In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Joel Copeland, Principal of the ACT Instrumental Music Program, who shares his authentic journey of building unity and trust across a geographically dispersed team that spans more than 80 schools throughout the ACT. Joel opens up about the reality of leading a team that only comes together in person for two hours each week, revealing how he navigated the complex challenge of creating a unified culture while establishing his leadership identity in a system new to him.

Joel discusses a well-established culture shaped by decades of previous leadership and the initial isolation he felt when trying to connect meaningfully with staff he rarely saw face-to-face. With refreshing honesty, he shares how he learned to move at the speed of trust rather than rushing to implement changes, even when external pressures demanded decisive action. He explains his intentional restructuring of collaborative time to prioritise human connection over content delivery, and how site visits became a non-negotiable part of his leadership rhythm.

Join us for a practical conversation as Joel reveals that culture doesn't depend on proximity, and that deliberate, trust-embedded interactions can build strong, connected teams even across postcode lines. Most significantly, he demonstrates how co-designing values and rituals with his team, rather than for them, transformed their working relationship from transactional to one grounded in belonging and contribution, proving that when people feel genuinely seen and valued, they'll lean in regardless of geographical distance.