Blue Skies Leadership Podcast – Episode #24
Did you know that over 80% of international school headships end prematurely? Leadership instability isn’t rare, it’s a systemic epidemic across our sector. Episode 24 of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast is officially LIVE! In this episode, hosts Daniel Mendes and I sit down with Kevin Baker, Director of the American International School of Guangzhou […]
Blue Skies Leadership – Episode #23
Are your school’s hiring policies unintentionally filtering out your next rising star? When international schools hunt for new educators or leaders, it is incredibly easy to fall into a hyper-myopic trap. We obsess over specific resumes, exact curricular checkmarks, or even preferred accents. But in Episode 23 of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tim […]
Blue Skies Leadership Podcast – Episode #21
Connection before content. It’s a simple phrase that changes everything about how we lead. Episode 21 of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast is LIVE! 🎙️ Today, we sit down with international school teacher and change expert Nick Haywood to discuss why the most effective leaders prioritize relationships over results to actually get better results. In […]
Blue Skies leadership Podcast – Episode #22
Leadership isn’t about having a perfect plan; it’s about having the courage to make the next best decision when the ground is shifting beneath you. Eight weeks ago, Daniel Mendes was evacuated with his family from Doha while trying to support teachers and students during an escalating international conflict. In our latest episode of the […]
Blue Skies Leadership – Episode #20
Stop trying to be the best in the world. Start being the best for the world. We are thrilled to celebrate a major milestone—Episode #20 of the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast! To mark the occasion, we sat down with a true titan of international education, Tim Carr. Tim doesn’t just talk about leadership; he lives […]
Blue Skies Leadership – Episode #19
“You’re wired to have this sense of belonging.” Dr. Derrick Gay is back on the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast for Episode 19, and he’s bringing the science. One of the most powerful takeaways from this conversation is the reminder that belonging isn’t a “soft” initiative or a political stance—it’s a biological requirement. As Dr. Gay […]
Blue Skies Leadership Podcast – Episode #18
“The world feels like it’s at a point where young people can’t just wait until after school or after university to make a difference.” That powerful reflection comes directly from one of our guests—and for the first time, we welcome students to the Blue Skies Leadership Podcast! In this episode, we hear from Maddie and […]
Blue Skies Leadership Podcast – Episode #17
“Community engagement is a two-way street that benefits both sides.”Is your school’s service program truly reciprocal? In our latest Blue Skies Leadership episode, Dr. Dan Long argues that sustainable community outreach is the lifeblood of a thriving international school. It’s not about what we give, but what we share and what we learn. Tune in […]
Blue Skies Leadership Podcast – Episode #16
“You should measure what you value. Don’t value what you can measure.” This thought-provoking quote from our conversation with Jennie Magiera is a call to action for every school leader. In this episode, we challenge the notion that grades and test scores are the ultimate measure of student success. Jennie shares her vision for a […]
Blue Skies Leadership Podcast – Episode #15
Are your recruitment strategies truly attracting the best talent, or just the available talent, for your international school? In our new Blue Skies Leadership episode, Dan Kerr and Daniel Mendes engage with Pauline O’Brien a global expert in education recruitment and strategy from International Schools Services. Pauline delves into the nuances of building robust teams, […]