In this episode of the Lead Her Higher podcast, host Emily MacLean sits down with Jen Buchanan, Principal of Think Global School, the world’s first travelling high school. Jen shares her unconventional journey to leadership in innovative educational environments and explores what it takes to lead a school that moves with the world. She dives into the transformative model of learning in motion, highlighting the importance of community, stability, and rituals in a mobile school setting. Jen discusses the power of student agency, the need to redefine success in education, and why disrupting outdated assumptions is crucial for preparing learners for a complex world. She also reflects on her global experiences, the role of humility in leadership, and the importance of representation for girls and women in leadership roles. The episode concludes with rapid-fire questions that reveal Jen’s personal insights and philosophies on leadership, learning, and life.

About Jen Buchanan
Jen Buchanan is a visionary educational leader and Principal of Think Global School, where students engage in immersive, place-based learning across multiple countries. She has led innovation in progressive education at various schools in Australia, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. She has been a consultant with the Future Schools Alliance to support transformative learning environments nationwide. Known for championing student agency, equity, and creativity, Jen brings both strategic insight and hands-on experience to reimagining schools as dynamic communities that prepare learners for a rapidly changing world. She holds a Master of Education from the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma in Film & Television, and her work is grounded in a deep belief in curiosity-driven, wellbeing-centred education. Jen embraces life as an adventurous traveller and creative artist, infusing her professional and personal pursuits with curiosity and imagination.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• Jen’s leadership journey has been unconventional, focused on innovative educational environments.
• Community is essential for the success of learning in motion.
• Maintaining connections with loved ones is crucial for staff in a mobile school.
• Rituals help create a sense of home in a constantly changing environment.
• Leadership involves navigating challenges with clarity and compassion.
• Empowering students to have agency in their learning is vital.
• Success in education should encompass real-world problem-solving and adaptability.
• Outdated assumptions about education need to be disrupted for meaningful change.
• Global experiences shape leadership perspectives.
• Confidence and humility are essential partners in effective leadership.

Tune in to hear her story and the lessons that continue to lift others higher.

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Keywords: leadership, women in leadership, empowerment,leadership, education, student agency, global learning, community building, women in leadership, innovative schools, Think Global School, experiential learning, empowerment