EdVance

What does it take to build high-performance schools in one of the world’s most competitive education systems, and why does culture matter so much?In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Simon O’Connor, Headmaster of Harrow International School Dubai, reflects on more than a decade of school leadership in the UAE and what sustains strong performance over time.Simon explains why school culture, defined through shared values and daily behaviours, underpins consistency, quality and trust. He shares how high expectations, staff wellbeing and leadership responsibility shape schools that remain strong even in transient, international communities.The conversation examines leadership in Dubai’s private school system, the role of inspection and accountability, and how schools can prepare students for an uncertain future without compromising their focus on fundamentals.

What will it take to address Africa’s learning crisis, and why does progress depend on getting the basics right?In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Rapelang Rabana, Co-CEO of Imagine Worldwide, reflects on what teachers and systems across Africa are facing, and why foundational literacy and numeracy remain essential for sustained progress.She explains the difference between schooling and learning, and why millions of children attend school without achieving basic mastery. Rapelang also shares how carefully designed technology can support personalised feedback at scale, even in settings without electricity, internet access or trained teachers.The conversation reinforces a clear message. Strong learning foundations must come before advanced tools, including artificial intelligence and robotics.

What does it take to design education reforms that actually work, especially at the scale of millions? And how do leaders stay focused when the system is crowded with competing priorities and complexity? In this episode of the EdVance podcast, Kruti Bharucha, Founder and CEO of Peepul, shares why every effective intervention begins with clarity. She reflects on the simple discipline of knowing what you want to change, why it matters, and how to keep decisions anchored in the classroom. From improving student engagement to working closely with government, Kruti shares what she has learnt about strengthening public education systems, supporting teachers, and building trust at scale. She also speaks about the challenges, the lessons, and the mindset needed to move a system forward. This is an honest conversation for people who care about public education and understand that real change requires focus, patience, and clarity of purpose.

What does it take to keep education going when a country faces conflict? How do school leaders stay steady, support their teams and protect learning when nothing feels certain?In this episode, Zoya Lytvyn, Founder of Osvitoria and a leading education voice in Ukraine, shares her journey and the work that has helped millions of children and teachers continue learning during the war.Zoya speaks about leadership in crisis, the courage shown by teachers across Ukraine, and the focus that has kept schools operating. She reflects on the mindset needed to lead through fear and uncertainty, the value of community, and the need to protect your own energy so you can support others. This conversation also looks at the future of education in Ukraine, the reforms already underway, and the lessons school leaders around the world can draw from Ukraine’s resilience.

What helps some education systems improve while others fall behind? In this new EdVance episode, Professor Fernando M. Reimers from the Harvard Graduate School of Education explains how high performing systems plan for the future through futures thinking, balance global citizenship with national identity, and use AI to support teachers and reduce workload. He shares how collaboration between governments, schools, and communities builds trust and drives steady improvement. From empowering teachers to creating flexible curricula, Prof. Fernando sets out what makes lasting progress possible.Key takeaways from this episode:Futures thinking for system leadershipBalancing national identity with global citizenshipAI that supports teachersCollaboration across education systemsIf you want to learn what strong systems do well, this episode is for you.

How do schools close persistent learning gaps and raise student outcomes year after year?In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Chancey Anderson Tauer, Co-Founder and CEO of Prodeo Academy in Minnesota. She explains how her schools improve results for underserved students through data-driven decisions, consistent expectations and coaching that strengthens teaching practice. Chancey shows how evidence shapes every choice, from lesson planning to recruitment, and how clear routines and feedback sustain progress across classrooms. She also discusses the realities of leading charter schools with limited funding and how her team maintains performance under pressure.

In this episode, Lil Bremermann Richard, Group CEO of Oxford International Education Group, shares about how universities can stay useful in a time shaped by technology and new expectations from students.Lil shares her own journey in leadership, including the challenges of working in male-dominated spaces and what she has learnt about perseverance, equality, and the importance of building strong networks.For Lil, institutions must be willing to embrace change, adopt new tools, and prepare learners for a world where strengths like creativity, teamwork, and emotional intelligence matter more than ever.

When Leticia Lyle opened Camino School in São Paulo, she was not just starting a school. She was building a path - one where relationships, values and learning all held equal weight. In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Leticia reflects on what the world can learn from Brazil’s classrooms. Her story is as much about courage as it is about design. From opening Camino just days before the pandemic to shaping a curriculum where social-emotional learning sits alongside academic rigour, she shows that education can be both deeply human and highly practical. She also speaks about the hard choices leaders must make. It looks at what it means to hold on to your principles when the model is tested, how to balance the demands of budgets and rules with the deeper work of care and connection, and how to ensure that everyone feels seen. This episode provides answers to some of the hardest questions school leaders face today.

What does it take to build a movement that opens the school gates for millions of girls?In this episode, we are joined by Lucy Lake, Director of Global Engagement, Yidan Prize Foundation. For more than 30 years, Lucy has worked to remove the barriers that keep girls out of school and to support young women to step into leadership. She shares her journey from starting as a volunteer in Zimbabwe to leading an organisation that has helped over 7 million young people through education. Along the way, she speaks openly about the difficult choices she faced, the risks she took, and the lessons she learned about resilience and leadership. Lucy also talks about fundraising as something deeper than raising money. For her, it is about fairness, sharing resources, and staying true to the girls whose futures depend on education. She shows how a culture of accountability and trust can make change possible even in the hardest of times.This is a conversation for leaders who want to understand what lasting impact really looks like.

What does real inclusion look like in schools, beyond slogans and surface changes?In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, we are honoured to host Vijita Patel, Executive Director for Special Educational Needs at the Qatar Foundation and one of the UK’s most respected voices on neurodiversity. With more than 20 years of experience in education, including leading the Swiss Cottage School in London to seven consecutive “outstanding” Ofsted ratings, Vijita knows what it takes to build schools where every learner can succeed.She explains how schools can move from tolerance to true celebration of difference: valuing every child, supporting teachers, involving families, and rethinking what success means by including social and cultural capital. From using technology to strengthen student voice, to building a culture of high expectations for all, her reflections offer both insights and guidance. She reminds us that inclusion is not an extra, but the heart of real school improvement.

What does it take to build schools that work for every child, not just a few? In this episode, Vikas speaks with Stacey Brewer, the founder and chair of SPARK Schools in South Africa. She started with one school in 2013. Today, SPARK Schools has grown to 26 schools, serving over 17,000 children. It’s a story of persistence, strong values, and the belief that every child can succeed.Stacey shares how her team built a model that keeps school fees affordable, supports teachers with over 200 hours of training each year, and puts families at the centre of the learning journey. She also reflects on their proudest moment - when SPARK Soweto won the World’s Best School Prize for Community Collaboration in 2022.This is a thoughtful and honest conversation for anyone who wants to understand how strong leadership, clear purpose, and trust in people can transform education and communities.

In this episode of The EdVance Podcast, we’re joined by Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings.Rebecca challenges us to rethink how we lead in education reminding us that we can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. Real change takes reflection, bold choices, and approaches that truly serve students and communities. She highlights the power of community in shaping education and the need to stay rooted in purpose so our efforts never lose direction.A must‑listen for leaders ready to shape education with clarity, care, and courage.

Leadership can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be exhausting, especially when you are aiming high, supporting others, and trying to stay grounded all at once. So, how do you keep showing up with clarity and care, without burning out along the way?In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, we welcome Dr Nina Rawal, Partner and Co-Head, Ventures at Trill Impact. She speaks about what it means to lead with purpose and how to stay steady when the pressure to perform never seems to let up.Dr Nina reminds us that ambitious goals matter, not to impress others, but because playing it safe can quietly limit our growth. She also highlights the importance of trust in building strong teams. Once you have hired the right people, trust them to do their work until they give you a reason not to. Trust should be the starting point, not something they have to earn over and over again .She closes with a quiet but powerful reminder that when the work begins to feel heavy, return to your reason for starting. That simple reflection often gives you and your team the strength to carry on. This episode is for leaders who care deeply, carry their responsibilities with quiet strength, and want to keep growing without losing themselves.

Growth is often celebrated in education businesses around the world, but only a few talk about the cost of growing too fast or without clear direction. Many leaders are under pressure to expand quickly, show results, and prove impact. But real progress is not just about reaching more people, it’s about doing it well, with purpose, structure, and care. In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Aakash Chaudhry, Founder & MD, Sparkl Edventure shares insight about what it truly means to scale in a way that is both responsible and sustainable. Drawing from decades of experience, Aakash reflects on how slow, steady, and thoughtful growth helped him build one of India’s most respected education organisations. He shares why strong systems and capable teams must come before expansion.

In this episode, Nick Grono, CEO of the Freedom Fund, shares how real leadership isn’t about control, it’s about creating space for honest conversations. From anonymous staff Q&As to bold leadership surveys, Nick reveals the habits that foster transparency, strengthen culture, and empower every voice in the room. Whether you're leading a small team or a global organisation, his insights offer a refreshing blueprint for building trust from the inside out.

In a world where expectations are rising and resources are stretched, how can education leaders lead with purpose, stay true to their values, and still deliver real impact? In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Asheesh Advani, CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide, shares insights about what it truly takes to lead in today’s complex world of work given the technological disruptions. Asheesh shares honest lessons from his leadership journey, from setting clear but flexible priorities to managing expectations in every direction, and building a culture where appreciation drives high performance. For him, achievement is not the final goal, it’s the process of becoming better, together as a team.This episode is a practical and thoughtful guide for education leaders, school heads, and system changemakers

What does it really take to build a workplace where people stay, grow, and thrive?In this episode of Edvance, Bhushan Sethi, Partner at PwC US Consulting and Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern, joins us to unpack the realities of leading high-performing teams. From global boardrooms to the classroom, Bhushan brings a wealth of experience on what leaders often get wrong about hiring, training, and execution and what they need to do differently.We explore why retention today is less about perks and more about trust, consistency, and culture. You’ll hear what it takes to turn strategy into action by focusing on the systems, behaviours, and people that bring it to life.Whether you’re leading a school, a non-profit, or a growing team — this one’s for you. Because the future of work isn’t about trends. It’s about people.

For too long, education has been rich in purpose but poor in storytelling. While school leaders work tirelessly to improve outcomes and drive change, the real stories — of transformation, innovation, and impact — often remain untold.In this episode of the Edvance Podcast, Andrew Jack, Global Education Editor at the Financial Times, explores the vital role storytelling plays in school leadership.Together, we unpack why mastering storytelling isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential. When leaders fail to communicate clearly, passionately, and consistently, they risk losing trust, momentum, and support.Storytelling builds community, secures buy-in, and rallies people around a shared mission. Done well, it doesn’t just describe the work — it amplifies its impact.

Is a university degree still the only path to success? In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Dionisio “Nicho” Garza-Sada, Founder and CEO of Talisis, challenges the traditional narrative around education. He calls on global education leaders to reimagine a system that values purpose, passion, and practical skills—not just diplomas.This isn’t about discarding the old. It’s about expanding the vision of what learning can be, so every young person has the chance to thrive—whether or not they throw a cap in the air.

What makes a school a place where people truly thrive? In this episode of EdVance, Aatif Hassan, founder of Dukes Education, shares what he's learned from leading schools that prioritise people over policies. From his early experiences as a student who didn’t fit the system to building one of the fastest-growing school groups, Aatif reflects on what it takes to create spaces where students and teachers can do their best work.He challenges conventional ideas of school leadership, explains why culture is more than a mission statement, and shows how small, intentional decisions shape long-term success. This conversation is an honest look at the work of leading with purpose—and building schools that feel as open, alive, and meaningful as a playground built for growth.