The Relational Power of Purpose with Ross Wehner

"What’s the point?" "Why does this matter?" "How does this impact my future?"   Students ask these questions all the time—but how often do we truly consider the role of purpose in education? In this episode, I sit down with Ross Wehner, founder of World Leadership School, a visionary in experiential learning, a former journalist, and an inspiring thought leader. Together, we explore how purpose fuels motivation, engagement, and collaboration—and why cultivating a purpose-driven school culture is essential for students' mental, emotional, and academic well-being. Because in schools that prioritize purpose, no one walks alone—and in today’s world, that truth has never been more important. Join us for this powerful conversation! Ross Wehner is a writer, social entrepreneur, and Founder of World Leadership School, which “partners with K12 schools to reimagine learning and create next-generation leaders.” Ross also co-founded the nonprofit TeachUNITED, which works to transform learning at rural schools around the world. Ross is guided by the question: How can K12 school become the ultimate platform for launching students into lives of purpose?  Ross is an author who is working on a book that explores Purpose Learning at schools around the globe. He facilitates the Salmon River Program for School Heads, a leadership development program that begins with a rafting adventure on the Salmon River in Idaho. Ross is a frequent keynote speaker on the future of K12 learning. His Tedx talk “What if the Purpose of School Were Purpose?” was recently selected for the TED platform and has received over 275k views.  Ross began his career as a journalist in Chile and Peru in the 1990s. He received a Master’s in Latin American literature and worked as a wilderness educator for the National Outdoor Leadership School and as a classroom teacher at two independent schools. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and two children. World Leadership School K12 Change Lab — a cost-effective program to help K12 schools make strategic change   Tedx talk: What if the Purpose of School Were Purpose?