Why Hive? The Story Behind Hive Schools International
When I first stepped into international education, my focus was on leading a single school—creating an environment where students could thrive, teachers could grow, and a community could flourish. Over the years, that mission expanded. I realized that no school is an island. Each one exists within a larger ecosystem, shaped by the people, ideas, and experiences that flow through it. The more I worked with other school leaders, the clearer it became: real educational impact isn’t built in isolation—it happens through collaboration, shared wisdom, and collective innovation.
That realization led to an ambitious shift in my thinking. It wasn’t enough to lead a great school. I wanted to build a network of schools—a dynamic, interconnected system where schools could support one another, exchange best practices, and elevate the entire field of international education. That’s when Hive Schools International was born. By adding professional development companies like 21st Century Learning and marketing and recruiting companies like IES and COSA, we were able to develop a full ecosystem of support.
The Power of the Hive
A hive isn’t just a collection of bees—it’s a complex, self-organizing system built on collaboration, adaptability, and shared purpose. Every bee has a role to play, but no single bee directs the entire hive. Instead, intelligence emerges from the connections between individuals, with each member contributing to the survival and growth of the whole.
This is exactly how a great network of schools should function. Traditional school management models tend to be hierarchical and linear—top-down directives, isolated leadership, and siloed problem-solving. But international education is far too dynamic for that. Schools exist in different cultural contexts, with unique challenges and opportunities. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. What does work is a living, breathing network of schools that learn from one another, adapt, and grow together.
My research in my Master’s focused on how we could use chaos and complexity theory as models for pedagogy in schools. Schools are not closed factory-based models. They are open and dynamic models. It was then natural to expand my thinking into school leadership and a network of schools.
At Hive Schools International, we embrace collaboration and favor a non-linear, decentralized approach to school development. We bring together Heads, COOs, marketing and admissions leaders, finance teams, university guidance counselors, and educators from across our network to share insights, solve problems, and drive innovation. Our monthly councils function like the internal communication of a hive—constant exchange, collective intelligence, and rapid adaptation to change.
A Network That Supports and Sustains
When I founded Hive Schools International, it wasn’t about creating just another school management firm. It was about building something fundamentally different—a sustainable ecosystem of schools that could support one another, rather than just relying on outside expertise.
• When one school solves a challenge, the others don’t have to start from scratch.
• When a school launches a new program, others can learn from its successes and avoid its mistakes.
• When leadership changes or crises arise, the network provides stability and collective wisdom.
Like a hive, the system is stronger than the sum of its parts.
From One School to Many
The shift from leading a single school to leading a network wasn’t just an expansion of scale—it was an expansion of vision. Schools don’t just need top-down management; they need collaborative guidance, shared knowledge, and strategic support that evolves with them.
That’s why Hive Schools International provides more than just oversight—we offer accreditation support, school growth strategies, branding and positioning expertise, leadership retreats, and ongoing professional development. We don’t just tell schools what to do—we engage in the process with them, ensuring that their identity, values, and strengths remain at the core of their growth.
A Future Built on Collaboration
The name Hive is more than just a metaphor. It’s a declaration of our belief in collaboration over isolation, networks over silos, and collective intelligence over rigid structures. It represents an aspirational shift—from a single school to a thriving international network, from traditional management to dynamic leadership, from top-down solutions to shared innovation.
In a world where education is evolving at an unprecedented pace, the schools that thrive will be the ones that connect, adapt, and grow together. That’s the future we’re building.
Welcome to Hive.
