Episode Overview

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley speaks with education consultant Shane Leaning about the journey from classroom teacher to running an education consultancy.

Shane began his career teaching in the UK before moving into international schools and senior leadership roles in China. After running professional development across schools in Asia, he noticed something surprising: teachers would attend training, give positive feedback, and yet very little would change in practice.

That experience sparked a deeper interest in sustainable change in schools.

In this conversation, Shane explains why traditional professional development often fails, how leadership coaching can transform school culture, and what happens when schools develop real confidence in their own expertise.

The discussion also turns to the realities of building an education business. Shane talks openly about the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship, particularly the challenge of sales and the difference between having expertise and building a sustainable business.

The episode explores ethical business in education, the importance of trusting educators, and why founders should be cautious about the picture of business success portrayed on social media.

Hosted by Claire Riley, this episode offers practical insight for founders building businesses that serve schools.

00:00 – Introduction to the podcast
01:00 – Shane’s journey from teacher to international school leader
02:30 – The moment he realised professional development wasn’t working
03:30 – Discovering the problem of sustainable change in schools
05:00 – Life as a consultant supporting schools globally
06:30 – Coaching in education vs coaching in business
09:00 – Why teachers rarely get executive coaching
11:30 – Teachers as leaders in the classroom
13:30 – The transition from education to business
14:10 – Operationalising your offer as a founder
15:00 – The risks of product-led education businesses
17:30 – Why confidence changes school culture
18:30 – Psychological safety in schools
19:20 – Breaking the “waiting loop” in organisations
20:00 – How confident schools approach failure
22:00 – The steep learning curve of sales
23:00 – The myth of “if I build it, they will come”
24:30 – Learning how to sell without feeling salesy
26:20 – The reality behind business success on LinkedIn
27:00 – Why founders need a community

All About Shane:
Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders around the world. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chart-topping school leadership podcast, community and academy, Education Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering school leaders, he co-authored the best-selling book, 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership.

Website: shaneleaning.com
Podcast: Education Leaders: shaneleaning.com/podcast
Instagram: @leaningshane
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaningshane/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@education_leaders