More than just holding management positions, leadership in education requires active listening, strategic vision, and a willingness to engage in self-reflection. This was the reflection offered by Anna Penido, director of the Lemann Center for Leadership in Educational Equity, during the panel discussion “Leaders Who Transform and Are Transformed by Education, ” held at the 30th edition of Bett Brasil. In her remarks, she emphasized that educational administrators will only be able to bring about meaningful change in schools if they are also open to their own transformation.

In addressing the challenges faced by school leaders in Brazil, Anna Penido presented ten characteristics that she considers essential for truly inspiring leadership:

• 1. Is open to new things and resilient;
• 2. Welcomes and encourages;
• 3. Communicates in an inclusive manner;
• 4. Possesses strategic vision and problem-solving skills;
• 5. Makes decisions based on data and evidence;
• 6. Focus learning management on the student;
• 7. Promotes cohesion, diversity, and inclusion;
• 8. Manage people with care and trust;
• 9. Creates conditions and generates resources;
• 10. Promotes equity.

According to Anna, these skills need to be cultivated intentionally and are part of an ongoing process of personal development. “We need to develop accessible and inclusive communication that can embrace the diversity of perspectives that exist within the school. Creating a safe environment for expression is essential,” she said.

She also emphasized that active listening, clarity in self-expression, and resilience are three indispensable pillars for sustaining strong leadership that is aligned with the challenges of contemporary education. The principal also emphasized the need for leaders who know how to balance day-to-day management with setting strategic priorities. “Leaders need to be able to see the big picture, identify what is most urgent, and make room on their agenda for the issues that really matter,” she said.

Watch Anna Penido's interview on Conexão Bett: 

One of the key points discussed was the importance of cohesion among the various stakeholders in education — government agencies, schools, school operators, and partner organizations — and deliberate efforts to ensure equitable access to learning. “Within schools, it is essential to identify the most vulnerable groups and take deliberate action to reduce inequalities, ensuring that everyone has the same opportunities for learning and development,” he cautioned.

In closing, Anna urged the leaders in attendance to engage in personal reflection: “Stop and think about what you’re doing and what you’re neglecting in yourselves.” For her, collective transformation begins with leaders who acknowledge their vulnerabilities and commit to continuous growth—both for themselves and for the entire school community.

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