Efficiency is often the enemy of real education. In an age of instant answers and AI shortcuts, we are tempted to prioritise the "output" over the "process." But intellectual growth requires friction; if we let robots do the heavy lifting in our classrooms, we aren’t innovating - we are simply making our students, and our systems, weaker.

In this episode, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate (IB), challenges the "top-down" approach to school reform. The discussion unpacks why classroom change cannot be imposed from above, why culture matters more than charisma, and why the most successful leaders in 2026 are those brave enough to "swim against the tide."

This is a sharp, blunt conversation on what AI can do, what it must never be allowed to do, and why the future of education depends on building systems that are actually worthy of the teachers within them.

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What if the design of your school is the very thing holding it back?

Most schools are not running a bad design. They are running an inherited one, built for factories and mass production, not for learners. And most leaders have never once stopped to question it.

In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Jeff Wetzler, Co-founder of Transcend and Head of Transcend Labs, joins host Vikas Pota to challenge the model that has been quietly running classrooms around the world for over a century.

Jeff shares the six shifts every school must make to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world, explains what learner-centred leaders consistently do that others do not, and makes the case that until school design moves from the background to the foreground, performance will always have a ceiling.

He also shares the one question every principal should ask their staff this week, and why the honest answer will be uncomfortable for most leaders.

And somewhere in this conversation, a veteran educator makes an admission that is difficult to ignore. After decades in the field, they had never once truly sat down with a child and listened. What they finally heard changed how they lead.

What are your students telling you that you are not hearing?

Download and subscribe to the EdVance Podcast for conversations with education leaders from around the world.

In Mexico, only one in ten children who start school will ever make it to university. At this school network, it is eight out of ten. So what are they doing differently?

In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Yael Karakowsky, CEO of SER Network of Schools in Mexico, shares the thinking behind those results, the three principles her schools refuse to compromise on, and the one leadership lesson that took her completely by surprise.

She also tells a story from early in her career that stopped us in our tracks. One whispered sentence in a room full of men nearly ended everything before it began. What happened next changed the course of her leadership.

This is an honest, grounded conversation about what it takes to build schools that genuinely change lives. If you work in education or care about it, this one is for you.

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What does it really mean to build a high-performing school in a nation transforming at speed?

In this episode of the #EdVance Podcast, Dr Steffen Sommer, Director General of Misk Schools in Saudi Arabia, explores how leadership evolution, cultural alignment and strategic precision shape exceptional institutions.

Dr Steffen shares lessons from leading schools across Europe and the Middle East, explaining why modern leadership must move from control to inclusion, why schools cannot succeed without aligning to national vision, and why high performance begins with leaving nothing to chance.

He also challenges the global overemphasis on exam results, argues that happiness and wellbeing are performance strategies, and explains why opportunity and innovation must be deliberately designed if students are to thrive in a world shaped by AI and rapid change.

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What does it take for schools to achieve elite outcomes while serving disadvantaged communities?

In this episode of the #EdVance Podcast, Alex Crossman, Executive Head Teacher, London Academy of Excellence, discusses how belief, culture and clarity shape high performance.

Alex shares lessons from leading one of England’s highest-performing schools, explaining why clarity of purpose matters, how leaders balance ambition with care, and what schools often misunderstand about pressure and excellence.

He also reflects on what enables young people to thrive at the highest levels, why belief and agency matter as much as attainment, and how schools balance rigour with wellbeing, character and fairness.

What does it take to build high-performance schools in one of the world’s most competitive education systems, and why does culture matter so much?

In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Simon O’Connor, Headmaster of Harrow International School Dubai, reflects on more than a decade of school leadership in the UAE and what sustains strong performance over time.

Simon explains why school culture, defined through shared values and daily behaviours, underpins consistency, quality and trust. He shares how high expectations, staff wellbeing and leadership responsibility shape schools that remain strong even in transient, international communities.

The conversation examines leadership in Dubai’s private school system, the role of inspection and accountability, and how schools can prepare students for an uncertain future without compromising their focus on fundamentals.

What will it take to address Africa’s learning crisis, and why does progress depend on getting the basics right?

In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Rapelang Rabana, Co-CEO of Imagine Worldwide, reflects on what teachers and systems across Africa are facing, and why foundational literacy and numeracy remain essential for sustained progress.

She explains the difference between schooling and learning, and why millions of children attend school without achieving basic mastery. Rapelang also shares how carefully designed technology can support personalised feedback at scale, even in settings without electricity, internet access or trained teachers.

The conversation reinforces a clear message. Strong learning foundations must come before advanced tools, including artificial intelligence and robotics.

What does it take to design education reforms that actually work, especially at the scale of millions? And how do leaders stay focused when the system is crowded with competing priorities and complexity? In this episode of the EdVance podcast, Kruti Bharucha, Founder and CEO of Peepul, shares why every effective intervention begins with clarity.

She reflects on the simple discipline of knowing what you want to change, why it matters, and how to keep decisions anchored in the classroom. From improving student engagement to working closely with government, Kruti shares what she has learnt about strengthening public education systems, supporting teachers, and building trust at scale. She also speaks about the challenges, the lessons, and the mindset needed to move a system forward. This is an honest conversation for people who care about public education and understand that real change requires focus, patience, and clarity of purpose.