“Who was your first leader?” With a sudden question like that, you might find it difficult to answer that instantly. It might be your parents, an older sibling, a friend, your Scoutmaster? How about your fellow student or your teacher?

In a vibrant school environment, students can stand as beacons of inspiration and promise. They are the youthful torchbearers of change, the voices of innovation, and the architects of a brighter future. But who would mentor them if not great teachers?

Today, as we commemorate World Teacher’s Day – an annual observance first mooted by UNESCO and celebrated since 1994 to celebrate and recognise the contributions and importance of teachers worldwide – we take this opportunity to acknowledge the significant role teachers play as leaders in shaping the lives of students.

Joining us today is Cheryl Ann Fernando, the CEO of Pemimpin Global School Leaders (Pemimpin GSL), on ways to empower and nurture the next generation of school leaders in Malaysia and worldwide.