Shane Leaning: Building an Ethical Education Business

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley speaks with education consultant Shane Leaning about the journey from classroom teacher to running an education consultancy.

Shane began his career teaching in the UK before moving into international schools and senior leadership roles in China. After running professional development across schools in Asia, he noticed something surprising: teachers would attend training, give positive feedback, and yet very little would change in practice.

That experience sparked a deeper interest in sustainable change in schools.

In this conversation, Shane explains why traditional professional development often fails, how leadership coaching can transform school culture, and what happens when schools develop real confidence in their own expertise.

The discussion also turns to the realities of building an education business. Shane talks openly about the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship, particularly the challenge of sales and the difference between having expertise and building a sustainable business.

The episode explores ethical business in education, the importance of trusting educators, and why founders should be cautious about the picture of business success portrayed on social media.

Hosted by Claire Riley, this episode offers practical insight for founders building businesses that serve schools.

00:00 – Introduction to the podcast01:00 – Shane’s journey from teacher to international school leader02:30 – The moment he realised professional development wasn’t working03:30 – Discovering the problem of sustainable change in schools05:00 – Life as a consultant supporting schools globally06:30 – Coaching in education vs coaching in business09:00 – Why teachers rarely get executive coaching11:30 – Teachers as leaders in the classroom13:30 – The transition from education to business14:10 – Operationalising your offer as a founder15:00 – The risks of product-led education businesses17:30 – Why confidence changes school culture18:30 – Psychological safety in schools19:20 – Breaking the “waiting loop” in organisations20:00 – How confident schools approach failure22:00 – The steep learning curve of sales23:00 – The myth of “if I build it, they will come”24:30 – Learning how to sell without feeling salesy26:20 – The reality behind bus