Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World
We bring you in-depth interviews with exceptional leaders who drive toward a different bottom line — leaders from health care, philanthropy, non-profits, education and rescue services who are doing exceptional work for the good of the world. Exploring their origin stories, their leadership journey and the lessons they learned on their path -- sometimes the hard way -- we bring you close to understand how exceptional leaders tick.
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Exceptionally Good: Leaders for a Better World
17. Isamu Thung - Systems, Self, and the Struggle to Lead (…all before graduating high school)
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What does it look like to reflect deeply on education systems—after you’ve learned across the ocean and back again
…and before you’ve even graduated high school?
In this episode, Ryan sits down with Isamu Thung, a recent graduate of High Tech High and one of the most thoughtful young leaders discussing learning, equity, and systems transformation. Despite just finishing high school, Isamu brings a level of wisdom, humility, and systems-thinking that challenges adults in the field to go deeper.
We explore:
- The hard lessons of leadership and the tension between control and compassion
- What Isamu learned by moving between the U.S. and Japan’s educational systems
- How a single semester of empowered teaching transformed his trajectory
- Why good structure creates freedom—and too much freedom can paralyze
- What it means to walk with someone through their learning journey
Whether he’s designing professional development tools, mentoring middle schoolers, or rethinking how systems shape outcomes, Isamu shows us what’s possible when curiosity meets deep reflection.
This episode is full of insights about identity, courage, and the kind of leadership that grows through humility and struggle.
Connect with Isamu Thung:
Website:
LinkedIn: Isamu Thung
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isamu-thung-55429b288/
Email: isamuthung@gmail.com
Ron Berger’s Unboxed episode (featuring Isamu):
“Schools Can Get Better at Unleashing Student Potential”
https://hthgse.edu/podcasts/schools-can-get-better-at-unleashing-student-potential/
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About Exceptionally Good:
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More from Exceptionally Good:
Work with Ryan:
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Exceptionally Good on Substack:
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Producer, editor and host: Ryan Maxwell
Theme music: Ryan Raddatz
Guitar music: Adeline’s Guitar
Credits/Outro Read by: Adeline, Advice and Jess
The views shared on this podcast are those of my guests and the host and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present.