She Leads Because She Can

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In this episode of She Leads Because She Can, Kathryn Hemming and I have an honest and frank conversation about coaching, talking about our experiences as two coaches who both experienced coaching ourselves before training to become leadership coaches.
Kathryn and I first met through the South East Asia WISE Women’s Book Group, which Kathryn established to bring together like minded women working in education. The group is part of WISE (Women in International Schools Empowerment), a women led initiative designed to inspire and empower both aspiring and established female educators and professionals in the international school community. Through opportunities to connect, share ideas and learn from one another, the network helps build relationships and supports women in their personal and professional development. It is a wonderful example of the power of women coming together to encourage, challenge and support one another.
We explore why coaching is so important, the difference between coaching and mentoring, and the value of working with a highly trained leadership coach who challenges you, supports you and helps you grow. If you have never had a coach, we hope this episode helps you gain greater insight into coaching and gives you a better understanding of the impact it can have on your leadership journey.
We talk about why coaching matters, whatever stage you are at in your career or how successful you may already be, and how it can help you become an even better leader. We also reflect on why some people are more open to coaching than others, why being challenged can be such a valuable part of the process, and why finding the right coach really matters.
We both loved having this conversation and hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording it.
Kathryn leaves us with some brilliant tips, including a reminder of just how important it is to ask for feedback if we want to keep learning, developing and growing as leaders.
As always, remember that you are very welcome to come on the podcast and have a chat with us!
If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a review and a five-star rating. It really does help us reach a wider audience and share these conversations with more women who are leading, growing and finding their way.
Thank you for listening!

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.