#32 Beyond Headship; entrepreneurship, encouragement and backing yourself with Rachael Wilding

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we sit down with Rachael Wilding, an experienced international school leader who has made the bold transition from working within school communities to forging her own path as an entrepreneur. In her most recent role as Director of Edsidera — a global extra-curricular awards company — Rachael is channelling her passion for education into something with worldwide reach and impact.Rachael speaks candidly about what entrepreneurship really demands: self-motivation, grit, and the determination to keep going, even when the road gets tough. She emphasises the importance of building a strong support network and talks about the belief in herself that has been central to her journey. Her message to listeners is refreshingly direct — go for it.Drawing on Joanna Povall's recently published book Kind Leadership, Rachael explores the many parallels she sees between its ideas and her own philosophy on leading schools and organisations. She believes the CHASE principles outlined in the book — modelled and actively taught — are essential for creating healthy environments where both students and adults can truly thrive.Rachael closes the episode with three pieces of advice:Build your network — the right people around you make all the difference.Don't be afraid to talk about your struggles and failures — honesty and vulnerability are strengths, not weaknesses.Enjoy the journey — say yes more, and back yourself.