The Unexpected Leader is a book for school leaders who want to make a difference but feel they don’t fit in to what is expected.

If you are a “hero head’ or a Clint Eastwood type then choose another book. This isn’t for you. This is a book about people. A book that humanises school leaders and tells their stories. A book where school leaders tell the truth about themselves and their journeys to leadership. It’s a book of virtual mentors and peers for anybody in or aspiring to school leadership - especially those who have doubted themselves and wondered how they could square effective leadership with being their authentic selves.

Iesha Small wrote The Unexpected Leader as a school leader who looked around and didn’t see many role models who shared her experiences and who were honest about being things that others didn’t expect in a leadership package - introverted, unassuming, honest about mental ill health. In this book she has gathered 12 school leaders and told their stories alongside her own - in words and photographs - to draw out the key learning points that will benefit many others who are on a similar journey.