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THE VOICE OF TIE

Checking in on the State of Women in International School Leadership

The Voice of TIE Podcast
With Bridget McNamer
07-Oct-26
Checking in on the State of Women in International School Leadership

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Welcome to the Voice of TIE podcast, a space for stories, insights, and conversations that uplift the profession of teaching and inspire positive change in international schools. For nearly 40 years, The International Educator has served this community through recruitment resources and a dedication to amplifying the voices of international educators around the world.


In this episode of the Voice of TIE Podcast, Stacy Stephens sits down with Bridget McNamer, founder of Sidecar Council, to explore the persistent gap in women's leadership within international schools. Despite years of advocacy, women hold only 28–33% of Head of School roles, a statistic that has barely budged. Bridget shares her journey from recruitment consultant to full-time leadership coach, the organic growth of her Sidecar Rallies and summits, and why she believes confidence is a learned skill. The conversation dives into career navigation strategies, the importance of financial literacy as a tool for creating options, and the systemic barriers posed by school boards. Bridget makes a compelling case for moving away from the "lone hero" leadership model toward collective, team-based approaches and challenges accreditation agencies, recruiters, and boards to be the levers of real change.


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Stacy Stephens is the Director of TIE and has more than 25 years in international education as both a teacher and a school leader.

Bridget McNamer is the founder and chief navigation officer of Sidecar Counsel. She has spent her life seeking adventure, shaking things up and supporting leaders who refuse to accept the status quo. Her sweet spot is serving as “sidecar counsel” to women leaders in schools who can bring much-needed balance to a role that has become overly masculinized. These days, she can be found basking in her new nest in Provence, coaching courageous souls from her laptop dashboard and keeping her daring spirit alive through regular comfort-zone challenges. Recent adventures include practicing her high school French with kind non-English speakers, discovering freshwater swimming holes in Provence and trying her hand at sketching.

 




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