Ep 23. Leonor Stjepic, CEO Montessori Group: A values-based approach to education, life and leadership
“To be able to say, in a small way, I moved the needle to make (someone else’s) life better, is actually something that money cant buy...” Leonor Stjepic is Chief Executive of the Montessori Group. Montessori education was created by Dr Maria Montessori over 100 years ago. Leonor talks about Montessori education being an approach rather than a curriculum, providing the framework and structure, within which the child has the freedom to learn. The aim is to prepare children for the current realities of the world they are growing up, whilst instilling them with core values such as curiosity, kindness and collaboration. We talk about leadership and Leonor shares the 3 qualities she thinks are most important in a leader: being authentic, having empathy and being ready with a Plan A, B, C & Z! We also talk about the new Montessori Leadership Programme that overlays Montessori values on to a leadership development framework for Board and Executive level leaders. Leonor shares personal stories from her vast leadership experience and we discuss the #KindnessMatters campaign: the organisation’s quest to share One Million Stories of Kindness. Recorded July 2021.