LYIS Conference 2025: A Resounding Success in Foshan
Over 100 International Leaders Unite to Advance School Leadership Foshan, China – The inaugural ‘Leadership for Opportunity’ conference, hosted by Leading Your International School (LYIS), has been hailed as a resounding success. With over 100 participants, including school principals, leadership experts, and educators from across the globe, the event drew out rich discussions on the future of international school leadership and the need to drive leadership forward with courage, integrity, and inclusivity. Uniting Leaders, Inspiring Change Attendees engaged in thought-provoking keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive workshops that emphasised the importance of reimagining and redefining leadership in international schools. One of the key themes emerging from the conference was the urgent need for leadership that is adaptable, diverse, and equipped for the evolving landscape of education. One workshop leader reflected, “The conference was an inspiring experience. I felt at home among a community of empowering leaders who share a commitment to meaningful change in education.” A guest participant added, “The energy, collaboration, and forward-thinking approach at #LYIS 2025 was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. It was a privilege to be part of such a transformative event.” Looking Ahead: LYIS 2026 – Call for Hosts Following the overwhelming success of this year’s event, LYIS is now inviting applications from international schools interested in hosting the #LYIS26 conference. Schools keen to play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of international school leadership are encouraged to submit their interest. Expanding Professional Development: Upcoming LYIS Training Events LYIS continues to champion leadership growth beyond the conference. Our next professional development offering will be the Leading Your International School Library Courses, taking place in Shanghai, Changshu, and Ho Chi Minh. These courses are designed to support and develop library leaders in international schools, ensuring they are equipped to drive innovation and excellence in school library management. A Heartfelt Thank You Event organiser Amy Zhang expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are extremely grateful to everyone who attended, presented, and to those who share our passion and dedication towards leadership. The support and enthusiasm from our global leadership community have made this event truly special, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.”For further enquiries and to apply to host LYIS 2026, please contact:Amy Zhang Email: amy@leadingyourinternationalschool.com
The #LYIS25 Journey
Our journey to #LYIS25 has been a deeply fulfilling and enriching one. If you had asked me over ten years ago when I first started immersing myself in all things leadership, if we would be here now, I might not have believed you. Leadership looked a long way off and time and time again, I was met along the road by individuals who didn’t always seem to value the development of others. In 2018, when a Vice-Principal was appointed at a school where I worked – without a Job Advert, Job Description or Interview Process, it hit me badly. I made a promise to myself that I would embark upon a journey in which everyone’s leadership journey mattered. Daring to dream about leadership costs nothing and it should be a dream that far more people in our international schools are encouraged by. “In 2018, I made a promise to myself that I would embark upon a journey in which everyone’s leadership journey mattered”. said André Double– Founder & CEO LYIS. The data around leadership doesn’t lie. A report from the Council of International Schools identified around 80% of our school leaders as male – the number of leaders of colour is remarkably low. The 2024 Report on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals observed that at current rates, it will take around 175 years for women to reach parity when it comes to management. We can’t keep waiting for things to happen around us, so our entire Mission is built around the need to ‘Level Up International School Leadership’. The time for action is now and it is my hope that our LYIS Conferences will become a beacon of hope for all leaders, who will be assessed first and foremost on their strength of character and underlying integrity. For many years, we have been writing about leadership, interviewing school leaders and visiting schools across the globe. We’ve met some truly outstanding leaders and their schools. In August 2023, that journey culminated in the establishment of Leading Your International School as a formal Limited Company. We decided at the end of Summer 204 that we wanted to create a conference with a difference. There are so many great events and conferences out there, but as a team, we felt there was a need for a truly ‘international’ conference in every sense of the word. As such, LYIS is not an event bound by and country, curriculum or company. We are not limited to particular areas of school leadership. Everyone who is currently in school leadership, or who is developing the knowledge, skills and professional expertise to become one – is welcome. I am delighted to be able to share with you details of our inaugural International School Leadership Conference #LYIS25. In recent times, the amount of attention being afforded to leadership has gathered increasing momentum. I was once told that ‘Effective schools are effective, because they are effectively led’. Whilst few would argue with the effect that great teaching has on our students, it is leadership that sets our teachers up for success. Purpose #LYIS25 is a new Educational Leadership Conference with a difference. At the heart of what the conference is and will be – are people. Underpinned by our three core values of Ethical Leadership, Opportunity and Sustainability, our conference aims to ‘reimagine, redefine and redesign school leadership’. Asking the big questions will be integral to our workshops and the people in attendance; for example: How can our leadership actions increase the rate of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)? The LYIS Mission Integral to LYIS and the conference is a commitment to ‘Level up international school leadership’, making it a genuine aspiration for those who are developing the skills and are committed to developing themselves professionally. Workshops include: It will take hard work, dedication and unwavering positivity to get where we are going – but our vision of having the courage and integrity to ‘reimagine, redefine and redesign school leadership’ starts here. To quote the All-Blacks New Zealand Rugby team in an educational sense – “Better people make better school leaders” If you want to be a part of this process, then do reach out to us. We look forward to seeing leaders from China, Southeast Asia and beyond for an event that promises to be interesting, challenging and motivating. “Better people make better school leaders” Our Conference and its theme, ‘Leadership for Opportunity’ takes place at Foshan EtonHouse International School from the 28th to the 30th of March. We look forward to seeing you all there. If you are interested in hosting either of the #LYIS26 or #LYIS27 Conferences, then please reach out to Amy to get the conversation started. Redefining Leadership Starts Here. #lyis25 Ready to be part of the conversation? Join us at #LYIS25 and take your leadership to the next level! March 28-30, 2025 | Foshan, Guangdong, China Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tIG16o2l_NIudioTDTDWO1qlQET7WQ5A8IARVjPso94/edit
#LYIS25 for Raising Futures Kenya
Equipping young people in Kenya to become self-reliant, free from poverty and exploitation, through vocational and business skills training, with wellbeing support. Cycles of poverty and inequality can be broken with access to quality education, skills training and wellbeing support. We work in partnership with a Kenyan NGO on delivering their community-led programmes. Their Seed of Hope programme provides free vocational training, business skills and wellbeing support for children and young people, particularly girls, in marginalised communities in Kenya. With the skills, qualifications and confidence gained from Seed of Hope, 75% of graduates gain employment or start a small business within 6 months of completing their course. Video link:Here is an Impact Showreel of our Seed of Hope programme’s achievements in 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW8GSLRaxU8 Donation links:Via our website: https://www.raisingfutureskenya.org.uk/donate-now/Via GlobalGiving: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/seedofhope/
