The Human Element: Why Collaborative Cultures Rise—or Fall—from the Inside Out
WORKSHOP INFORMATION
Dates: 17 - 18 October 2026
Location: UNIS Hanoi,
Hanoi, Vietnam
Registration fee: $450
Contact: Ms Huong Hoang - UNIS Hanoi's Teaching & Learning Officer
Programme Overview
The Human Element: Why Collaborative Cultures Rise—or Fall—from the Inside Out
Effective leadership in international schools happens across many roles and positions and it requires more than developing proficiency in certain frameworks or effectively utilizing an established set of strategies.
The leadership needed requires an upgrade of our "internal software" so we can more successfully navigate our complex human systems. While common protocols many schools use provide an essential architecture for collaboration, even the most robust structures can often feel two-dimensional unless we undergird them by developing even more psychological maturity, cognitive capacity and emotional awareness.
Highlights
Role Audit
Interrogate and unpack your current role to surface the often-unspoken human capacities required for real leadership success—not just what’s written, but what’s actually needed.
The 3D Norm
Move from frameworks on a poster to practice by defining what they look like, sound like, and feel like when enacted with precision, empathy and credibility.
Consultancy Protocols
Engage in a structured peer consultancy process to tackle real leadership dilemmas, strengthening your ability to think critically, listen empathically, and respond authentically in the moment.
Personalized Pathways
Choose from differentiated learning experiences designed to meet you where you are and move you forward within your specific school context.
This two-day intensive shifts the focus from managing the work to developing the humans who do the work. Through this high-engagement Leadership Lab, participants will move beyond the surface and leave with a stronger psychological awareness, sharper communication moves, and behaviors to lead with clarity, credibility, and empathy.
Meet the Speakers
Formerly a high school English teacher, new teacher coach and a professional development facilitator for leaders and teachers in a school district for over 25 years, Jennifer Abrams is currently a communications consultant, author, and speaker. Her publications include Having Hard Conversations, Swimming in the Deep End and Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work. Jennifer has been featured columnist on growth and change for Learning Forward’s The Learning Professional as well as The International Educator focusing on adult development and culture building and she keynotes, facilitates, and coaches at schools worldwide. She was honored to be named one of the “18 Women All K-12 Educators Should Know,” by Education Week’s ‘Finding Common Ground’’ blog. www.jenniferabrams.com @jenniferabrams
Jennifer Delashmutt is currently an educational consultant based in Asia engaging with schools who are committed to sustainable implementation of inclusive instructional design and practice. Her partnerships focus on thinking in systems so that schools can measure their impact on student and adult learning and growth. Jennifer has over 25 years of teaching and leadership experience in the United States and Asia. For 10 years, she served as a Primary Principal and PK-12 Director of Curriculum and Professional Learning in Hong Kong and Thailand. She has a Certificate of Advanced Educational Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education, an IB Leadership Certification and is an ISTE Certified Educator. Jennifer has experience and is dedicated to supporting faculty, staff and leadership teams in effective change leadership, cultural shifts and embracing a continuous cycle of improvement.