This episode of the Independent School Moonshot Podcast is sponsored by Blackbaud.

Blackbaud helps independent schools unify admissions, advancement, academics, and finance so leaders spend less time chasing data and more time leading. Visit blackbaud.com to learn more.

What if the key to school innovation isn't a new plan but a new mindset? This episode features LEA-F.org's Simon Holzapfel, a former head of school, and Jeff Burstein, who explore how independent schools can adopt entrepreneurial thinking at every level of their organization.

Instead of waiting for the next strategic plan to chart a course, Simon and Jeff make the case for a more adaptive, team-wide approach: start with people who are ready to try something new, test ideas quickly and inexpensively, and make strategy part of the daily rhythm rather than a once-a-year retreat.

They unpack what it looks like to shift from traditional planning cycles to Lean Agile practices that surface real insights, reduce friction, and create better outcomes for families.

The conversation offers three clear, accessible steps any school leader can take to begin building a culture of innovation without needing more time, money, or staff.

What You'll Learn from Simon Holzapfel and Jeff Burstein:

• Entrepreneurship = Opportunity Beyond Resources: True entrepreneurial thinking is about pursuing opportunity, even when you lack the resources. That mindset is essential for independent schools in today's resource-constrained environment.
• Strategy Must Be a Daily Practice: Lean Agile reframes strategy not as a static document but as a dynamic, daily practice. It encourages everyone, from board to janitor, to evaluate whether their work aligns with the school's goals.
• Visualize Workflows to Spot Bottlenecks: Making work visible (e.g., journey mapping the enrollment process) helps schools identify where families get stuck and why, unlocking improvements that enhance the experience for everyone.
• Differentiation Requires Discipline: Schools often fear narrowing their focus, but trying to serve everyone dilutes distinctiveness. Agility helps clarify who you serve and what truly sets you apart.
• Culture Shift Starts with Small Experiments: Schools don't need to overhaul everything overnight. Lean Agile encourages small, low-risk experiments to build confidence, learn quickly, and gradually scale change.

5 Recommended Next Steps

• Map a Key Process (e.g., Admissions): Choose one core process and journey map it—who’s involved, what tools are used, and where families drop off.
• Identify a Forward-Thinking Colleague: Find one colleague who already thinks like an entrepreneur. Invite them to try something new with you.
• Run a Small Experiment: Pick a challenge, design a test, and evaluate results quickly. Keep it low-cost and time-bound.
• Make Strategy Visible: Create simple tools (like a whiteboard or dashboard) that help teams track progress on key initiatives daily or weekly.
• Schedule a “Stop Doing” Conversation: As a leadership team, discuss what work no longer serves your mission, and agree to leave something behind.