About Us | Global School Leaders

Global School Leaders is an international non-profit organization focused on mobilizing key stakeholders to invest and participate in school leadership training. We work with funders, governments, and NGOs in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) to strengthen their education systems.

We currently work with partners in Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria. Cumulatively, we have strengthened leadership across 3600 schools.

We are a learning organization committed to enabling an excellent education for all children.

Our Values

Centred on Student Outcomes

We believe that school leadership development is successful if it sustainably improves student success in academics, career and social-emotional development

Focused on Equity

We strive to serve those most in need to ensure access to education for all children.

Committed to Organizational Learning

We believe in rigorous, critical evaluation of programs, policies, and organizational effectiveness. We are proactive in ensuring individual and collective growth and learning.

Driving Systemic Impact

We are committed to accelerating long-term, systems change through policy work.

Fostering Collaboration

We foster relationships among key stakeholders to improve the school leadership ecosystem.

Acting with High Ethical Standards

We are committed to transparent decision-making and governance. We make decisions to serve the best interests of children. We promote an inclusive organizational vision, and act in accordance with local contexts and jurisdiction laws.

We know what it takes to improve schools in LMICs

We understand the capacity constraints of LMIC education systems.

GSL brings expansive experience working in the education sector in low and middle-income countries. We understand the impact of socio-economical and political factors on education systems and have firsthand experience building solutions for them in Asia and Africa.

We have designed a powerful leadership training program for LMICs

GSL’s School Leadership Program stems from a successful model designed and delivered for school leaders serving low-income communities in India. Our program is designed to be flexible to target local contexts while incorporating global best practices.

We have the network and reach to mobilize key stakeholders around the world

Our team has a strong global network of philanthropists, partners and educators. Our partners understand the depth of our experience in the education sector, and are invested in helping us scale our efforts to more countries.

Our School Leadership Program is designed for partners to support School Leaders with the right skills, tools and resources to improve the quality of education in their schools.

Learn about our program

Meet Our Team

Azad Oommen

CEO

Aniket Thukral

Senior Director of Programs

Dewi Susanti

Senior Director of Research

Swarna Surya

Senior Manager, Product

Tamara Philip

Director of Networks and

Programs

Adhishree Parasnis

Director of Communications

Dr. Gautam Anand

Director of Research

Animesh Priya

Director of Partnerships

Sanya Sagar

Senior Manager, Programs

Avni Gupta-Kagan

Chief of Operations

(Interim)

Esmail Bagasrawala

Manager,

Communications

Lauren Sarruf

Manager,

Communications

Tejas Airodi

Manager,

Research

Jane Maina

Director,

Gender Equity Programs

Sreeja Nedungadi

Consultant,

Organization Development

Dr. Gina Ikemoto

Consultant,

Monitoring & Evaluation

Madiha Sayani

Manager,

Research

Abraham Okumba

Senior Manager,

Programs

Board of Directors

DR. AMRITA AHUJA (Chair)
Douglas B. Marshall Jr. Family Foundation

DR. CAROLYN STREMLAU
Executive Director, Banyan Tree Foundation (Retired)

DANA SCHMIDT
Senior Program Officer, Echidna Giving

LAURENCE LIEN
Co-Founder and CEO, Asia Philanthropy Circle

VIKAS POTA

Founder, T4 Education

FOLAWE OMINKULE

CEO, Teach For Nigeria

Advisory Board

ASHISH DHAWAN
Founder and CEO, Central Square Foundation

BRUNO KAVANAGH
Founder and Director of Learning, Learn Interactive

DR. JOSH LEWIS
Founder and Managing Principal, Salmon River Capital

LAURA KADETSKY
General Counsel, Chief Business Solutions Officer, & Secretary, New Leaders

DR. LYNN MURPHY
Consultant

DR. PAULA CORDEIRO

Dammeyer Distinguished Professor of Global Leadership and Education, University of San Diego

DR. SARA RUTO

CEO, PAL Network Secretariat

SHARATH JEEVAN

Founder and former CEO, STIR Education

Founder and Executive Chairman of Instrinsic Labs

WENDY KOPP

CEO and Co-Founder,

Teach for All