Women’s Leadership

The ISS Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium brings together women leaders from around the globe to meet, discuss the context for women leadership in international schools, network, and further their own professional development in stimulating workshops.

Women's Leadership Symposium

This Season: #LiftEachotherUp Through Creative Leadership

Presented by Liz Cho, Principal of Teaching and Learning at Korea International School

Where do we fall? What do we do as women leaders to bring sense of all the things that make us… us? How do we #lifteachotherup? How do we lead? How do we create our own voices? Let’s come together to work it out. To move together in our Leadership with heart. Come with curiosity to find the audacity and courage to breathe authenticity and creativity into your own leadership.

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Today

Celebrating Decades of Supporting Women Leaders

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium and Mary Anne’s 96th Birthday, we hosted a special event: Hope and Women’s Leadership with Jane Goodall.

Watch the session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uSCIx5gX0g

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBA, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) and UN Messenger of Peace, is a world-renowned ethologist and activist inspiring greater understanding and action on behalf of the natural world. Jane is a global icon, spreading hope and turning it into a meaningful, positive impact to create a better world for people, other animals, and the planet we share.

According to data from the Academy of International School Heads (AISH), over the past decade, the percentage of women heads at international schools has increased from 27% to 33%. That growth is attributable to the early female pioneers as well as to many male and female champions who encouraged women to seek leadership roles in international schools.

There is still more progress to be made! If you are an aspiring woman head or an established head interested in championing women in leadership, please let us know.

Mary Ann Haas women's leadership symposium

Since 2002, this annual symposium has helped to advance women educators in leadership in international schools – as well as provide important role models to future generations of women leaders. Each year, over two dozen leaders from international schools around the world assemble for the annual ISS Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium to discuss the context for women leadership in international schools, network, and further their own professional development in a stimulating series of workshops and conversations. In recent years, symposium alumni have organized workshops at regional conferences for both male and female leaders.

woman leaders in international education

ISS Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium Virtual Gatherings

When unable to gather in-person, we have found ways to continue to build and strengthen positive connections amidst the shared experience of educating and leading. The goal is to continue to host meaningful activities and discussions that will build up this community of women leaders in international schools.

View presentations from previous virtual gatherings

ISS Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium Padlet

Access all of the great resources shared during previous Womenars. View Padlet »

Stay connected with us on social media using #ISSWomenLead and by joining our Facebook group. We always encourage you to spread your experiences, photos, and support with other women throughout the educational community.

international school leadership

“A leader sees greatness in other people. You can’t be much of a leader if all you see is yourself. Only equals make friends. A man or woman who sees other people as whole and prepared and accords them respect and the same rights has arranged his or her own allies.”

Maya Angelou, in a 2013 Harvard Business Review interview

About The Sponsors

The ISS Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium is made possible through a generous grant from the Office of Overseas Schools at the US Department of State, as well as key sponsors. Considering being a sponsor? Download our Sponsorship Package »

women's leadership partners

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