The Learner First (TLF) is an international education consulting agency that partners with governments, states, school districts, communities, and all the way through to individual schools. It aims to support every individual to learn who they are, how they fit into the world, and how they can contribute their gifts to humanity.

The agency provides tools, activities, and strategies that help teachers measure and assess academic and social-emotional learning. The key objective behind these initiatives is to help students learn about themselves, form meaningful connections, better access the curriculum, and, through the process of learning, contribute to the world in life-changing ways. The Learner First utilizes a mixed-method, stakeholder-centered approach to whole system change and works to develop and leverage a culturally grounded understanding of the systemic factors required for success. It uses digital mixed methods of data designed to integrate evaluative tools to assess, track, and measure the development of life's essential outcomes i.e., self-understanding, connection, knowledge, and competency. These outcomes help students contribute to the world, bringing purpose, engagement, motivation, and meaning. TLF believes that every child deserves an equitable opportunity to learn to contribute in their way to the world. It will make their own lives, and others' lives, better—and nothing could ever be better than that.

A Versatile and Dynamic Leader

Joanne McEachen is the CEO/Founder of The Learner First (USA/Australia/New Zealand), an Edmund Hillary Fellow (EHF), a Fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar (Austria), on the Executive Committee for Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social-Emotional Learning and Life Skills (Global), a Board Member for Partners for Youth Empowerment (Global) and a co-founder of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (Global).

A best-selling author, a social entrepreneur, and a leading voice in the global education community, Joanne brings years of whole-system leadership experience, working with and within all levels of education to offer insights and strategies that support communities to discover their strengths and bring them to the surface. The perspective she works from is that people and communities, not the experts, hold the answers.

Her experience as a teacher, principal, and countrywide school-system leader, and consulting internationally with over ten countries worldwide, has enabled Joanne to focus on what matters, on humanity's development of well-being and the learning outcomes that lead to meaning, fulfillment, and lifelong success. She has co-authored multiple books which can be found in schools and homes around the world.

Joanne's insights are illuminated by continued, hands-on experience partnering with diverse groups of learners around the world.

Diffusing Challenges from Real-Life Experiences

According to Joanne, the hardest lesson she had to learn was to stand up to males who would take credit for her work and represent it as their own. She also had to put forth her best efforts to break through the stereotypical barriers and set an example that even indigenous women can be leaders in their respective fields of work!

Joanne cites that it was her confidence that helped her believe in herself, that she could change the world, and that she was capable of supporting others to do the same. She states that while it isn't always easy to find solutions to the struggles and challenges we face every day, one thing is certain—everything can be solved when we are on the lookout for one another. She says, "If we pool our thinking, we can discover solutions to current problems together."

Recognizing Unmatched Leadership Attributes

Joanne posits that there are three must-have qualities of every transformational leader. These are:

• An individual must be true to herself and always speak her truth—not the truth which she might think other people want to hear.
• Bring all voices to the table and respond to all voices at the table, especially those who are being served in the industry.
• Recognize that everyone is an integral part of the system and that change can only be brought about by working together. The responsibility lies within.

Innovation Begins When You Listen to Customers

Joanne has been a strong advocate of listening to the people who are impacted by and doing the actual work, for getting inspiration to deliver customer-centric products. As per her, this includes children and teachers and their communities. In schools all over the world, teachers and students are asking for help. Though it is well-known that the current school system is outdated, Joanne is confident that it is possible to bring transformation by good communal support.

Technology as Enabler of Innovation

In education, the shifts in the future of work created by emerging technologies call for shifts in the skills and content schools deliver. Workforce automation coupled with new fields and positions afforded by these technologies mean a much different landscape for graduates today than there was even a couple of decades before. Joanne reveals, "Today, education and school leaders are charged with preparing students for a complex, connected, and ever-changing world—not the world as it was or even the world as it is, but the world that will be when each student leaves school." She acknowledges that this has dramatically shifted the leadership landscape and the outcomes schools need to deliver for their students, calling for new (often digital) modes of learning.

Reconnecting with Roots to Fuel Disruption

The current pandemic created many new challenges and has highlighted many existing faults within industrial systems and networks. In addition to that, we are in the midst of a global mental health and well-being crisis. Joanne asserts that to address these challenges, it is absolutely critical that people begin by reconnecting to humanity and our planet. She also acknowledges that technology is and will continue playing a huge role in this.

Words of Wisdom to Guide Budding Leaders

Joanne urges emerging women leaders to remain true to themselves and be the best version of leaders they can be. She suggests, "Bring your whole person to your work because that is what the world needs."