Women’s Leadership
COMMUNITYThe 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 Certificate
Learn from other women leaders and their allies – the asynchronous Women’s Leadership certificate empowers international educators to grow as leaders. Explore identity, systems, wellbeing, and influence—on your schedule, from anywhere, in community with others.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM
The 23rd ISS Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium took place on June 20-22, 2025, bringing together a dynamic group of women educational leaders from around the world. This year’s theme, “Women as Global Leaders: Creating a Legacy,” celebrated the ongoing transformative power of leadership and connection.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our inspiring speakers and panelists, Fran Prolman, Nicole Furlonge, Liz Cho, Tiwanna Merritt, Katrina Daniels-Samasa, Meredith Klein, Azra Pathan, and Mayamouna Sakho, whose invaluable insights and expertise, fostering rich discussions and collaborations. As we look ahead, we are excited to continue the conversations through our virtual community, offering free webinars to all Women’s Symposium members, ensuring year-round connection and professional development opportunities through our new certificate for Women Leaders.
VIEW THE FOLLOWING FREE PRESENTATIONS FROM THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR
The Power of Connections: Tools to Leverage Networks, Mentors & Sponsors
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Exploring Trends & Patterns in Women’s Leadership (Part 1)
Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Exploring Trends & Patterns in Women’s Leadership (Part 2)
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.
MAKING AN IMPACT IN WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
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.
ISS MARY ANNE HAAS WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM PADLET
From articles about leadership, to reflective prompts from facilitators, this padlet collects the great resources shared during previous Womenars. Anyone is welcome to access for free!
ISS WOMEN LEAD FACEBOOK GROUP
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.
“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
2013, Harvard Business Review interview
About The Sponsors
The ISS Mary Anne Haas Women’s Symposium is made possible through key sponsors.
Womenar Series Spotlight: #LiftEachOtherUp through Creative Leadership
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.
Presented by Liz Cho, Principal of Teaching and Learning at Korea International School