Clowning Around... Educational Leadership with Susan Douglas

What makes a great leader, and how do you create an environment where everyone has the chance to be brilliant? On this episode of Clowning Around Again, Em Stroud chats with Susan Douglas CBE, CEO of the Eden Academy Trust, about educational leadership, building trust and creating a culture where staff and young people feel valued and supported. Drawing on her experience in special education, SEND inclusion and international school leadership, Susan shares why high expectations and genuine curiosity matter, what we can learn from Singapore's approach to improvement and why sometimes we need to rethink the way things have always been done. They also explore teamwork, creativity, the joy of singing and an unexpected encounter involving Jimmy Choo that led to quite an adventure. A warm, funny conversation about bringing out the best in people and finding joy along the way. About Susan Douglas CBE Susan Douglas CBE is CEO of the Eden Academy Trust, a national SEND adviser and an incurable enthusiast for making education better — preferably without making it more complicated. When she’s not working with schools, government or international education systems, she can usually be found singing barbershop, planning her next adventure, walking Freddie the lurcher or enjoying life by the sea in Southsea. She believes passionately in children, people and possibility — and equally passionately that life is far too short to be dull. Connect with Susan: LinkedIn:   / susan-douglas-cbe-84068b2bb   Eden Academy Trust: https://theedenacademy.co.uk/ Listen to Clowning Around Again here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7A2v59K... Get in touch with Em Stroud: Skool: https://www.skool.com/get-your-spark-... YouTube:    / @thecomiccoach   TikTok:   / emthecomic   LinkedIn:   / em-stroud   Website: https://emstroud.com #ClowningAroundAgain #EmStroud #SusanDouglasCBE #EdenAcademyTrust #EducationalLeadership #SEND #InclusiveEducation #SchoolLeadership