Bridging Worlds: Understanding the Business of International Education

HomeAISH Leadership Series: Business

In this course, we explore the intersection of education and business in the international school landscape. Designed for school leaders, aspiring heads, and educators stepping into broader leadership roles, the course examines how to navigate the tension between mission-driven educational values and the financial, strategic, and operational realities of running schools in global contexts. This is designed for leaders in both the for-profit and not-for-profit realms, and business competencies are required for leaders in both settings.

There is a lot of ground to cover. Participants will investigate the “two circles” of education and business, decode the language and culture of business, and explore strategic and marketing frameworks relevant to international education. The course also highlights what educators need to know in order to engage effectively with boards, investors (including private equity), and partners without losing sight of educational purpose.

By the end of the course, participants will develop conceptual understandings, increased vocabulary and practical tools to bridge the gap between education and business, enabling them to lead with clarity, confidence, and integrity in the complex global education landscape.

Course dates: March 9 - April 3, 2026

Course Outcomes

Bridging Two Circles – Participants will understand the inherent tensions and synergies between educational values and business imperatives, gaining strategies for aligning mission with sustainability.
Business Literacy for Educators – Acquire the ability to interpret and use the language of business, including financial concepts, organizational structures, and cultural norms, in ways that strengthen credibility with boards and stakeholders.
Strategic & Marketing Frameworks – Learn practical frameworks for strategy development, market positioning, and branding that are tailored to the international school context.
Applied Leadership in the Gap – Develop the knowledge and confidence to manage the educator–business interface: governance, change management, operations, and future trends that will shape international education.

AISH Impact Courses

AISH’s Leadership Impact courses are for four weeks, approximately 3-5 hours per week. The course Facilitators will engage you and a cohort group in practical, job-embedded discussions and activities designed for immediate application and impact. Resources are curated and relevant and you’ll have the opportunity to reflect on your experience in a forum of colleagues.

Cost: $375 (AISH Members); $575 (Non-Members)

Meet your Instructor

With 25+ years in global education, James MacDonald has led learning communities across six countries, from Japan to Belgium. He started as a teacher, and over the past 15 years he has led three international schools: Yokohama International School, NIST International School, and now the International School of Brussels (ISB). He has also worked in the for-profit sector, overseeing 14 IB and US-curriculum schools in the Middle East with over 2,000 teachers and P&L responsibility in the hundreds of millions. His academic background is uniquely suited to a course about balancing education and business: he holds undergraduate degrees in Education and Management, two master’s degrees (MA in Education; MBA), and is completing an EdD focused on the business competencies international school leaders need. He is also a published author of journal articles and book chapters on leadership and the future of international education, and frequent presenter at conferences.