Impactful Leadership in Education: A Conversation with Kausor Amin-Ali and Zoubiya Ahmed

Transcript of Video Podcast at the start of the Middle East School Leadership Conference 2025, recorded on 5 February 2025.

[Zoubiya Ahmed, host] Hi! Welcome to the Middle East School Leadership Conference here at the Habtoor Grand. How are you feeling today?

[Kausor Amin-Ali, interviewee] Good thank you. It seems a very impressive venue already, (Hotel) Lobby and seeing the participants and familiar colleagues. It is impressive for sure.

[Zoubiya] ?Excellent! And in terms of the theme of the conference this year, it's looking at Leadership Legacy, the impact we have now and of course, you selected the question:

What lasting impact do you hope to leave on education?

Just fundamentally, about children and what are we saying to our children in terms of what Society are they going to inherit in the future.

[Kausor] I think for me it's only now I look back on my career. I'm still in my career to be sure to everybody! What have achieved so far, what achievements have I had and why have I ?achieved those? I think through that it got me reflecting; certainly on the books I've authored, the A to Z series (www.azschool.info), of what can I get back to the sector.

I think I'll probably some impact in terms of three ways if I may:

1.????? Firstly, I would say, local impact. What have you achieved in your schools. I think every leader, teacher, educator would like to have an impact that they added value to children, and to parents, and to the wider community.

2.????? Secondly, I'd say, (the impact you have had) to the region itself. Currently in the UAE previously in the UK. Wherever you are working or operating, I think it's very important that you do get back some sense of structures or collaboration that can lead on something bigger and better for future people to fill in your shoes ultimately

3.????? And thirdly I think this is probably the more one that I'm passionate about the most is the wider, almost global impact. ?When I say “global”, I don't necessarily around the world, but that would be nice! I think certainly I would say it's more about the impact across the sector.

And actually what are we advocating for? What do we advocate for, to help the change needed bring about more inclusivity.

[Zoubiya] ?So you're talking like systemic change and often I've seen the work (you do) and we've talked about some of the topics that you write and talk about. They're quite heavy-hitting topics and sometimes I tip-toe around some of the topics that you post about! But I have a huge amount of respect for the focus and energy that you put into, banging on the door of some of these important conversations that need to happen for systemic change.

Touching on that question, how powerful do you think is the impact of those conversations? Do you think that they result in change?

[Kausor] I think, I like think more about planting seeds. Plant the seed and hopefully I water it, tend to it. I’m not a gardener; I’m not a farmer! ?Those out there who more green fingers better than me, but that's the purpose I feel.

Just fundamentally, about children and what are we saying to our children in terms of what Society are they going to inherit in the future.

And we talk about tolerance inclusivity, diversity to our children, but we didn't exhibit it in schools structures, in school leadership models; both representation and also in terms of the actual language use.

I think we are actually saying one thing, and doing another and for me that's fundamentally flawed as leaders. ?We should practice what we preach and advocate for things that are perhaps missing.

In terms of the actual immediate change and impact, we are probably not seeing it right now or feeling it, but certainly I'm hoping the private conversations happening at least; there is support and there is advocacy in making a positive way, not in the aggressive school way and that's to ensure that there is change and the children feel their voices are heard; ?and are represented in the future.

[Zoubiya] Yeah I think sometimes there's this eyeroll at buzzwords, when we hear someone say “oh we're really diverse and inclusive” and sometimes when you look at certain aspects of the information available about those organizations what's said and what's seen sometimes there are misalignments in that and I know that you're the first to call those out! So it's always nice to see!

Moving on to our second question what three words would you want your school Community to use when describing your leadership after you leave?

[Kausor] Yeah I think, I'm going to probably going to use three words starting with H

[Zoubiya] Okay, oh wow! You're raising the bar not just three words but all the same letter!

[Kausor] I think a sense of honesty. I’d say hardworking and the last I'd say sense of happiness; a sense of wellbeing…

[Zoubiya] Happy that you left? No!

[Kausor] Happiness in the sense of fulfilment. Even the word Wellbeing can be perhaps misused. That people are generally happy being there (at school). ?Happy for the success, happy for working there; happy for studying there; happy that I managed to grow leaders to lead after I’ve left. So yeah…

[Zoubiya] You mean like happy to have known you and had that kind of have, had those moments with you?? A happy impact

[Kausor] Yeah, I'm using the H term, Happiness in the broadest sense. I'm just trying to say, I suppose from my point of view, I would say it's more the positivity ultimately, positive wellbeing, a sense of celebration, sense of success.

And yeah, I think honestly hardworking and happiness.

[Zoubiya] Amazing! Thank you so much for speaking to me about Leadership Legacy. It is definitely something that's there's been lots of inspirational moments so thank you for your time today look forward to seeing you at conference.

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