The Importance of Context in Leading Your Education Business

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, discusses the pivotal role of providing context to your team members in an education business.

She explains how context helps improve team efficiency and outcomes, sharing insights from her own experience and interactions with other education business leaders. Key points include striking a balance with information sharing, the benefits of providing context, and practical advice for ensuring your team has a comprehensive understanding of business decisions.

Sponsored by Classroom Secrets, the podcast aims to equip education entrepreneurs with tools to grow their businesses.

00:00 Welcome to the Education Business Podcast

00:55 The Importance of Context in Business

01:20 Sharing Context with Your Team 

02:35 The Impact of Context on Team Performance

03:26 Conclusion and Sponsor Message

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building Multiple Educational Content Brands

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, hosted by Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, guest Matt Dix shares his journey from a primary school teacher to a thriving education business owner.

Matt, who runs several education brands including Manic Street Teachers, Musician of the Month, and the Fluency Factory, discusses his transition from the classroom to business, the importance of creativity, and maintaining a close connection to the educational community.

He emphasises the role of passion in sustaining a business, the significance of music as a therapeutic and educational tool, and the challenges of balancing multiple projects. Additionally, Matt provides insights into effective marketing strategies, the value of listening to customer feedback, and the need for a supportive network.

The episode offers an in-depth look at how Matt manages his businesses, the evolution of his projects, and his future aspirations.

00:00 Introduction to the Education Business Podcast

01:08 Meet Matt Dix: From Teacher to Entrepreneur

02:04 Building Education Brands: The Journey and Challenges

02:58 Balancing Teaching and Business 

05:37 Creative Ventures in Education 

08:40 The Power of Music in Education

12:32 Managing Multiple Education Brands 

17:59 Marketing Strategies for Education Businesses

23:42 The Emotional Connection to Music

34:57 Reflections and Final Thoughts

All About Matt:

Matt is a former primary school teacher with 20 years’ experience in the classroom. He now runs Manic Street Teachers, where he develops education projects and resources informed by both research and the approaches he first trialled with his own pupils.

His work includes The Fluency Factory, which focuses on reading fluency, and Musician of the Month, which introduces primary-aged children to a broad range of musicians and musical styles.

Across these projects, Matt aims to create materials that fit into everyday school life and reflect the practical realities of primary teaching.

Websites: www.manicstreetteachers.com, www.thefluencyfactory.co.uk, www.musicianofthemonth.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manicstteachers/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattdix-mst

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManicStTeachers

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unsticking Your Education Business: Future Planning and Growth Strategies

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, addresses common challenges faced by founders and business owners in the education sector.

 Focusing on the theme of feeling stuck in business, Claire discusses the importance of setting new goals, envisioning long-term success, and planning for future growth. She shares insights from her own experiences and conversations with other education business owners, emphasising the need to align business aspirations with personal life goals.

This episode is sponsored by Classroom Secrets.

00:00 Welcome to the Education Business Podcast

00:55 Feeling Stuck in Your Education Business?

01:45 Setting Wild and Crazy Goals 02:26 Aligning Business Goals with Personal Aspirations

03:19 Conclusion and Resources

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating Growth in an Education Business: Insights from Classroom Secrets' co-founder

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley and Ed delve into the journey of building their education business, Classroom Secrets.

Claire, a former teacher, and Ed, who transitioned from an IT role in a large non-profit, discuss the unique challenges and strategies they faced. They highlight the importance of having a clear plan, roles, and structures, and the advantages of flexibility and time freedom as business founders.

Ed reflects on overcoming his non-educational background and finding his value within the business. They also emphasise the significance of networking and finding support within the entrepreneurial community, especially for those working in isolation.

00:00 Introduction to the Education Business Podcast

01:04 Meet Ed: From IT to Education Business

01:52 Ed's Career Journey and Transition

10:03 Challenges and Growth in Classroom Secrets 

15:36 Balancing Flexibility and Responsibility

25:40 Dealing with Business Challenges and Failures

31:39 The Importance of Networking and Support

37:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

All About Ed:

Website: classroomsecrets.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edrileytalksbusiness?igsh=N3hlMmxuYXpqanBw&utm_source=qr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-riley-71089419?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Effective Mastermind Sessions to Grow Your Education Business

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, discusses effective strategies for conducting mastermind sessions to enhance business outcomes.

Claire shares her own experiences with different mastermind formats, their pros and cons, and introduces a refined mastermind structure utilised at Classroom Secrets.

The episode provides a detailed breakdown of a one-hour session format aimed at generating actionable guidance through collaborative problem-solving.

Claire emphasises the importance of context, quality questions, and structured guidance to ensure meaningful outcomes from these sessions.

00:00 Welcome to the Education Business Podcast

00:54 Challenges of Traditional Mastermind Sessions

02:08 Creating a New Mastermind Structure 

02:57 Implementing the Mastermind Framework at Classroom Secrets

03:31 Detailed Steps of the Mastermind Session

07:13 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journey from Classroom to CEO: Starting and Growing an Education Business

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley speaks with Katie, the co-founder of Picture News.

Katie shares her journey from teaching Key Stage 2 to starting an educational business that provides news resources for schools. The discussion covers the initial challenges of balancing a new business with raising three young children, the organic growth of Picture News through email marketing, and the division of business responsibilities with her husband.

Katie also emphasises the importance of customer service, community building, and adapting business strategies based on feedback.

The episode concludes with Katie sharing insights on sustaining motivation, the importance of hard work and sacrifices, and being reflective and adaptable when running an education-focused business.

00:00 Introduction to the Education Business Podcast 

01:10 Meet Katie: From Teacher to Entrepreneur 

02:54 Starting Picture News: The Early Days 

04:16 Balancing Family and Business 

09:15 Growth and Milestones

15:06 Marketing and Customer Retention Strategies 24:03 Challenges and Lessons Learned 

29:50 Final Thoughts and Advice for Education Entrepreneurs 

33:55 Closing Remarks and Sponsor Message

All About Katie:

Website: www.picture-news.co.uk 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kt984  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieharrisonpn/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kt984

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Effective Interview Strategies for Education Entrepreneurs

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, shares valuable insights on how to interview potential hires for your education business.

Drawing from her own experiences and common challenges in the industry, Claire highlights the importance of learning from past mistakes to ask the right questions. She emphasises hiring for attitude over experience, being upfront with information, and using scenario-based questions to gauge a candidate's suitability.

Tune in to discover how to make informed hiring decisions that align with your business goals and improve outcomes for children.

00:00 Welcome to the Education Business Podcast

00:54 Hiring Insights: Crafting the Right Interview Questions

02:29 The Importance of Attitude Over Experience

02:53 Effective Communication and Setting Expectations

03:30 Scenario-Based Interview Questions

05:33 Concluding Thoughts and Tips 

05:55 Sponsor Message and Resources

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Classroom to Boardroom: James' Journey of Building Number Stacks

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, interviews James, a former head teacher and founder of Number Stacks.
James shares his 16-year journey from being a cadet first aid instructor at age 13, through his teaching career, to becoming a business owner. He details the challenges he faced, the inspiration behind creating Number Stacks, and the steps he took to transform his idea into a tangible product used in classrooms.

He emphasises the importance of persistence, financial security, and finding market need. James also discusses his marketing strategies, including leveraging social media and adjusting to COVID-19 challenges.

This episode is a treasure trove of insights for education entrepreneurs looking to grow their own businesses.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:09 Meet James: From Head Teacher to Entrepreneur

02:07 James' Journey into Teaching

07:54 The Birth of Number Stacks 

10:59 Creating and Launching the Product

22:17 Marketing Strategies and Challenges

30:08 Reflections and Advice for Education Entrepreneurs

33:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

All About James:
After 16 years working in primary schools as a teacher, maths-lead, deputy and then headteacher, James took the leap away from schools to start a new education business. Number Stacks is a maths intervention resource aimed at primary age pupils to help them develop a better understanding of key maths skills.

Website: www.numberstacks.co.uk 
Instagram: @Number_Stacks
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-aylott-numberstacks
Facebook: https://facebook.com/numberstacks

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Power of Great Questions in Education Business

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, discusses the significance of asking quality questions in driving the growth and success of your education business.

Whether you're running a tutoring service, publishing company, or holiday club, Claire emphasises that asking the right questions can improve your outcomes and help you make impactful decisions. She also shares her own experiences and strategies for formulating effective questions and intros these practices into mastermind sessions.

Claire challenges listeners to identify and ask a crucial question that could propel their business forward in the next month.

Sponsored by Classroom Secrets, this episode aims to provide practical insights for education business founders and owners.

00:00 Welcome to the Education Business Podcast

00:29 Meet Your Host: Claire Riley

00:57 The Power of Asking Great Questions 

01:21 Mastermind Sessions and Mentorship

02:42 Challenge Yourself: Are You Asking the Right Questions?

03:20 Conclusion and Resources

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Classroom to Business: Emily's Education Marketing Business Journey

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, talks with Emily Hanson, a former teacher who transitioned into the business world.

Emily shares her journey from being a primary school teacher to founding her own company, Emmerlilly Digital, which specialises in marketing with an education focus.

They discuss the challenges of balancing business growth with family life, the importance of setting boundaries, and the continuous self-development required in running a business.

Emily and Claire also reflect on the transferable skills from teaching to business and offer advice for educators considering a similar career shift.

00:00 Introduction to the Education Business Podcast

01:05 Meet Emily: From Teacher to Entrepreneur

03:17 Emily's Journey in Higher Education and Marketing

05:58 Transitioning from Freelance to Business Owner

11:46 Balancing Family and Business 

15:38 Tips for Aspiring Education Entrepreneurs

26:01 Final Thoughts and Reflections

All About Emily:

Website: Emerlilly.co.uk 
Instagram: @emerlilly (personal brand) and @emerlillydigital (company) 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-hanson123/
TikTok: @emerlillydigital (company) @emilyhanson44 (personal brand)
Facebook: Emerlilly Digital

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.