Homa
Tavangar
Homa Tavangar is the co-founder and CEO of the Big Questions Institute, an organization that is trusted by leading schools, companies, and associations around the world to support strategic, experiential, and generative development through a lens of fearless inquiry, imagination, and community engagement. She brings 30+ years’ experience advising diverse organizations and individuals on accountability for equity and cultural competence, leading through crisis and complex challenges, and strategic design, planning, and effective governance across five continents.
She began her career as an economist for the World Bank in Latin America, and has been a strategic advisor to hundreds of small- to mid-sized companies facing challenges from globalization, to larger companies like Accenture and Disney Channel, as well as over 100 schools and universities around the world on issues ranging from global citizenship and cultural competence to visionary strategic planning, building trust in governance, and more.
A frequent keynote speaker, she has authored or co-authored seven books for educators, including best-selling Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World (published by Random House) and Global Kids (Barefoot Books). Her most recent publication is 12 Big Questions Schools Must Answer to Create Irresistible Futures with Will Richardson (2025).
Homa is trusted as a coach, trainer, and advisor to international school Boards around the world, in addition to co-facilitating the Governance as Leadership Training Institute in Asia, and governance and leadership development sessions for the National Association of Independent Schools in the United States, among other organizations. She also has served on numerous Boards herself, and received training via the Emerson Collective, among others.
A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA and Princeton University, Homa has lived on four continents, speaks four languages, and has heritage in four world religions. An active Board member and community volunteer, she also is a judge for the Templeton Prize, considered the “world’s most interesting prize” with a purse calibrated to exceed the Nobel Prize. She lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania with her husband and is the proud mother of three adult daughters.
Jim
Best
Jim, Co-Founder of The Leader Network, brings over 30 years of leadership, governance, and strategy experience across independent schools, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations. A former Head of School and senior leader at distinguished schools in the United States and abroad, Jim is nationally and internationally recognized for his innovative work in executive coaching, team and governance facilitation, leadership growth assessments, and strategic planning.
Jim’s expertise has been trusted by independent school teams, boards, senior management teams of marquee professional sports franchises, and individual leaders. He has a particular passion for helping leaders, teams, and boards become the very best they can be—whether navigating opportunity, growth, or crisis. Known for his warm, engaging, and results-oriented approach, Jim builds trust quickly and helps individuals and groups tackle complex challenges with clarity and confidence.
Jim’s clients consistently report stronger alignment, faster decision-making, sharper strategic focus, and more resilient individual leadership. His work has been spotlighted by national and international associations for its creativity, practical impact, and lasting results.
Jim remains grounded in real-world leadership practice, actively serving on multiple independent school boards and proudly chairing the Board of Global Online Academy, which he co-founded.
Jim earned his B.A. with Honors as a John Motley Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds an M.A. and Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia University, where he serves on the President’s Advisory Council. He is also a graduate of the Klingenstein Center for Private School Leadership and serves on its Advisory Board. His professional training includes certifications in executive coaching (University of California’s Haas School of Business), board consulting (BoardSource), and group facilitation (Forum).
Jim partners with mission-driven schools, nonprofits, and organizations worldwide, helping them strengthen leadership, governance, and strategy in ways that deliver lasting impact.
Kathleen
Naglee
Kathleen Naglee is an award-winning educational leader and futurist recognized globally for her innovative and inclusive approaches to learning. With over a decade of transformative leadership experience, she has played pivotal roles in steering schools, organizations, and policy bodies toward excellence in international education.
She is the author of the just-published Symbiotic Intelligence : A Roadmap for AI Adoption in K-12 Education.
As the CEO and Head of School at the International School of Helsinki, Kathleen achieved remarkable milestones, including a 37% increase in enrollment, leading the school to become an internationally recognized model of student-centered learning and inclusion. She spearheaded a mission-driven strategic plan, successfully rebranded the institution, and facilitated state-of-the-art facility expansions to support dynamic learning environments. Her leadership secured the school’s recognition as a Hewlett-Packard School of Innovation and a global pioneer in educational best practices.
Beyond her executive roles, Kathleen contributes significantly to the global education community. As a former Commissioner for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), she has helped shape international accreditation standards and supported schools worldwide in achieving high-quality benchmarks. Her tenure as Chair of the Central and Eastern European Schools Association Board reflects her commitment to fostering professional development and advancing educational leadership across diverse contexts.
Kathleen’s consultancy and keynote engagements further amplify her impact, addressing critical topics such as AI policy and pedagogy, strategic planning, school design and equity in education. A dedicated advocate for marginalized communities, her advisory services empower emerging leaders to excel in their fields. Her innovative perspectives on AI, virtual reality, and the future of learning have earned her recognition as one of the Top 75 Edruptors in International Education. She currently serves as Senior Consultant to the Big Questions Institute.