The Simon Sinek Leadership Series

Lead with purpose.

Build trust.

Create cultures where people thrive.

ESP is delighted to be working with Simon Sinek’s Optimism Company to bring three transformational leadership programmes to teachers and leaders in British international schools.

Delivered live and online, the series will explore some of Simon Sinek’s most influential leadership ideas, helping educators develop an Infinite Mindset, create cultures in which people feel safe and valued, and build trusting teams capable of thriving through challenge and change.

Participants can book an individual programme or complete the full three-part series.

Programme details

Location: Live online via Zoom
Individual sessions: £250 per participant
Complete three-session programme: £550 per participant
Saving: Book the full programme and save £200 per participant
Suitable for: Teachers and school leaders in British international schools

Transformational leadership for British international schools

Strong schools are built by people who share a clear sense of purpose, trust one another and feel valued within their teams.

Drawing upon Simon Sinek’s internationally acclaimed leadership frameworks, this interactive series will help participants consider how they lead, how they support the people around them and how they create the conditions in which individuals and teams can perform at their best.

Each session will translate powerful leadership ideas into practical approaches that can be applied within the distinctive context of British international schools.

The Infinite Game

Lead with purpose. Think beyond the short term.

Tuesday 19 January 2027
12:00–13:30 UK time

Schools are not playing a game with a finish line. The true measure of success is not simply the next inspection, examination result or academic year, but the lasting impact a school has on its pupils, colleagues and wider community.

Drawing upon Simon Sinek’s internationally acclaimed leadership framework, this interactive programme will explore how adopting an Infinite Mindset can help educators create stronger schools, develop resilient teams and build sustainable leadership cultures.

What will the session explore?

Participants will explore:

  • The difference between finite and infinite thinking

  • How an Infinite Mindset can transform leadership and decision-making

  • Creating and communicating a compelling Just Cause

  • Building high-trust teams that thrive under pressure

  • Learning from worthy rivals to support continuous improvement

  • Developing the courage and flexibility needed to lead through change

  • Applying the principles of The Infinite Game within British international schools

Participants will leave with practical insights that can be applied immediately, helping their schools remain focused on long-term purpose rather than short-term wins.

Leaders Eat Last

Create a culture in which people feel safe, valued and supported.

Monday 22 March 2027
12:00–13:30 UK time

Leadership is not simply about being in charge; it is about taking care of the people in our charge.

Drawing upon the ideas explored in Simon Sinek’s bestselling book Leaders Eat Last, this interactive programme will examine what distinguishes teams that remain united and thrive from those that struggle despite having talent, resources and opportunity.

Participants will consider how leaders can create the conditions in which people feel safe, supported and valued. When colleagues know that their leaders and teams have their backs, they are more willing to collaborate, innovate, take responsibility and support one another through periods of challenge and change.

What will the session explore?

Participants will explore:

  • What it truly means to lead and why leadership is a practice rather than a position

  • How to create a Circle of Safety in which people feel trusted, valued and supported

  • Why safety and belonging are essential to effective team performance

  • The natural human drivers that help people feel inspired, fulfilled and connected

  • How leaders can reduce internal threats and help teams respond to external pressures

  • The impact of stress, fear and uncertainty on individuals and organisations

  • How caring leadership encourages cooperation, resilience and mutual support

  • Practical ways to apply the principles of Leaders Eat Last within British international schools

Building Trusting Teams

Turn trust into consistent, everyday behaviour.

Monday 7 June 2027
13:00–14:30 UK time

When times are tough, only trusting teams accomplish what others find impossible.

Every school depends upon teams: teachers collaborating within departments, senior leaders setting direction, support staff keeping the organisation running and colleagues working together to secure the best possible outcomes for pupils.

Trust is vital to the success of every one of these teams, but it cannot simply be demanded or assumed. It must be created through consistent leadership, genuine care and an environment in which people feel safe enough to be honest, vulnerable and themselves.

Drawing upon the ideas explored in Simon Sinek’s The Infinite Game and Leaders Eat Last, alongside Rich Diviney’s The Attributes, this interactive programme will provide practical and actionable approaches to building trust and achieving sustainable results.

What will the session explore?

Participants will explore:

  • The role of vulnerability in building genuine trust

  • Encouraging colleagues to ask for help and admit when they do not have all the answers

  • Using candour with care to enable honest and constructive conversations

  • Turning organisational values into behaviours that are consistently lived

  • Strengthening communication, collaboration and mutual accountability

  • Developing practical approaches to building trust across school teams

  • Applying the principles of trusting teams within British international schools

What will you take away from the series?

Whether attending one session or completing the full series, participants will gain practical leadership insights to help them:

  • Lead with a stronger and more clearly communicated sense of purpose

  • Make decisions with a longer-term perspective

  • Create cultures in which colleagues feel safe, supported and valued

  • Strengthen trust, communication and collaboration across teams

  • Lead more effectively through uncertainty and change

  • Turn organisational values into consistent everyday behaviours

  • Build resilient teams capable of achieving sustainable success

  • Apply internationally recognised leadership thinking within their own school context

Who should attend?

The Simon Sinek Leadership Series is designed for:

  • Classroom teachers

  • Middle leaders

  • Senior leaders

  • Heads of department and subject leaders

  • Headteachers and principals

  • School owners and governors

  • Human resources and professional development leaders

  • Colleagues responsible for developing teams and organisational culture

Schools may register individual colleagues, leadership teams or wider groups of staff. The three programmes can also form part of a school’s professional learning and leadership development offer for the 2026/27 academic year.

Meet your facilitator: Joseph Kim

Joseph Kim is a leadership expert, keynote speaker, trainer and facilitator with Simon Sinek’s Optimism Company.

He has worked with global organisations including Nike, Samsung, PwC, BCG, NASA and the United States Air Force, helping leaders and teams strengthen communication, leadership and organisational culture.

Joseph will bring Simon Sinek’s leadership frameworks to life through engaging discussion, practical examples and approaches that participants can apply within their own schools and teams.

Book one programme or complete the series

Join colleagues from British international schools around the world and discover how purposeful leadership, psychological safety and genuine trust can help people and organisations thrive.

Individual sessions are £250 per participant

Complete the three-session series for only £550 per participant

Book all three programmes and save £200 per participant

Reserve your places

To register yourself or members of your staff, email mark@espeducation.co.uk.