In this episode, Dr. Riley Williams sits down with Eleni Soler—founder of Eleni’s Edge, educator, systems strategist, and certified coach—to dive deep into what it really takes to prepare students for an unpredictable world. Drawing on her journey through business, K–12 teaching, higher ed, and organizational coaching, Eleni unpacks what an entrepreneurial mindset looks like in practice—and why it’s not just for future CEOs.

From inquiry-based learning to AI-powered ideation, Eleni makes the case for classrooms that prioritize student agency, curiosity, and risk-taking over rote memorization. She shares how teachers can redesign their roles without burning out, how leaders can foster psychological safety while still holding high expectations, and why thinking differently about failure is the first step toward real innovation.

Eleni also breaks down how coaching practices can transform the classroom, how to teach math through story, and how to use Gen AI without losing critical thinking. It’s a masterclass in systems-thinking, culture-building, and reimagining what school can be.

If you're an educator, leader, or school designer trying to make real change without burning it all down—this one's for you.

🔗 Resources:

Learn more about Eleni’s coaching, speaking, and consulting: elenisedge.com

Book Eleni for workshops or keynotes: Email her at [email protected]

🧠 Also mentioned:

The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer

The concept of “VUCA” (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity)

How to use silence as a thinking tool in the classroom

Three paradoxes to structure creative classrooms without chaos