For over 30 years international school leaders, teachers, and counselors have come together for PTC professional learning experiences. Each day of every program begins with a “pearl of wisdom,” a “nugget of knowledge,” or a “gem of inspiration” from one of the participants. We are delighted to offer our readers around the world these powerful stories, insights, and strategies, all dedicated to our shared mission of ever more and better learning for our children.
In this Pearl, Nausheen shares two powerful analogies to define leadership, as a chef and a gardener, highlighting the importance of vision, empathy, and adaptability. She explains, “Leadership is never about perfection but more about resilience and adaptability,” likening vision to a recipe, empathy to the secret sauce, and integrity to quality assurance. As a gardener, a leader cultivates growth and can even turn “stubborn weeds” into opportunities. Tools matter too: communication is the spatula that stirs ideas and smooths conflict, while flexibility is the whisk that blends the new with the old. A pinch of humor—the “salt”—brings it all together. She adds, “Embrace the chaos… wield your tools with finesse and always keep an eye on the bigger picture.”
Nausheen Siddiqi is the Head of Technology at Al-Rayan International School.
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The articles presented in TIE are a reflection of the variety of perspectives within the international school community and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the organization.
