Mark Ulfers

Director, Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. Department of State

“Thank you for all you are doing to bring innovation into our 195 assisted schools. Your research, publications, presentation skills, and, for that matter, your crystal ball looking into the future work so well together to keep us all awake to what we dare not miss for the young people we serve. You have engaged us in the provocative work of setting a vision for a preferred future that is at once accessible, possible, and achievable. You have given us the confidence to keep moving. We need your voices and perspective on what our schools must become."

Lesley Tait

Head of School, Lincoln Community School, Accra

"Every time I listen or read anything that either Will or Homa are writing or saying, I feel a connection. They provoke my thinking while also affirming my own ideas. Time spent with both of them simply flies past. I always gain something from every single session."

Peter Bateman

Executive Director, Association of International Schools in Africa

AISA school leaders were privileged to participate in the "Putting Soul Work Before School Work" professional learning institute led by Homa Tavangar and Will Richardson. Over the six sessions, Homa and Will brought their vast knowledge, expertise, and passion to every aspect of the institute, making it one of the most thoughtful and engaging professional learning experiences I have ever had. The discussions were deep and discursive, encouraging AISA school leaders to reflect, reset, and reinvent their practices and beliefs and challenging us to think critically about the purpose and meaning of education.

What set this transformative programme apart was (as the title suggests) an emphasis on putting soul work before school work. Homa and Will helped us understand the importance of investigating our own practice while nurturing in the hearts and minds of our students a positive, inclusive, and compassionate school culture. They created a safe and welcoming environment where we could openly share our thoughts, concerns, and ideas and provided invaluable feedback and guidance. Their genuine care for our growth and development as educational leaders was evident in every interaction.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned from Homa Tavangar and Will Richardson, and I highly recommend their professional learning programmes to any educator committed to creating schools that prioritize the well-being and humanity of students.

Dr. Heather Rogers Beck

Deputy Head of School, Canadian International School, Singapore

“In all my years as a school leader, I’ve never heard such high praise for professional development sessions as for the ones we did with BQI.”

Priscilla Bianchi

Principal, Valle Verde School, Guatemala City

"I was in today´s session and I need to tell you that it was awesome!!  I´ve been an educator for 45 years, and since 2008 I´m the Academic Principal of a private school in Guatemala.  I consider myself to be a creative, innovative person who´s always looking for new and better ways of doing what we do, that add value while preserving our essence and personality.  But I must tell you that today´s session blew my mind!  I appreciate your out-of-the-box futures thinking very much. I found so many things that are in sync with our way of thinking, and several aha! moments that opened my mind as to where to go next. Thank you, thank you!"   

Laura Farrell

Head of School, Merion Mercy Academy

"The Big Questions Institute provided me opportunity to sit with knowledgeable and thoughtful educators to discuss the tremendous shifts in the world today and why education will need to change to prepare students for the future. You guys are awesome!"

Randy Zeigenfuss
Superintendent, Salisbury Township (Pa.) School District

"Futures thinking is a gap in the toolkit for many leaders. The workshop is a first step on the journey of any leader to beginning building a new competency for change."

Rose Puffer

Superintendent, International School of Islamabad, Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA) Board President

“Being a member of one of the Mastermind sessions, hosted by Homa and Will, has benefited in ways I hadn't imagined. I rarely have the opportunity to learn from a different generation of educational leaders. Their experiences and strategies are reenergizing. Another benefit is to learn from the "masterful" skills of two incredible facilitators: Will and Homa."

Katie McFarland

Director of Professional Development, Canandaigua (NY) Schools

"I really appreciate how Will and Homa continue to push our thinking. This was two days well spent exploring meaningful conversations that I will bring back and engage in with my colleagues to help my organization create coherence around learning. It was a fantastic experience!"

Valerie Prucnal
Assistant Head of School, Merion Mercy Academy

“Thank you both for such an enriching experience. I have engaged in conversations regarding Big Questions every day this week at work. I know, it is only Tuesday... The powerful question of WHY really re-frames whatever situation you look at through a very different, more powerful lens."

Erica D'Agostino

Assistant Head of School, Moravian Academy

“The BQI helps to pull you away from the reactivity and instead encourages you to think deeply about learning in its purest form. If we come to school change through the lens of deep, engaged learning, we will naturally be able to satisfy the many needs of our various constituents. I left the BQI with more questions than when I arrived, but they are the right questions moving me in the right direction for our school."

Joshua Garrett

Director, International School of Skopje, Macedonia

"Meeting with Will, Homa, and the rest of my Mastermind cohort is a highlight of my month. The depth of experience, the hard-gained knowledge, and the genuine camaraderie of the group ensure that I walk away with deeper insight into and a stronger commitment toward my vocation."

Nienke de Jong

Assistant Head, Malaysia

“Thank you for your webinar. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I watched many webinars about the afterlife of schools post pandemic, and they usually focus on details about specific situations. What a breath of fresh air to hear big picture thinkers speak about what really matters and cut through the clutter. Thank you; that was time well spent."

Anna Sugarman

Professional Learning Coordinator, Shenendehowa (NY) Central SD

"I think that the work you are doing with people is very deep, planting seeds within for the future. While people are running around reacting to moment by moment changes, the two of you are holding ground for this critical work. It is visionary, and as usual, ahead of many who are not yet open to this type of thinking. I thank you again for your guidance, love and caring."

Suelyn Cheong

Principal, Unionville High School, Markham, ON

“I have attended several online professional development sessions offered both by local school boards and international organizations.  Your summer leadership session which focused on an inquiry based approach was outstanding on many levels:  relevant and timely content, structure and format. Your sessions were my monthly ‘opium’!!"

Hugh Alexander

Principal, Rutland Senior Secondary School, Kelowna, BC

"The collaboration between Homa and Will and their Five lenses are a wonderful pairing as they look at, as they say, 'the no normal' and how the education systems around the world need to respond to meet the needs of today and tomorrow because these systems are clearly designed for a bygone era. The BQI draw on current evidence and research to look at the world and how we as educational leaders need to lead the way as the world as we knew it will not return. This session focuses on conversations with people from around the world who are all looking to improve their work through inquiry. Well worth participating in this learning experience. Thought provoking, educational and motivating."

Rosemary Fatta Mari

Activities Director at The Lincoln School, Buenos Aires, AR

"New Leadership Lenses as presented by Homa and Will gave me the opportunity to reflect on a deeper level, while sharing with others with regards to what our school could look like once we are able to return. What should we take with us through the portal? And what should we leave behind?"

Patrick Lee

Assistant Principal, The American School of London

“I found the two day Racial Literacy workshop to be very helpful in looking at the many issues and topics related to race and how we can support our community of color as well as educate and support the entire community.  Your workshop reinforced the importance of being able to express, articulate and understand at a deeper level when speaking about race."

Jodi Etra

Fort Lee (NJ) High School

"The Deeper Than Diversity: Exploring Transformative Principles in the Quest for Racial Justice workshop is one I believe EVERY teacher should experience. It opened my eyes to the way I handle my diverse students in a positive way influencing me to change some of my practices which I had thought were "safe" but, indeed, were alienating. I did not have to change just be more mindful. The lecture, the conversation and the music blended well and created an enriching experience for me."

Anna More

Board Member, American School of Brasilia

“The Big Questions Institute delivered on its promise: to push us beyond what we've always done and to embrace a thoughtful and innovative future. Will and Homa's paired leadership is both grounded and inspiring!"

Jim Laney

Director, American International School of Mozambique

“The BQI Retreat helped Board members and school heads understand our role as governance/leadership partners in stepping back and addressing bigger ideas and questions, especially in the current pandemic and economic scenarios we're facing. Will and Homa helped us understand both the WHY and the HOW to address those issues and opportunities together. It was especially valuable to be doing this with Board members and school leaders from around the world."

Anabella Martinez

Director, Colegio Marymount Barranquilla

“This is was a very enriching experience in complex times. It was beneficial for our school that the majority of the board participated. It allowed us to get on the same page in terms of mindset and also on the questions we need to be asking. More than answers , we came out of this experience with key questions that should guide the future of the school."

Tracy Rucker
Award-winning French teacher, Kentucky

"Homa and Eric’s realistic, personalized touches allowed me and many others to reflect on implicit biases, cultural lenses and nuances, and interpersonal interactions in realistic ways. I walked away feeling uplifted and so empowered...Thank you for setting the tone for reflection and action!!!"

Tom Welch
Constructivist, Chicago, IL

"Will and Homa have a gift of working together to challenge, inform, model. motivate and assist. My mind is stretched every time."