She Leads Because She Can

Sue Aspinall and Caz Jude

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'.

  1. 11h ago

    #37 Coaching, Confidence and Courage to Take the Next Step

    Send us Fan Mail 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, she took another courageous step and moved her business to Dubai. In this podcast, Julie talks openly and honestly about the challenges she has faced when things do not quite go according to plan, as well as the enriching experiences she has had along the way. Julie shares how determination is key. She believes that confidence is 'built on receipts'  as  past experiences can remind us that we can do it. When she arrived in Dubai, she put that determination to the test by visiting thirty schools in thirty days. No mean feat! Her belief in what she can offer, combined with her determination to support schools, has certainly paid off. Julie talks about the power of coaching to support us in the choices we make, and the importance of giving ourselves protected time to think things through and move forward, no matter how small the step. She also reflects on the value of writing down or voice noting our thoughts and ideas, so that we can see patterns and have a better understanding of what is going on and what we need to do. Julie shares her top tips with us, including: ·       Write down your goals as though you have already achieved them.  ·       Focus on your strengths. ·       Make use of your network and build deep connections with people throughout the world. We hope this conversation benefits you and that you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it. If you would like to join me on the podcast, please let me know via social media.  Julie also ponders the question: Do men second-guess themselves as much as women?

  2. Sep 17

    #36 The Courage to Choose: Mel’s Journey to Solo Motherhood

    Send us Fan Mail 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 decisions of her life: to have a baby on her own in her late 30s. \Her story is incredibly honest and deeply human. It’s about taking a leap of faith, trusting yourself, and finding the courage to create the life and family you want, even when it does not look like the path you once imagined. Mel talks candidly about: 🌱 Making the decision to become a mum on her own ❤️ The fears, doubts, excitement and emotions that came with that decision 🤰 Going through pregnancy and birth without a partner 👩‍👦 Becoming a single working mum and navigating the challenges that came with it 💪 Finding resilience when things don’t always go to plan 🌍 How society is changing and how women have more choices available to them ✨ Having the courage to reach out and create the life you want 🎧 Have a listen, and I hope Mel’s story inspires you as much as it inspired me. If Mel’s story resonates with you, particularly if you’re considering embarking on a similar journey, Mel has very kindly offered to chat and share her experience. If you would like to connect with her, I would be delighted to put you in touch.

  3. Sep 3

    #35 Lessons from the Leadership Journey

    Send us Fan Mail 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 reflect on their own experiences of leading, the challenges, the lessons, the moments that have shaped them, and, perhaps most importantly, what they wish they had known earlier. They revisit some of the comments, questions and insights shared by their guests in previous episodes and consider what they have  shared about leadership, people and themselves. This is a conversation about the reality of leadership,  not just the successes, but the uncertainty, challenges and learning that happen along the way. And there’s more… They have some exciting news to share at the end of the episode, but you will need to listen all the way through to find out what it is! We hope you enjoy the podcast and please let us know what resonates with you.  If you would like to join us on the Podcast then please contact us through social media. Remember to give us a five star rating and leave a review so we can continue to amplify the voices of female leaders around the world.

  4. Jul 9

    #34 Aging well - redefining careers beyond 50.

    Send us Fan Mail Aging Well — Redefining Careers Beyond 50 In 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 assumption that later-career professionals should be scaling back, arguing instead that this stage of life often brings greater capacity, creativity, and value to contribute to the education sector. The conversation doesn't shy away from the real barriers — both guests speak candidly about the embedded biases they've encountered toward older professionals within the system. But rather than dwelling on those obstacles, Caz and Sue share how they've carved out new, energizing paths forward: retraining in new areas, launching their own businesses, collaborating on school-based projects, and partnering with schools to support improvement efforts. Their message is clear — a long career in school leadership doesn't have to end at a certain age. With the right mindset and opportunities, it can continue for as long as you want or need it to.

  5. Jun 24

    #33 Being Brave and Doing It Anyway with Leisa Grace Wilson

    Send us Fan Mail 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 journalism, Leisa has consistently chosen courage over comfort — and she's refreshingly candid about how she does it. Leisa opens up about her approach to self-doubt, sharing the self-talk strategies she uses to quiet her inner critics: facing negative thoughts head-on with facts, and making a deliberate, intentional choice to be brave. Her philosophy? Do it anyway — and if it doesn't work out, you'll figure it out from there. She also gets honest about what truly challenges her in her work: people who aren't upfront about what's really happening on the ground. Authenticity and straight-talking matter deeply to her. Leisa also speaks passionately about women supporting women, framing it as a reciprocal relationship and urging listeners to be the person who gives someone else that important push when you can see their potential — even before they can. Leisa leaves us with three pieces of advice to carry into our own lives: Try lots of different things — you never know what will stick.Everyone starts as an amateur — commit to consistent practice and you will improve.Only what YOU think of yourself matters — the most important opinion is your own.

  6. Jun 11

    #32 Beyond Headship; entrepreneurship, encouragement and backing yourself with Rachael Wilding

    Send us Fan Mail 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 Director of Edsidera — a global extra-curricular awards company — Rachael is channelling her passion for education into something with worldwide reach and impact. Rachael speaks candidly about what entrepreneurship really demands: self-motivation, grit, and the determination to keep going, even when the road gets tough. She emphasises the importance of building a strong support network and talks about the belief in herself that has been central to her journey. Her message to listeners is refreshingly direct — go for it. Drawing on Joanna Povall's recently published book Kind Leadership, Rachael explores the many parallels she sees between its ideas and her own philosophy on leading schools and organisations. She believes the CHASE principles outlined in the book — modelled and actively taught — are essential for creating healthy environments where both students and adults can truly thrive. Rachael closes the episode with three pieces of advice: Build your network — the right people around you make all the difference.Don't be afraid to talk about your struggles and failures — honesty and vulnerability are strengths, not weaknesses.Enjoy the journey — say yes more, and back yourself.

  7. May 30

    #31 Wellbeing as an innovator of standards with Mary Rose Connolly

    Send us Fan Mail 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” — bringing tailored support, belief, and structure directly into schools. Her philosophy centres on one core conviction: that the right support for students and staff is not a luxury, but the very engine of school success. Wellbeing as a Driver of Standards Mary challenges the idea that wellbeing and high standards are in tension. For her, wellbeing is a driver of standards — it flourishes when an organisation knows its values, understands why it holds them, and can clearly articulate how those values translate into success. Crucially, she pushes back against vague wellbeing initiatives, arguing that lasting change requires clear, measurable outcomes. Without them, even well-intentioned efforts fade away. Kind Leadership: Leading with Heart and Head A central theme of the conversation is Mary’s advocacy for Kind Leadership — a philosophy of leading with your heart whilst holding yourself to account with your head. Far from being a soft option, she sees kindness as a genuine strength: something that can be woven into every interaction and every moment in the workplace and in life. Kind Leadership, in her view, is entirely compatible with being fiercely relentless in driving excellence — the two are not opposites, but partners. Three Guiding Principles Mary leaves listeners with three principles to carry into their schools and lives: •       Look out for each other — build a culture of genuine care and collective responsibility. •       Listen to each other — real listening is an act of leadership in itself. •       If you can’t change something, change how you see it — a quiet but powerful reminder that perspective is always within our control.

  8. May 15

    #30 CHASE-ing Kind Leadership with Joanna Povall

    Send us Fan Mail 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 case that kind leadership is in fact the most human — and most effective — way to lead within any organisation. Joanna opens by sharing the core questions she found herself returning to again and again in her work with leaders: How do we communicate with compassion under pressure? How do we lead with empathy while still upholding high standards? And how do we hold people accountable without damaging their self-esteem? These questions became the foundation for her approach to kind leadership. At the heart of the conversation is the CHASE framework — a practical guide that keeps leaders honest with themselves and others. Joanna breaks it down: Communication with kindness forms the foundation, Honesty provides the structure, and Accountability is the glue that holds it all together. Self-esteem is the fourth pillar, and Joanna speaks powerfully about why nurturing it in schools is so important — arguing that when self-esteem is strengthened, cultures are created where emotional honesty feels safe and joy can flourish. She speaks candidly about the damage that shame can cause to growth and development, and urges us to eliminate it from our schools entirely. The final element of the CHASE framework is Ego. Joanna shares her own honest experiences of managing her ego in leadership, describing it as an ongoing practice — one she believes all leaders should be actively and continuously working on. Joanna also offers a helpful overview of key research in the field before turning to what she is most passionate about: the practical application of kind leadership within schools, which forms the heart of her book. This is a conversation that is honest, grounded, and deeply practical. Whether you are a school leader, a teacher, or anyone who leads people, Joanna offers real and actionable ways to bring kindness into every interaction, decision, and moment of presence.

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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'.

Information

  • Creator
    Sue Aspinall and Caz Jude
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 She Leads Because She Can
  • Show Website
    She Leads Because She Can

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