This October, nearly 500 school leaders gathered at the Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel for the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA) 2025 Fall Leadership Conference. Among them was Tim Stuart, Search Associates’ Director of Leadership Recruitment and Global Partnerships, who described it as a “fantastic conference of high value!”
This year’s conference held October 16–19, centered on the theme of storytelling in leadership. As the program highlighted, “stories—human, intergenerational, technological, cultural—are at the center of learning.” Participants were invited to explore how school leaders can cultivate environments where storytelling strengthens community, identity, and purpose across cultures and generations.
The conference featured an inspiring lineup of presenters, each bringing a distinctive perspective on the power of narrative in education. Michael Stevenson, Senior Consultant for the OECD, explored the story of human flourishing, while Frans Johansson, author of The Medici Effect and CEO of Medici Next, shared “Creating the Medici Effect: Groundbreaking Ideas at the Intersection of Different Fields, Cultures, and Perspectives.”
As Search Associates (SEARCH) was one of the sponsors for the event, Tim had the privilege of introducing Keynote Speaker Rosalind Wiseman—author of nine books, speaker, and consultant—who currently serves as a Senior Leadership Consultant for the U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools. Her keynote, “The Story of Belonging – Writing the Next Chapter: Dignity, Agency & Belonging for All,” offered practical tools, fresh perspectives, and candid insights into what it truly takes to build trust, motivation, and connection within school communities—so that every individual can thrive.
Adding another layer to the theme, David Willows and Suzette Parlevliet, co-founders of Yellow Car, offered two engaging sessions: “The Story of School Experience” and “The Story of This Conference.” Their thought-provoking talks invited participants to consider how stories shape not just our schools but the very experiences we create within them.
In addition to the keynotes, participants selected from a rich array of Learning Partner Sessions—hour-long presentations designed to foster collaboration and share innovation across the international education community. As described in the conference program, these sessions offered “opportunities for NESA Affiliate Organizations to share resources, best practice, effective programs and initiatives, and cutting-edge innovations in a spirit of collaboration—one of NESA’s core beliefs.”
The range of topics reflected the diversity and forward-thinking mindset of international schools. Some of the many included Beth Goldstein’s “Future Proof Your School by Igniting an Entrepreneurial School Culture,” Matthew Chovanec’s “Introducing AP Business with Personal Finance,” and Mark Tomaszewski’s “The Mental Health Issue in International Schools.” Meanwhile, Robert Cobbs and Kyle Sumrow shared their insights in “The Anatomy of a Perfect K–12 Tech Plan.”
Throughout the event, Tim represented Search Associates at the organization’s exhibit table, where he met with many current and potential candidates. He reflected,
The well-organized and professional conference was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with former friends and colleagues from the NESA region as well as an opportunity to meet new school leadership in the NESA region.
The NESA 2025 Fall Leadership Conference in Istanbul was more than a professional gathering—it was a celebration of stories that connect educators across continents. As participants left inspired and re-energized, the message was clear: storytelling is not only central to learning but essential to leadership in international education. SEARCH looks forward to next year’s leadership conference in Bangkok!
