ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Maggie Farrar.
The experience I bring to my work is born out of the great leaders and educators I have worked with and learnt from; authentic, honest and open to learning. More than anything I have learnt from leaders who at times of great challenge and uncertainty demonstrate strong values-led, principled leadership, striving to do their best whilst acknowledging their own vulnerabilities.
My career began as a teacher in London schools, an experience which led me to working in Birmingham Local Education Authority before joining the team at National College for School Leadership as Director of Leadership Development. I now work with organisations, Local Authorities and groups of schools in the UK and internationally including Education Development Trust and leadership organisations in Australia.
For many years, my leadership and work has been influenced by my own personal mindfulness practice. Following my formal training as a teacher with the Oxford University Mindfulness Centre this is now my focus, supporting individuals and groups of leaders to cultivate mindfulness in their lives and work. This includes one to one coaching, group residentials, introduction to mindfulness days and a 6 week mindfulness programme.
In 2022 I published Leading with Presence, It’s An Inside Job. During my work with thousands of school leaders, I had found that that almost all leadership development provision currently available to them focuses on the outer world; planning, leading change, improving quality. This means the inner life of leaders has been, and continues to be, neglected and unexplored; our habits, emotional landscape, aversions, fears and deepest desires. My hope is that this book is a start at re-dressing that vital balance with leadership stories and practical strategies.
I have witnessed and personally experienced how mindfulness goes hand in hand with compassionate, inspiring leadership. Empowering Leadership is a platform to connect with others, share this work and provide resources to assist you in cultivating mindful leadership, creating schools where children and adults thrive and flourish.
“This work on leadership presence, resilience and mindfulness is so important, especially in these challenging and uncertain times. I have known and worked closely with Maggie for many years. Not only is she highly skilled, knowledgeable and talented on these issues, she is completely authentic. I highly recommend this work.”