Edufuturists #275 Building a Community with Leisa Grace Wilson

In this episode of the podcast, we engage in a lively conversation with Leisa Grace Wilson, an educator and leader based in Abu Dhabi. We discuss Leisa's journey from the UK to the Middle East, the challenges and opportunities of leading in a culturally diverse environment, and the rapid pace of educational reform in the region.

Leisa shares insights on the importance of community for educators, the role of her platform Teach Middle East, and the impact of her podcast. The conversation also touches on the significance of using LinkedIn for professional growth and the courage it takes to pivot in one's career. Find out more about Leisa and her work via the links below: Teach Middle East Magazine Leisa Grace Linkedin The Middle East School Leadership Conference The AI in Education Summit 2025

Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:45 Leisa's Journey to the Middle East 06:29 Cultural Navigation in Leadership 09:18 Rapid Development in Abu Dhabi's Education 12:27 Future-Proofing Education 19:59 Teach Middle East: A Resource for Educators 22:36 Creating Community for Educators 26:11 The Importance of Staff Rooms and Community Spaces 30:02 The Importance of Social Interaction in Education 31:40 Insights from the Teach Middle East Podcast 34:20 The Passion Behind Podcasting 37:26 The Value of Long-Form Conversations 39:49 Understanding Educational Leadership 41:55 Personalised Professional Development in Education 46:20 Creating Meaningful Connections at Events 56:42 Leveraging LinkedIn for Educators 01:00:42 The Courage to Pivot in EducationThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Championing those who are making the future of education a reality. Follow us on X Follow us on LinkedIn Check out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025