Step into [ed]Leadership with Carolyn Grantskalns
A moral endeavour
In this episode of Stepping into [ed]Leadership, we are joined by Carolyn Grantskalns, former principal and Chief Executive of AISSA. Carolyn reflects on leadership as good work for a good purpose. She highlights the challenges of middle leadership, where educators often feel caught between being more a teacher than a leader. She shares that leadership can be hard to see in action, but the invisible soft skills—advocacy, shared vision, and relentless yet gentle pressure—are what truly drive improvement.
In our chat, we explore the emotional responsibility leaders carry, balancing support for staff with accountability. Carolyn emphasises the power of shared language, a united vision, and strong teams that work across all levels. We discuss that leadership isn’t about having all the answers but about listening, adapting, and making small improvements that build lasting change. She also challenges leaders to reimagine workload, create a culture of trust, and model the joy of leadership.
Our conversation covers career transitions, where Carolyn discusses imposter syndrome and the importance of stepping into new roles before feeling fully ready. She stresses the need to remove ego, embrace diverse perspectives, and be the grown-up in tough moments. Good leadership isn’t about status—it’s about being a kind, ethical, and courageous learner.
We loved hearing about the different stages of her career, and know this episode will prompt everyone to consider the different ways we can serve our communities and find the joy in educational leadership.