Poor
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
What does it take to break the cycle and who helps make that possible? In this deeply moving episode of the PiXL Leadership Book Club, Rachel Johnson is joined by Rebecca Broadley and Sapna Vadher to discuss Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan, a story of survival, resilience and the transformative power of education. Growing up in poverty, becoming a mum at 15 and experiencing homelessness, Katriona defied the odds and credits the teachers and mentors who saw something in her when it felt like no one else did. Her memoir is a fierce call to action to recognise the invisible battles many children...
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Ruthlessly Caring
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
What does it really take to lead well in today’s uncertain and fast-moving world? In this episode of the PiXL Leadership Bookclub podcast, Rachel Johnson is joined by Lynsey Holzer and Kerim Ramadan to explore Ruthlessly Caring by Amy Walters Cohen. They reflect on how school leadership is evolving and what it means to embrace paradoxes like being ambitious while staying grounded, or confident while remaining humble. Drawing from the book’s five leadership mindsets, this conversation offers practical insights for anyone leading in schools today, whether that is for one school, or many as...
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Women Who Work Too Much
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
Are we all using our last embers just to keep going in our jobs as teachers? This week on the PiXL Leadership Bookclub, Rachel Johnson is joined by guests to explore Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas. This is a powerful guide to breaking free from burnout, overwork and the pressure to prove your worth by doing more. Though written for women, the truths in this book resonate across the profession: educators are carrying an ever-growing load—at work, at home, and in their own heads. They dive into ‘talk boundaries’, rest, guilt and the belief that we must earn our worth through...
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Never Split the Difference
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
There’s an art to negotiating, and who better to learn how to handle the toughest conversations than from a former hostage negotiator? In our next episode, we delve into Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, a former international FBI hostage negotiator whose high-stakes experiences have shaped a revolutionary approach to everyday negotiation. Rachel (PiXL CEO), and Grace and Kay unpack how Voss transforms the tactics once reserved for life-or-death scenarios into practical strategies for influencing outcomes at work, in schools, and beyond. From tactical empathy to the surprising power...
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Glad We Met
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
1:1 meetings happen every day in schools, but are they as impactful as they could be? In this episode of the Leadership Book Club, PiXL CEO Rachel Johnson is joined by experienced school leaders Claire Moss and Aaron Wanford as they delve into Glad We Met by Steven G. Rogelberg. Drawing on research from top organisations, Rogelberg reveals how to make these meetings a tool for growth, not just another box to tick. Our guests explore strategies and share how they apply strategies to make meeting more meaningful from finding the right frequency, striking the balance between productivity...
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The Friction Project
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
Schools are fast-paced environments where time is precious, but too often, unnecessary friction slows us down. In this episode of the Leadership Book Club, PiXL CEO Rachel Johnson is joined by experienced school leaders Mariam Rizvi and Deneen Kenchington as they unpack their biggest takeaways from The Friction Project by Huggy Rao and Robert I. Sutton. Together, they explore how to spot and fix the everyday obstacles that waste time and energy – from overcomplicated systems to information overload. They discuss the power of becoming “trustees of others’ time,” why ending tasks well...
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Languishing
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
We’re kicking off Series 6 with Languishing by Corey Keyes, the book that finally puts a name to that feeling of being stuck, drained and just going through the motions. Rachel Johnson is joined by school leaders Chris and Angela to explore how this shows up in education and, more importantly, what we can do about it. From recognising the signs in ourselves and our teams to finding simple ways to boost motivation and well-being, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Together, they unpack insightful strategies for recognising and overcoming this state – helping school leaders...
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Season 6 - starting March 12th
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
The PiXL Leadership Bookclub Podcast is back! New books, fresh insights and real conversations about what great leadership looks like in schools. This series, we’re exploring a great range of non-educational leadership books, including: Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down – because ‘just getting by’ isn’t the goal. The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder – finding flow in leadership. Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings – making every conversation count. Never Split the...
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The 4 Disciplines of Execution
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
Welcome to the final episode of Series 5 of the PiXL Leadership Book Club. Join host Rachel Johnson (PiXL CEO) as she dives into "The 4 Disciplines of Execution" by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling. This week, Rachel is joined by Leo Dudin (Deputy Head Academic at Oakham School) and Carly Woodall (Head of Year 6 at Brooklands School). Together, they unpack the timeless principles of focus, leverage, engagement, and accountability from the book that has shaped much of PiXL's methodology. Discover how these educational leaders apply the four disciplines to enhance student outcomes and...
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Fractured
PiXL Leadership Bookclub
Welcome to the penultimate episode of the 5th series of the PiXL Leadership Bookclub! Join Rachel Johnson, PiXL CEO, with Chandini Misra (Principal at Repton Al Barsha in Dubai) and Amos Turner-Wardell (Principal at Regents International School Pattaya in Thailand), as they explore Jon Yates' impactful book, "Fractured: Why Our Societies Are Coming Apart and How We Put Them Back Together Again". Yates' book delves into the root causes of societal division and offers a hopeful roadmap for fostering belonging and unity. In a world where we increasingly spend less time with those different from...
info_outlineWhat does it take to break the cycle and who helps make that possible?
In this deeply moving episode of the PiXL Leadership Book Club, Rachel Johnson is joined by Rebecca Broadley and Sapna Vadher to discuss Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan, a story of survival, resilience and the transformative power of education.
Growing up in poverty, becoming a mum at 15 and experiencing homelessness, Katriona defied the odds and credits the teachers and mentors who saw something in her when it felt like no one else did. Her memoir is a fierce call to action to recognise the invisible battles many children face and to lead with compassion, high expectations and belief.
Katriona has previously joined us to share her story at PiXL events and it never fails to stop people in their tracks. This conversation builds on that legacy, offering school leaders a powerful reminder: your words, your care, your belief might just be the turning point in a child’s life.
An unforgettable listen for anyone who leads, teaches or holds space for young people.
If you enjoyed PiXL Leadership Book Club...
Check out the PiXL website: https://www.pixl.org.uk/ for free downloads
Read Rachel's three books:
Time to Think 1: The Things that stop us and how to deal with them
Time to Think 2: The Things that stop our teams and what to do about them
Box Clever: Quadrants to change the way we live and lead
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For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/