a moment that can stop progress in its tracks, especially in schools where collaboration, adaptability, and shared responsibility are essential to success. This challenge is often amplified in

by Jo Owen When I was asked to write a book on Smart Thinking, I was both excited and terrified. The terror came from a very simple question: “What is smart thinking?” If you had to write a book about Smart Thinking, what would you write about? “What is smart thinking?” joins a long list

by Dr Tania Blatti Leadership in international schools is not just about policies and procedures – it is about people. It is about creating a culture where learning thrives, where individuals feel valued, and where schools embody ethical, inclusive, and transformational leadership. Having worked across Australia, the UAE, South Korea, and China, I have experienced

by Amy Lucas Introduction Leading a new international school in Yangon, Myanmar, has been a journey filled with both immense opportunities and significant challenges. As the country evolves on the global stage, there is an increasing demand for high-quality education that meets international standards while remaining accessible. For educators driven by a vision to inspire

by Alissa Kordprom Introduction Student well-being and inclusion are at the heart of nearly every international school’s mission today. A quick tour of any school website will reveal an institution’s desire to create compassionate, driven and well-rounded students. The same tour will inevitably be interrupted by pop-up recruitment advertisements aimed at showcasing what becoming a

by Matt Topliss Initial Impressions As a new leader in any school, first impressions are pivotal and create opportunities for growth and development for a new leader and existing colleagues. Creating a positive first impression for school leaders is central to the establishment of trust and confidence amongst stakeholders and the wider community. Being visible,

by Kausor Amin-Ali The world is much more interconnected for most of us than ever before in human history. In this cosmopolitan world, a lot has been said, especially over the past five years, regarding the need for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) mainly in Western workplaces and society.  Post-pandemic internationalism and a global workforce

by Sam Gipson “Are you sure you want to shave?” Just shy of two years ago, I was preparing for my first principalship interview. At barely 33 years young I was sure I was not ready. I had thrown my hat in the ring just for the experience, as my aspiration was (and still is)