In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Graham Catt, Chief Executive Officer of Independent Schools Australia (ISA) - the national peak body representing over 1,200 independent schools across Australia.

In this conversation, they explore what it means for school leaders to operate inside a national policy and advocacy environment, and how leaders can influence decisions when education becomes increasingly politicised.

Together they explore:

• The difference between representation and advocacy
• The idea of being both a credible friend and a credible threat
• Why evidence alone is rarely enough to shift political decisions
• What it takes to lead effectively when you don’t have formal authority
• Why building relational capital - a “bucket of capital” - is essential before you try to spend it

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader navigating forces beyond your school gates, seeking to understand how influence works at sector level, and reflecting on how to lead when authority alone isn’t enough.

Episode links

Positivity, complexity and leadership with Julie Robinson (Ep. 178)

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In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Vanita Uppal OBE, Director of The British School New Delhi and an international educator with more than thirty years of leadership experience, whose work is recognised globally through the roles she holds and the organisations she serves.

In this thoughtful and human-centred conversation, they move beyond titles and structures to explore the inner life of leadership, and why connection, intuition, belief and belonging matter as much as strategy and systems.

Together they explore:

• How human connection shapes culture and leadership impact
• Why intuition is a form of real leadership intelligence
• The power of slowing down as a leadership discipline
• How leaders build belonging through compassion, listening and belief
• The importance of a stable mission combined with an agile strategy

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader who wants to lead with greater depth, humanity and presence, and who is reflecting on how connection, intuition and belonging shape the kind of leader you are becoming.

Episode Links

Listen to Juliet Corbett talking about related topics on the Quiet Leadership Revolution podcast:

What if slowing down helps you speed up? (Ep. 20)

The hidden reason your strategy isn’t working (Ep. 42)

Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Helen Olds, Director of the British International School Jeddah, with more than 20 years of leadership experience across international schools in Asia and the Middle East.

In this thoughtful conversation, they explore how leadership needs to adapt across cultures and contexts without losing authenticity, and why understanding people is just as important as understanding systems when leading in international settings.

Together they explore:

• How leadership needs to shift across different cultures and contexts
• The balance between structure and freedom in complex school environments
• Why values and purpose matter as anchors for decision making
• How leaders create the conditions for learning, growth and creativity

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader working across cultures or systems, navigating complexity, or considering a move into the international school sector and reflecting on how your leadership style might need to adapt.

Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!