When schools change, people change too. And that was exactly what the third EduLeaders Club breakfast was about.

Change doesn’t start in a spreadsheet — it starts in people. That was the message agreed upon by headteachers who gathered around one table at the third EduLeaders Club networking breakfast hosted by NEWTON University.

This third meeting confirmed the growing interest in open dialogue between education and business. While the first breakfast tackled “What principals don’t usually talk about”, this one focused on leading teams in times of change. And once again, it became clear that while everyone talks about change, few dive deep into what it truly means.

When change starts from within

The NEWTON University networking breakfasts were created as a space for open dialogue between leaders from education, academia and business. A place to share real experiences, inspiration and proven solutions that work in practice.

This time, the theme Change and the People in It attracted school principals, deputy heads, mentors, psychologists and academics from NEWTON University. The discussion revealed that education today is going through a period that requires not only courage, but also humanity.

Why now?

Many schools are facing a generational shift in leadership, pressure to innovate, and a need to redefine their internal culture. Digital tools are multiplying, while the expectations of students and parents are evolving. Change has become not just inevitable — but an everyday reality. The real question is: how to navigate it?

“We wanted to create an environment where people can talk about change openly — without pretense or fear of asking the questions that usually stay unspoken,” said one of the organisers.

When leadership means having doubts

Participants spoke candidly about the biggest challenges in today’s education:

• lack of time for communication and feedback,
• fear among teachers of new methods and technologies,
• burnout and fatigue among leaders,
• finding balance between authority and partnership.

It became clear that change can’t be managed like a project ticked off in Excel. “If people don’t feel seen, heard and safe, nothing will change,” summed up one participant.

Stories that bring hope

Alongside the challenges came stories of success — schools that managed to transform their teams through open communication and shared decision-making. Others shared what went wrong, and how failure became their greatest teacher.

“Change hurts. But if you face that pain head on, it moves not only the team forward — but you as a person,” said one of the guests.

The human side of leadership

A major part of the discussion focused on emotions. How do you lead difficult conversations? How do you keep motivation alive when fatigue sets in? How do you deliver hard messages while keeping mutual respect?

Many attendees appreciated the chance to reflect on their own leadership approach. It wasn’t about theory — it was about honest sharing, united by one simple message: “Change can’t succeed without trust and empathy.”

A network of relationships, not business cards

The atmosphere of the breakfast was friendly and open. Conversations continued long after the official programme ended, new collaborations were born, and participants left not only with practical insights but also with renewed energy — and the reassurance that they are not alone.

EduLeaders Club is becoming a place where real relationships are built, genuine experiences are shared, and education evolves — because the people shaping it do.

What’s next

The next networking breakfast will take place on 14 November in České Budějovice, continuing the same theme. Because change affects us all. And as this event proved — it’s not enough to talk about it. We need to go through it together.