She Leads Because She Can
We believe that there is a need to provide support for female school leaders, who want to thrive and grow within international school settings.
In this series of fortnightly podcasts, we share our own lived experiences and the hard-hitting realities which have shaped us as successful leaders within the sector.
Each podcast forms a topical conversation which is experienced-based; sharing truths, sound council and suggested solutions.
We aim to be a source of courage, confidence and practical solutions to keep others ' leading because they can'.
Episodes
39 episodes
#37 Coaching, Confidence and Courage to Take the Next Step
This week on the podcast, I am joined by Julie Keyes, founder of The Educational Coach.Julie is originally a secondary school teacher and former deputy head who took the courageous step of setting up her own business in the UK. In 2024, ...
#36 The Courage to Choose: Mel’s Journey to Solo Motherhood
This is a podcast about female resilience, courage, strength, and knowing your own mind In this episode, Mel Greenwood, a former international school leader, opens up honestly about returning to the UK and making one of the biggest ...
#35 Lessons from the Leadership Journey
Welcome back to the She Leads Because She Can Podcast, where we amplify the voices of female leaders around the world. The brand-new season starts with an honest and open conversation about leadership.In this episode, Sue and Caz r...
#34 Aging well - redefining careers beyond 50.
Aging Well — Redefining Careers Beyond 50In 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 assum...
#33 Being Brave and Doing It Anyway with Leisa Grace Wilson
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 jou...
#32 Beyond Headship; entrepreneurship, encouragement and backing yourself with Rachael Wilding
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 Directo...
#31 Wellbeing as an innovator of standards with Mary Rose Connolly
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” — bring...
#30 CHASE-ing Kind Leadership with Joanna Povall
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...
#29 Bridging Cultures and Systems with Kay Yang
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 ...
#28 Finding Resilience, Adaptability and Self-Belief with Paula Ralph
Episode OverviewIn 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...
#27 Leading with Care, Compassion and Community with Fiona Cottam
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 fa...
#26 Leading as an Introvert with Nicola Nelson
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...
#25 Being 10% Braver and Knowing Your Worth with Vivienne Porritt
Guest: Vivienne Porritt OBECo-founder & President, WomenEd About the GuestVivienne Porritt OBE is a global pioneer in women's empowerment and a leading advocate for equity in the work...
#24 Creating a Shared Understanding Across Generations with Dr Reham El Shamy
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 commi...
#23 Building Strong Teaching Partnerships in Early Years with Liz Smith and Hajra Abbasi
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 secret...
#22 Collaborative Recruitment Practices - with Jessica Delgado, Maki Nishihara and Julie Villers
Collaborative Recruitment PracticesThis episode features a remarkable conversation with Jessica Delgado, Maki Nishihara, and Julie Villers, who transformed a competitive senior leadership interview process into a coll...
#21 Building a Coaching Culture in International Schools with Kai Vacher
Episode SummaryThe 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.
#20 Flexible Working in International Schools
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-sha...
#19 Leadership, Balance and Community in International Education with Julia Knight
Guest: Julia KnightInternational School Leader & School Improvement Partner, BahrainThe Journey to International EducationJulia Knight shares her transition into the international school sector, r...
#18 Language Leadership in International Education with Juliëtte van Eerdewijk
Guest: Juliëtte van Eerdewijk - Educational Consultant and School LeaderOverviewIn this episode, we sit down with Juliëtte to explore how language development can transform international school leadership and ...
#17 Role models and why they count: reflections sparked by Pat Clark's conversation
Episode SummaryIn 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 sch...
#16 Inspirational leaders never age: with Pat Clark
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...
#15 Transforming displacement into personal growth and global awareness with Sasha Kondratenko
Guest ProfileName: Oleksandra (Sasha) Kondratenko Current Role: Student of International Relations University: University of Rotterdam Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Background: Uk...
#14 Servant Leadership: a deeper dive into what this means in a school context
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 per...