Adapting leadership across culture and context with Helen Olds, Director, The British International School of Jeddah (Ep. 184)

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.

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