The Human Side of School Leadership

In this episode, Clare talks to Shaheen Myers, founder of Balance:ed, about the human side of school leadership.

They discuss the pressures faced by school leaders in the current educational climate, and how this can contribute to overwhelm and burnout. Shaheen also highlights the interplay between culture and wellbeing and suggests ways for school leaders to best support themselves and others.

Shaheen Myers is a leadership wellbeing advisor, keynote speaker, and former system leader in education with over two decades’ experience across schools and children’s services. She previously served as a Deputy Director for Learning within a large city’s Children’s Services, where she led strategic work to improve inclusion, wellbeing, and outcomes for more than 100,000 children and young people.

Shaheen is the founder of Balance:ed, an organisation dedicated to improving wellbeing, culture, and connection across schools and academy trusts. Through keynote speaking, training, coaching, wellbeing supervision, and organisational audits, she supports headteachers, CEOs, and education staff to navigate the pressures of modern leadership while building healthier, more sustainable school cultures.

She is also the author of, The Human Side of School Leadership, where she explores how care, culture, and connection can transform schools into environments where leaders and staff feel seen, heard, and valued.

Find out more about The Human Side of Leadership Conference here.

Shaheen shares three top tips in the episode:

• It’s ok to look after yourself and to prioritise your own wellbeing.
• Reflect on the role of connection within teams and across your organisation.
• Lean into the ‘humanness’ of your role.

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