What actually happens when a school decides that feeding children is just as important as teaching them?

In this episode of the #EdVance Podcast, internationally acclaimed educator and founder of Green Bronx Machine, Stephen Ritz, explores what it really takes to engage students when traditional methods stop working. He questions conventional approaches to education, examines what traditional philanthropy gets wrong about creating lasting community impact, and makes a powerful case for addressing a child’s most fundamental needs as a foundation for learning.

He also pushes us to rethink what we expect from leadership, performance, and institutional accountability, showing what becomes possible when schools create the conditions children need to thrive.

Download, subscribe, and share the #EdVance Podcast for conversations with the world’s most influential education leaders.

Are universities failing worldwide?

Between rising student debt, shrinking budgets, and shifting job markets, higher education is under severe pressure.

In this episode of the #EdVance Podcast, Professor Sue Rigby, Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, makes a bold case for institutional reform.

Moving from palaeontology research into university executive leadership, Professor Rigby breaks down why traditional university models no longer work, how to fix financial foundations without losing academic values, and what it really takes to lead exhausted teams through massive change.

Can schools really achieve high performance without putting staff wellbeing first?

In this episode of the EdVance Podcast, Alan Williamson, CEO of Taaleem, one of the UAE’s largest education groups, shares what decades in education have taught him about building great schools. He explores why relationships, culture and exceptional teachers sit at the heart of school success, and why wellbeing and performance are far more connected than many leaders assume.

He also shares his views on AI and technology, preparing young people for the future of work, and leading through uncertainty. For Alan, great leadership means choosing optimism, building people and making decisions with an eye for tomorrow.

Download, subscribe and share the EdVance Podcast for conversations with the world’s most influential education leaders.