Celebrating Our One Year Anniversary

I founded International Educational Consultant with a clear mission: to empower startup school owners and emerging leaders at the senior and middle levels. My vision was to carve out a niche, focusing on boutique schools—small but mighty institutions supporting 300 to 500 students. By offering personalized guidance and strategic support, I aim to help these schools grow from a dream to a thriving reality, ensuring that each one is positioned to make a lasting impact on its community.

We've just completed our first year, and it has been nothing short of amazing! Here’s to our first of many. Marking this milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements and growth over the past year. Amidst the whirlwind of launching an online consulting business, it’s easy to lose sight of the subtle yet impactful elements that distinguish a thriving company from one that merely survives. But here’s the thing, venturing out as a small personal consulting company isn’t built overnight. It’s cultivated over time through consistent efforts and genuine recognition, highlighting progress and setting the stage for continued development.

Here is a look back on our first year, we’re proud of the milestones we’ve achieved.

• Our website went live on September 29, 2023,

• Our first blog post was published on October 12, 2023, and to date, we’ve shared 24 insightful articles.

• Top three most read read blog posts: Global Gratitude: Friendsgiving Traditions Unite Expats and Locals in International Schools, Building The Right Language Model For Your Founding School, and Critical Friends Group for Newly Appointed Educational Leaders.

• Added two new team members.

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  Participated in ITP Podcast hosted by Matthew Judd, Kent Arimura, Jacqueline P. Mallais, and Greg Lemoine.

• Hosted free live webinar workshops, providing valuable professional development and engagement opportunities.

• Posted free materials on our website.

• Our leadership consultancy services have seen promising growth, expanding from a single client to supporting six educators stepping into senior or middle-level positions.

• Competently consulted with two niche founding schools in Asia, by providing comprehensive consultancy services to support the development and operational setup of the school.

• Co-authored upcoming "The Power of Play in the Early Years: Integrating Translanguaging for Inclusive Learning for Early Years in Beijing for Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) 2024.

While there’s still much more to accomplish, we are energized by these achievements and remain committed to furthering our mission in the upcoming year. I’m excited to focus on the path ahead. By reflecting on the milestones made, has prompted me to consider the strategic changes we’ll be implementing in 2025, setting the stage for our next phase of growth. While milestones have been small and challenging, I have learned that networking with peer leaders is key. Reading other leadership blog, listening to podcast in international education, participate in workshop courses, and attending conferences, allows for peer interactions and sharing of stories and ongoing changes and challenges in the international educational setting.

The two thought leaders I find most inspiring and resourceful in their respective fields are; Michael McQueen, a renowned change strategist, and Kyle Westaway, an expert in social entrepreneurship and innovation. Both will be sharing their insights on navigating the future of global issues, education, AI, investments, science, and other areas offering valuable perspectives on how organizations can stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. McQueen stated that for " 2025 and beyond, generic products, services and marketing will no longer be good enough. Customers are increasingly expecting offers which are uniquely tailored to their preferences, behaviors, and needs. In fact, a study shows that 76% of consumers are more likely to purchase from brands that provide personalized interactions, and 60% will become repeat buyers after a personalized shopping experience. Kyle Westaway shares a forward-thinking perspective on the future of education, emphasizing the importance of fostering creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving skills in students. He advocates for reimagining traditional education models to better prepare learners for the rapidly changing workforce, highlighting the need for experiential learning, interdisciplinary approaches, and a focus on real-world application.

I also stay connected with several of my former students from the Endicott College Master’s program in International Education, as well as international educators who have ventured into podcasting and launched initiatives in their areas of expertise. There are a few international educational companies conducting extensive research and producing insightful white papers, offering valuable forecasts on the future of international education. From all of this information, I use the data and research resources to ensure founding owners and school leaders that our company will produce quality services that will be uniquely tailored to the needs of their educational organization.

This passion for continuous learning has fueled my dedication to staying current with cutting-edge practices and theories. It allows me to provide informed and effective guidance to educators and administrators worldwide. Additionally, exploring these areas helps me to create comprehensive training programs and resources that address the multifaceted challenges faced by today's educational institutions.

Happy work anniversary to International Educational Consultant team.

Ever wish of having invaluable insights and support while embarking on the journey of first time leadership, or perhaps academic training to open a founding school? Look no further! International Educational Consultants brings years of extensive experience in higher education, private, public, and international schools, along with a vast network of experienced colleagues, to work directly with you.

Contact Dr. McFarland at International Educational Consultant to leverage her expertise in addressing your leadership training, mentoring, school policy, startup school queries, or just overcoming challenges of day to day operations. We offer Webinar training sessions, idea-sharing, attentive listening, and face to face workshops. Connect today with International Educational Consultants.