International leadership and the work of culture with Simon Herbert, Director of IB, GEMS Education (Ep. 189)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Simon Herbert FRSA, Director of the IB Curriculum at GEMS Education, whose leadership career has spanned senior roles at Fettes College in Edinburgh, Dulwich College Beijing and GEMS International School in Dubai. He now oversees IB provision across the GEMS group of more than 50 schools.

In this reflective and internationally focused conversation, they explore culture at multiple levels of leadership - from navigating national contexts, to shaping school communities and understanding the human dynamics that sit beneath both.

Together they explore:

• What international leadership teaches us about timing, trust and reciprocity

• How leaders can adapt to local culture, while remaining true to themselves

• Why organisational culture cannot be commanded, only nudged

• How “them and us” dynamics emerge inside school communities, and what to do about it

• Why leaders must deliberately keep culture on the agenda

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader working across cultures or contexts, leading complex school communities, and want to think more deeply about how culture shapes strategy, behaviour and long-term success.

Episode links

Adapting leadership across culture and context with Helen Olds (Ep. 184)

From Head to CEO in an international context with Louise Simpson (Ep. 181)

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