# How to build a better schools through Conscious Leadership | Alison Kriel | TEDxMaidMarianWay Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbZ2wOagQY4 Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/YbZ2wOagQY4 Generated: 2026-01-12T17:07:53.436+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The speaker advocates for creating a better world, society, and schools by embedding creativity, kindness, thought, equity, diversity, inclusion, and nuance into education, replacing the current assessment methods based purely on grades, rankings, and measurable skills with an orchestral approach that values the whole child and fosters self-belief, resilience, and compassion in future leaders. **Key Points:** - The speaker envisions a better world built through an educational culture deeply embedding creativity, equity, diversity, inclusion, and nuance into policy, action, and interaction. - The current system relies too heavily on measurable metrics like exam data and rankings, which fails to recognize the full potential of children. - The proposed solution is an 'orchestral approach' where leaders consciously model kindness, compassion, and self-belief, treating every child as a valuable contributor. - Educators must shift from testing rote knowledge (like math/science scores) to fostering unmeasurable skills such as creativity, critical thinking, adaptability, and resilience. - When children feel accepted and included, they develop self-esteem, stand against hate, and are more likely to become compassionate, risk-taking leaders. - The speaker urges leaders to stop humanizing data and start investing in the whole child, preparing them to thrive in an uncertain future by valuing their inherent worth. ![Screenshot at 00:04: The speaker, Alison Kriel, stands on stage in a bright red suit against a large screen displaying the event title: 'TEDx MaidMarianWay' and the theme 'Creativity Through Adversity'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/YbZ2wOagQY4/00-00-04.jpg) **Context:** This TEDx talk, titled 'Creativity Through Adversity' from TEDxMaidMarianWay, features Alison Kriel presenting a vision for reforming education. Kriel argues that the current system overemphasizes standardized testing and measurable outcomes, creating environments where children feel alienated or defined by their failures. She proposes a fundamental shift toward 'Conscious Leadership' where emotional intelligence, empathy, and holistic development are prioritized over narrow academic metrics. ## Detailed Analysis Alison Kriel outlines a vision for transforming education to build a better world by consciously integrating core human values into the school culture and extending this into society. She states that the current system, which judges students by exam data, rankings, and easily measurable skills, fails to foster the necessary attributes for navigating an uncertain future. Kriel champions an 'orchestral approach' where leaders—educators, administrators, and community members—must model compassion, self-belief, resilience, and acceptance. She emphasizes that when children feel they belong and are valued for who they are, they gain the confidence to take risks, overcome adversity, and become empathetic decision-makers. This involves moving away from a culture that ranks children against each other or reduces them to test scores, and instead investing in nurturing the whole child—their creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. The ultimate goal is to create leaders who build a more compassionate, equitable, and trusting world by valuing inherent worth over measurable output. ### Vision for Educational Culture - Share a vision exemplifying a better world through education where equity, diversity, inclusion, and nuance are embedded in policy, action, and interaction - Every child feels a sense of belonging, is accepted for who they are, and develops self-esteem. ### Critique of Current System - Leaders often focus on measurable metrics like exam data, rankings, and easily measurable skills, which fails to prepare children for life's challenges - This system can make children feel like failures or fear taking risks. ### The Orchestral Approach - We must move toward an orchestral approach where leaders model compassion, purpose, and vision, treating every child as having valuable, immeasurable skills and talents. ### Call to Action for Leaders - Leaders must be intentional, open, honest, and courageous in their actions, fostering trust and collaboration rather than promoting competition through rankings. ### Desired Outcomes - Children who receive this holistic education will be more capable of taking risks, less afraid of failure, and better equipped to build a compassionate society. ![Screenshot at 00:00: Title slide for the TEDx event: TEDx MaidMarianWay, with the theme 'Creativity Through Adversity'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/YbZ2wOagQY4/00-00-00.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:16: Speaker Alison Kriel on stage in a striking red suit, holding a device and beginning her address.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/YbZ2wOagQY4/00-00-16.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:33: Screen displays text emphasizing the need for open conversation about sensitive topics like race, class, and identity.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/YbZ2wOagQY4/00-01-33.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:04: Visual reinforcement of the connection between positive self-esteem, resilience, and increased well-being for students.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/YbZ2wOagQY4/00-04-04.jpg) ![Screenshot at 08:32: Close-up of the speaker emphasizing the point that children should not feel like failures due to narrow assessment definitions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/YbZ2wOagQY4/00-08-32.jpg)