What does real inclusion look like in schools, beyond slogans and surface changes?

In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, we are honoured to host Vijita Patel, Executive Director for Special Educational Needs at the Qatar Foundation and one of the UK’s most respected voices on neurodiversity. With more than 20 years of experience in education, including leading the Swiss Cottage School in London to seven consecutive “outstanding” Ofsted ratings, Vijita knows what it takes to build schools where every learner can succeed.

She explains how schools can move from tolerance to true celebration of difference: valuing every child, supporting teachers, involving families, and rethinking what success means by including social and cultural capital. From using technology to strengthen student voice, to building a culture of high expectations for all, her reflections offer both insights and guidance. She reminds us that inclusion is not an extra, but the heart of real school improvement.

What does it take to build schools that work for every child, not just a few? In this episode, Vikas speaks with Stacey Brewer, the founder and chair of SPARK Schools in South Africa. She started with one school in 2013.

Today, SPARK Schools has grown to 26 schools, serving over 17,000 children. It’s a story of persistence, strong values, and the belief that every child can succeed.Stacey shares how her team built a model that keeps school fees affordable, supports teachers with over 200 hours of training each year, and puts families at the centre of the learning journey. She also reflects on their proudest moment - when SPARK Soweto won the World’s Best School Prize for Community Collaboration in 2022.This is a thoughtful and honest conversation for anyone who wants to understand how strong leadership, clear purpose, and trust in people can transform education and communities.

In this episode of The EdVance Podcast, we’re joined by Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings.

Rebecca challenges us to rethink how we lead in education reminding us that we can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. Real change takes reflection, bold choices, and approaches that truly serve students and communities. She highlights the power of community in shaping education and the need to stay rooted in purpose so our efforts never lose direction.

A must‑listen for leaders ready to shape education with clarity, care, and courage.

Leadership can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be exhausting, especially when you are aiming high, supporting others, and trying to stay grounded all at once. So, how do you keep showing up with clarity and care, without burning out along the way?In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, we welcome Dr Nina Rawal, Partner and Co-Head, Ventures at Trill Impact. She speaks about what it means to lead with purpose and how to stay steady when the pressure to perform never seems to let up.

Dr Nina reminds us that ambitious goals matter, not to impress others, but because playing it safe can quietly limit our growth. She also highlights the importance of trust in building strong teams. Once you have hired the right people, trust them to do their work until they give you a reason not to. Trust should be the starting point, not something they have to earn over and over again .She closes with a quiet but powerful reminder that when the work begins to feel heavy, return to your reason for starting. That simple reflection often gives you and your team the strength to carry on. This episode is for leaders who care deeply, carry their responsibilities with quiet strength, and want to keep growing without losing themselves.

Growth is often celebrated in education businesses around the world, but only a few talk about the cost of growing too fast or without clear direction. Many leaders are under pressure to expand quickly, show results, and prove impact. But real progress is not just about reaching more people, it’s about doing it well, with purpose, structure, and care.

In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Aakash Chaudhry, Founder & MD, Sparkl Edventure shares insight about what it truly means to scale in a way that is both responsible and sustainable. Drawing from decades of experience, Aakash reflects on how slow, steady, and thoughtful growth helped him build one of India’s most respected education organisations. He shares why strong systems and capable teams must come before expansion.

In this episode, Nick Grono, CEO of the Freedom Fund, shares how real leadership isn’t about control, it’s about creating space for honest conversations. From anonymous staff Q&As to bold leadership surveys, Nick reveals the habits that foster transparency, strengthen culture, and empower every voice in the room. Whether you're leading a small team or a global organisation, his insights offer a refreshing blueprint for building trust from the inside out.

In a world where expectations are rising and resources are stretched, how can education leaders lead with purpose, stay true to their values, and still deliver real impact? In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Asheesh Advani, CEO of Junior Achievement Worldwide, shares insights about what it truly takes to lead in today’s complex world of work given the technological disruptions.

Asheesh shares honest lessons from his leadership journey, from setting clear but flexible priorities to managing expectations in every direction, and building a culture where appreciation drives high performance. For him, achievement is not the final goal, it’s the process of becoming better, together as a team.

This episode is a practical and thoughtful guide for education leaders, school heads, and system changemakers

What does it really take to build a workplace where people stay, grow, and thrive?

In this episode of Edvance, Bhushan Sethi, Partner at PwC US Consulting and Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern, joins us to unpack the realities of leading high-performing teams. From global boardrooms to the classroom, Bhushan brings a wealth of experience on what leaders often get wrong about hiring, training, and execution and what they need to do differently.

We explore why retention today is less about perks and more about trust, consistency, and culture. You’ll hear what it takes to turn strategy into action by focusing on the systems, behaviours, and people that bring it to life.

Whether you’re leading a school, a non-profit, or a growing team — this one’s for you. Because the future of work isn’t about trends. It’s about people.

For too long, education has been rich in purpose but poor in storytelling. While school leaders work tirelessly to improve outcomes and drive change, the real stories — of transformation, innovation, and impact — often remain untold.

In this episode of the Edvance Podcast, Andrew Jack, Global Education Editor at the Financial Times, explores the vital role storytelling plays in school leadership.

Together, we unpack why mastering storytelling isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential. When leaders fail to communicate clearly, passionately, and consistently, they risk losing trust, momentum, and support.

Storytelling builds community, secures buy-in, and rallies people around a shared mission. Done well, it doesn’t just describe the work — it amplifies its impact.

Is a university degree still the only path to success? In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Dionisio “Nicho” Garza-Sada, Founder and CEO of Talisis, challenges the traditional narrative around education. He calls on global education leaders to reimagine a system that values purpose, passion, and practical skills—not just diplomas.

This isn’t about discarding the old. It’s about expanding the vision of what learning can be, so every young person has the chance to thrive—whether or not they throw a cap in the air.